Local Place Plans quick guide

Local Place Plans (LPPs) can be created by communities to highlight planning and spatial design issues, and propose the development or use of land.

They can also identify land and buildings that the community body considers to be of particular significance to the area.

Examples of things that could be featured as proposals in LPPs, but not limited to:

• 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 space and green/blue infrastructure and play facilities
• conservation of the natural/built environment
• improvements in the town/neighbourhood centre
• support for a national development, as featured in the National Planning Framework (NPF4)

LPPs should not include:

• Litter management and dog fouling 
• Improvements to public transport (routes and timetables)
• Proposals which don't fundamentally impact on the long-term use of land, such as occasional activities/events using existing facilities, spaces and places

Link with other plans

Local Place Plans must have regard to locality plans which can feed into the LPP. Local Place Plans and Community Action Plans may feed into one another.

Local Place Plans feed into the Local Development Plan (LDP), along with the National Planning Framework and Regional Spatial Strategy.

Community Action Plans

Community Action Plans (CAPs) are also developed by communities following a community engagement exercise. CAPs detail a particular community’s priorities for the years ahead. Many communities in Aberdeenshire have existing CAPs. Communities may wish to use existing CAPs as the basis for a LPP to avoid unnecessary duplication and effort.

Link with Local Development Plan

Registered LPPs will be taken into account in the preparation of the Local Development Plan 2028 and therefore have weight within the planning process. 

Local Development Plans (LDPs) should reflect the aspirations and contents of a LPP when they are incorporated. The weight given to elements within a LPP is for the Policy Team to determine when preparing the LDP. Elements that are clearly spatial or about developments will be most influential. 

LPPs submitted after the LDP deadline

To be considered in the 2028 Local Development Plan, LPPs must be submitted by late 2024. 

The Policy Team will endeavour to consider LPPs submitted after the deadline for the LDP when developing the Local Development Plan, however depending on the timescales this may not be possible. The opportunity for LPPs to be taken into account diminishes as the LDP plan progresses.

What a LPP must contain

A LPP must:

• Contain a map that shows the land to which the LPP relates to
• Identify the community body that has prepared the map
• Contain a statement of the community body’s proposals as to the development or use of land within the Local Place Plan area

The community body can determine the boundary of the area they wish to consider within the LPP.

Information notice

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 LPP
• A community council any part of whose area is within, or adjoins, the Local Place Plan area

What to include in the notice

The information notice which, accompanies the proposed LPP, must include a brief description of the content and purpose of the purposed LPP, 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.

Representations

It is for the community body to determine how long representations can be made on the purposed LPP 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.

Engagement requirements

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 LPP, 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 whom the proposals affect, either directly or indirectly. It is important that any engagement is fit for purpose and appropriate for the community.

Proposal length

There is no set standard on the length of a LPP, this will vary depending on the boundary size, aspirations, and engagement, as long as it covers the required criteria. A LPP can be a short, clear, visual document which sets out the community body’s proposals and priorities.

What to include when submitting

Once the LPP and accompanying information has been prepared, it can then be submitted to the council. Accompanying information includes:

• Contact details for those submitting the LPP
• Evidence of compliance with requirement to send a copy of the proposed Local Place Plan and the information notice local Councillors and any associated Community Council
• Evidence the community body has ‘had regard’ to certain documents in preparing the Local Place Plan
• A statement outlining why the Local Development Plan should be changed
• A statement setting out (i) its view of the level and nature of support for the Local Place Plan; and (ii) the basis on which it has reached that view, including a description of any consultation in respect of the proposed Local Place Plan

Timescales for submission and validation

Whilst there is no set deadline to submit a LPP, for consideration in the next LDP in 2028 it would need to be submitted by late 2024.

The Delivery Team will consider the proposed LPP and make sure that all the relevant documents and supporting evidence has been submitted before validating a LPP.

The Delivery Team aim to look at LPPs within 4 weeks of submission.

If the LPP is not validated, the Delivery Team will advise the reasons why and look to assist and support the community body with any issues. Any resubmission should be in consultation with the Delivery Team.

LPP register

Once validated LPPs will be considered by the Policy Team when developing the LDP and will be available to view on the council Local Place Plan register.

LPPs are removed from the register when:

• The community body which prepared the LPP requests that it is removed from the register
• The community body which prepared the LPP submits a subsequent LPP which is set to replace or supersede the current LPP

Expiry

A LPP will be valid up to 10 years or until superseded by another LPP that covers the same boundary area.

Community bodies submitting opposing validated LPPs

We encourage community bodies to work together when submitting a LPP, however if two LPPs are submitted and validated, both would be considered in the development of the LDP and officers would take a view based on the information submitted.

Contact

If you have any queries or require support please email delivery@aberdeenshire.gov.uk. We may direct your query to your local area team.