Community involvement in the planning process
We want people and communities to actively engage in the planning process and have an influence over the future development of their areas. We also know that people want to be involved in the decisions that shape the places they live, work and play.
Effective public engagement can lead to better plans, better decisions and more satisfactory outcomes, and it can help to avoid delays in the planning process too. It also improves confidence in the fairness of the planning system. Engagement needs to be meaningful and to occur from the earliest stages in the planning process to enable community views to be reflected in development plans and individual development proposals.
Being involved in planning
There are opportunities built into the planning system to ensure people can get involved and have their say, including when planning authorities are preparing their development plans and also during the development management processes when decisions are being made about proposed developments.
When national and major developments are being proposed, prospective applicants for planning permission must carry out pre-application consultation (PAC) with local communities before finalising their plans.
PAC provides the opportunity for communities to be better informed about development proposals in their area and have an opportunity to contribute their views before a formal planning application is submitted to the planning authority. Details on how and when PAC is required are set out in Planning circular 3/2022: development management procedures.
Planning Advice Note 3/2010: Community Engagement explains more and provides advice on community involvement in the planning system.
We are currently preparing new guidance on effective community engagement in development planning which is expected to be published in Autumn 2024.
Local Place Plans
Local Place Plans are community-led plans and a way for communities to set out their aspirations for their place through proposals for the development and use of land. Once validated and registered by the planning authority, they are to be taken into account in the preparation of the relevant local development plan. Local Place Plans were introduced through the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 into the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.
The Circular 1/2022: Local Place Plans provides guidance to Community Bodies and planning authorities on the legislative requirements for the preparation, submission and registration of Local Place Plans.
Planning Aid Scotland and the Our Place website provides more detailed information and guidance on the practical aspects of their creation.
Mediation
There is no statutory requirement to use mediation in the planning system, but we recognise that as an alternate dispute resolution tool it has a part to play in resolving disputes and building relations between stakeholders. Planning circular 2/2021 - planning system - promotion and use of mediation sets this out in greater detail.
Planning Aid Scotland
We provide grant funding to support the core activities of Planning Aid Scotland (PAS). PAS provides independent advice and training on planning and environmental matters and encourages public engagement with the planning process.
Our Place
The Our Place website is collaborative site devoted to promoting the benefits of place and place based working. Our Place has tools, resources and information for communities to support the development of their places and services that improve health, prosperity, quality of life and protection of their environment. It is a partnership website supported by the Scottish Government, A+DS, Improvement Service, Public Health Scotland and Glasgow City Council.