Place Planning

The types of community body that can formally prepare a Local Place Plan are set by Scottish Government in Circular 1/2022: Local Place Plans. These are:

• A community-controlled body within the definition given in section 19 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, or
• A community council established in accordance with Part 4 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

There is no legal requirement for a community body to produce a Local Place Plan. Many communities may feel that the locality plan covering their area already meets their needs. Local Place Plans have a more spatial focus and can be prepared in addition to locality plans, however they must meet more stringent legislative requirements to ensure they are valid and can be registered.

It is not compulsory for a community to develop a plan however, however a Local Place Plan could:

• Help to identify the strengths and challenges of a place to determine what can stay the same and what needs to improve.
• Help a community better understand the needs and aspirations of its people and creates opportunities to move this forward.
• Help potential funders and investors better understand a community and how the cohesiveness of its various projects.
• Be considered within the Local Development Plan, if registered by the local authority.

Once you have considered representations received and made amendments to your Local Place Plan, you will need to submit it to the Council with an Information Notice. This will have to include the following information:

• Confirmation of your organisation's status, such as a written constitution.
• Contact details.
• Evidence of compliance with the procedural steps set out in the legislation (see above).
• An explanation of how you  have had 'regard to' National Planning Framework, Local Development Plan and the Locality Plan.
• A statement setting out if, why and how the Local Development Plan should be amended.
• Your view of the level and nature of support for the Local Place Plan. A statement setting out your reasoning is also required.

For a Local Place Plan to be accepted and considered valid, it must comply with the requirements mentioned above.

Local Place Plans must contain:

• Details of the community body who prepared it.
• A map showing the area the plan relates to.
• A statement setting out the development proposals or use of land within this area.

In addition, a community body must be able to show that it followed the necessary process in preparing the Local Place Plan to ensure it can be registered. This includes:

• Confirming the community body’s status (unless it is a community council).
• Sending copies of the proposed Local Place Plan and an information notice to local councillors and communities within the area.
• Setting out how the Local Place Plan has taken account of the Local Development Plan, National Planning Framework 4, and any other local plans for the area.
• Setting out why the Local Development Plan should be amended.
• Detailing the level and nature of local support for the Local Place Plan.

Further information can be found within the Scottish Government Circular 1/2022 Local Place Plans. A Local Place Plan must fulfil the legal requirements set out in this circular. 

Local Place Plan boundaries can take many shapes and forms but should largely be based on a recognisable community area. A map of the area is required. Some examples might be:

• Ward boundaries.
• Smaller neighbourhood areas within a ward.
• Community council boundaries.

Examples of proposals that could be featured in a Local Place Plan include:

• Sites which support climate change adaptation, such as renewable energy or flood mitigation.
• Local initiatives for the promotion of active travel and community food growing.
• Sites for housing, including for affordable housing, new or retained local employment or new tourism/community facilities.
• Retaining, improving, and expanding quality open spaces and play areas.
• Conservation of the natural/built environment.
• Improvements in the town/neighbourhood centre.
• Support for a national development, as featured in the National Planning Framework.

It is expected that the community body will seek views on its proposed Local Place Plan including issuing of an information notice to certain parties including:

• Councillors for the Local Place Plan area, although it is noted that local elected members may already be engaged in the preparation of the Local Place Plan
• A community council any part of whose area is within, or adjoins, the Local Place Plan area

The information notice which, accompanies the proposed Local Place Plan, must include a brief description of the content and purpose of the purposed Local Place Plan, this could include a description of the general area covered and any key information. It should include information on how to make any representation including any deadlines.

It is for the community body to determine how long representations can be made on the purposed Local Place Plan once the information notice has been circulated. Although, this can't be less than 28 days after the date on which the information notice is issued.

Whilst there is no legal requirement for a community body to engage with its wider community, it is required to include a statement outlining the level of support for the Local Place Plan, taking into account how you have reached that view and noting any consultation.

The statement should be based on evidence obtained from any activities undertaken. There are often differences of opinion within the communities regarding proposals and if raised during the engagement, this could be highlighted and any efforts to resolve the matters noted.

The community body should consider how to bring in the voices of all sectors of the community. Consideration should be given to who the proposals affect, either directly or indirectly. It is important that any engagement is fit for purpose and appropriate for the community.

The Council is required to take into account registered Local Place Plans when producing the Local Development Plan.

Communities will still be able participate in all aspects of the planning process whether or not they wish to create a Local Place Plans.

A good Local Place Plan can start with a simple conversation with as many members of the community as possible and asks for their views, aspirations and comments on all aspects of the quality of where they live. However, we would expect extensive community engagement and consultation through a variety of methods (such as surveys, face-to-face conversations, questionnaires) to inform any Local Place Plans put forward for registration.

The National Standards for Community Engagement are the good-practice principles designed to guide the process of community engagement. We would encourage all groups creating a Local Place Plan to utilise the National Standards for Community Engagement when carrying out their community consultation.

The Place Standard Tool can be used to gather community thoughts around Place Planning. The tool asks 14 questions about all aspects of a Place - everything from health and green space to transport links, employability, community resilience and cohesion - to assist a community in identifying its strengths and as well as the challenges of a place that need to be targeted to improve the community's quality of life. The tool provides prompts for discussions, allowing you to consider all the elements of a place in a methodical way.

The Place Standard Tool Guidebook offers a more in-depth explanation of how the tool can be used. This guidebook is available here.

There are also additional versions of the Place Standard tool and further supporting resources available to supplement the main tool. For instance, to support children and young people participating in conversations about their places.

The Community Body should consider:

• How to bring in the voices of all sectors of the community.
• Who the proposals affect, either directly, or indirectly.
• What methods of engagement are appropriate for the community.

• Planning Circular 1/2022: Local Place Plans guidance on the preparation, submission and registration of Local Place Plans.
• Our Place website has information, tools and resources on Local Place Plans.
• Planning Aid Scotland (PAS) Community Led Plans and Local Place Plans guidance on development and delivery of plans, and contains a checklist.
• Draft How to guide (Scottish Community Development Centre and Nick Wright Planning) – this was written before the Planning Circular was produced. Please look to the Planning Circular for the most up to date guidance.  
• A&DS and NHS Place Standard – a useful tool of assessing place.
• Scottish Futures Trust Place Guide - a useful process for examining place.
• National Standards for Community Engagement - good-practice principles designed to improve and guide the process of community engagement.

If you have any questions about Local Place Plans, contact: LPP@aberdeencity.gov.uk