A Local Development Plans (LDP) is prepared by the local planning authority, in this case West Lothian Council. It sets out a local interpretation of the requirements of national and strategic policy.
The Local Development Plan must conform to the approved Strategic Development Plan (SDP) which has been prepared by the strategic planning authority (SESplan) and its purpose is to implement requirements on a more detailed site-specific basis than exists within the SDP.
LDP 1 comprises a written statement and five proposals maps. The written statement provides the general policy context against which planning applications for new development proposals will be assessed. This is supported by the proposals maps which show the range of development opportunities and constraints within the area.
The Adopted West Lothian Local Development Plan 2018 (LDP 1):Written Statement Proposal Maps |
On the 4 September 2018, the council adopted the West Lothian Local Development Plan (LDP 1) in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended) and Town and Country Planning (Development Planning) (Scotland) Regulations 2008.
LDP 1 was the first of a new generation of land use plans and replaced the previous West Lothian Local Plan 2009 (WLLP).
LDP's are intended to provide the vision and land use strategy for how communities will grow and develop in the future and also to provide certainty for communities and prospective investors by clearly illustrating where and how new development should take place. It also identifies those parts of West Lothian that should be protected from development.
LDP's identify the supporting infrastructure required for growth and set out detailed policies and proposals which are the basis for decision making on future planning applications. LDP1 looks forward for planned developments for the next 10 years and provides an indication of where further developments can take place over the next 20 years.
Together with the Edinburgh and South East Scotland Strategic Development Plan 2013 (SDP), the West Lothian Local Development Plan 2018 forms the Development Plan for this area and has legal status in decision making on planning applications together with the relevant statutory Supplementary Guidance (SG) which explains in greater detail how planning policies will be implemented.
LDP 1 can be viewed at West Lothian Civic Centre, Howden South Road, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6FF during normal opening hours (Monday - Thursday 8.30am - 5pm and on a Friday 8.30am - 4pm.
Printed copies of LDP 1 are also available to purchase for the sum of £75 (inclusive of £5 postal/packaging charge). Please note that if collecting from the Civic Centre, there is no delivery charge. Payments can be made by credit or debit card or by cheque to 'West Lothian Council'.
| | Cost (for pick up only) | Cost (including post & package) |
| Adopted Local Development Plan 2018 (LDP 1) (including Proposals Maps) | £70 | £75 |
| Proposals Maps only | £17 | £20 |
If you have any questions relating to LDP 1, the Development Planning process in general or just want to provide feedback and comments on our service, please email the Development Planning & Environment team at wlldp@westlothian.gov.uk. You can also write to us at Development Planning & Environment, West Lothian Civic Centre, Howden South Road, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6FF or phone 01506 280000.
Supplementary Guidance (SG)
Statutory Supplementary Guidance is part of LDP 1 and expands upon existing policies and proposals.
Statutory Supplementary Guidance has been subject to extensive consultation and formal adoption procedures via Scottish ministers. This gives it significant weight when making planning decisions.
The council has prepared and adopted Supplementary Guidance on a range of topics.
Planning Guidance (PG)
Non-statutory Planning Guidance has been prepared with the same rigour as statutory Supplementary Guidance and has been the subject of consultation with external parties and community councils before being scrutinised and approved by the council. It has not however required to be submitted to Scottish Ministers.
Non-statutory Planning Guidance can be helpful in enabling quality planning outcomes and used to provide detail on a range of subject areas. One of the benefits of non-statutory guidance is that it can be updated quickly when necessary and can also be prepared where an issue arises unexpectedly during the lifecycle of the LDP.
Adoption of non-statutory Planning Guidance by the council affords it material status in the decision making process.
The council has prepared and adopted Guidance on a range of topics.
Action Programme
The Adopted West Lothian Local Development Plan 2018 Action Programme
WLLDP Action Programme 2018 Consultation document [3.82MB] was adopted by the council in February 2019 and sets out a detailed plan of actions and partnerships needed to deliver the key infrastructure and developments identified in the LDP. It will also act as a project management tool and a mechanism for monitoring the delivery of the Local Development Plan. It will comply with Section 21 of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006, which requires planning authorities to prepare an Action Programme alongside their respective development plan.
It is important that the Action Programme remains relevant and up-to-date and it will therefore be updated and republished on an annual basis until the end of the plan period.
SEA Post Adoption Statement
West Lothian Council has formally adopted its Local Development Plan and as part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) regulations, the council has published a 'Post Adoption Statement' that summarises all comments made during the consultation and how these comments were considered within the LDP process.
Development Plan Scheme (DPS)
The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 requires Local Authorities to publish an annual Development Plan Scheme (DPS).
The DPS sets out the programme for preparing and reviewing the Local Development Plan and also explains what is involved at each of the key stages. It creates an awareness of the LDP preparation process and how and when people can engage with the process.
The Development Plan Scheme is reviewed at least every year and the most recent scheme is
West Lothian Local Development Plan Scheme No.12 (Issued Feb 2020) [311.59KB] which was published in February 2020.
For Information: The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019
The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 came into force on 25th July 2019 and makes significant changes to the Town And Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 including alterations to the development plan system.
Secondary legislation and guidance to enable implementation of the new Act has begun to come forward (with some sections of the Act already commenced) however the current coronavirus pandemic has seen the original timescales for publication of the residual legislation change and Scottish Government is now advising early 2022 as the most likely date.
