Local Place Plans

Local Place Plans allow communities to submit ideas and proposals for their area 

Introduced by the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019, Local Place Plans are a way for local communities to think about how to make their place better, to agree priorities, and to take action (often working with others) to make change happen.

In preparing their own community-led Local Place Plans, community groups can express their aspirations and priorities for the future of their local place, through the submission of ideas and proposals for the development or use of land and buildings. On 30 June 2023 we issued our formal invitation to prepare Local Place Plans. 

Once registered, Local Place Plans will be taken into account by The Highland Council as Planning Authority in preparing the new Local Development Plan and can be a material consideration when planning applications are being considered by the Planning Authority.

The current Development Plan

Whilst a Local Place Plan looks to influence the content of the new Local Development Plan, it must take account of the current national and local development plans for the community in which it is being prepared. 

The national development plan for Scotland is contained in the National Planning Framework.

The local development plan for Highland currently comprises of four planning policy documents. The general development policies for the whole of Highland are contained in the Highland-wide Local Development Plan, which should be read alongside the individual Local Development Plan for your local area. Those three area local development plans, which contain the allocations and area specific development policies, cover:

• Inner Moray Firth
• Caithness and Sutherland
• West Highland and Islands

Read our four Local Development Plans and the National Planning Framework that we use alongside them to guide development and investment.

Locality Plans

If applicable, a Local Place Plan needs to have regard for any Locality Plan for its Local Place Plan area. To see any Locality Plans for The Highland Council area, visit the Highland Community Planning Partnership website.

The new Highland Local Development Plan

We recently started the official evidence gathering process for the new, single Highland Local Development Plan, which will be shaped by the aspirations and ambitions of communities across Highland. When finalised and adopted in 2027, it will replace all four of our current Local Development Plans.

Local Place Plans will contribute towards the evidence-gathering for the new Highland Local Development Plan. As Planning Authority, we must show how community proposals in a Local Place Plan have been taken into account and why they have or have not been accepted.

To enable Local Place Plans to be taken into account as part of the evidence for the new Highland Local Development Plan from the outset of its preparation, they must be capable of being registered by The Highland Council by Friday 28 June 2024.