Adoption of Local Development Plan 2
The East Ayrshire Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2) was adopted on 8 April 2024.
The adopted Plan can be viewed below:
The adopted Plan takes on board the contents of a Direction issued by Scottish Government on 25 March 2024 (PDF 121Kb).
On 28 March 2024, Council agreed to modify the Plan in line with the Direction.
Local Development Plan 2 Delivery Programme
On 26 June 2024, East Ayrshire Council Cabinet approved the Local Development Plan 2 - Delivery Programme (PDF 7Mb)
LDP2 policy index
View a full list of LDP2 policies and links.
Masterplan Consent Area
As required by the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019, planning authorities are required to periodically review whether they intend to establish any Masterplan Consent Areas (MCA). On 29 May 2024 Cabinet agreed that we will not pursue an MCA at this point in time, however, this position will be kept under review.
You can view our Masterplan Consent Area statement below for more information.
Masterplan Consent Area statement
The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 introduced Masterplan Consent Areas (MCA) as a new proactive consenting mechanism.
East Ayrshire Council will in future be able to prepare Masterplan Consent Area schemes as part of a placemaking approach to planning and consenting. It is a new way for the Council to shape new development in our area – enabling the type and quality of development we wish to come forward through a consenting masterplan, and to support delivery of development that can support local needs, priorities and outcomes.
Unlike planning applications which are typically led by a developer, the preparation of MCA schemes will be led by the planning authority, but can be taken forward through collaboration.
The new provisions will allow East Ayrshire Council to prepare an MCA ‘Scheme’ setting out for particular places, the detail of what they are giving consent for, through the MCA scheme. There will be requirements for publicity and consultation on individual schemes.
MCA schemes can streamline consent, allowing issues to be considered as part of a joined up approach, they can grant:
- planning permission
- roads construction consent
- listed building consent
- conservation area consent
Within adopted MCA areas, development could be brought forward without the need for a full application as long as it is in line with the agreed scheme.
More details about Masterplan Consent Areas are available in the Consultation Paper on the draft MCA Regulations – the Scottish Government’s consultation closed on 22 May 2024.
Consideration of the Duty to periodically consider making MCA schemes
Part 2 of the 2019 Act (Section 15) sets out the legal framework for preparing MCAs. The full provisions from the Act relating to MCAs and the associated regulations are not yet in force. We anticipate the MCA provisions being fully in place later in 2024.
However, Schedule 5A Paragraph 5 is in force and requires planning authorities to consider whether it would be desirable to make a scheme for a part or parts of their district, and to publish a statement as to their consideration of that, by 25 July 2024.
As the MCA regulations are not yet in place, East Ayrshire Council has not yet identified or assessed potential locations for which it may be desirable to bringing forward an MCA scheme. The Council intends to reconsider this once the legal basis for preparing MCAs is in place.
The Scottish Government has indicated that MCAs could be used to support delivery of the local development plan. We will consider whether it would be desirable to make any Masterplan Consent Areas as part of our work on delivery linked to the Local Development Plan 2 Delivery Programme and as part of our forthcoming work on Local Development Plan 3.
This Statement fulfils the Council’s legal requirements under Schedule 5A Paragraph 5 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, as amended.
Intention to adopt Local development plan 2, as modified
On 22 February 2024, the Council agreed to accept all the recommendations of the Examination into Local Development Plan 2 and agreed to adopt the Plan, as modified.
On 4 March 2024 the Council notified Scottish Ministers of its intention to adopt the Plan. Scottish Ministers have 28 days to consider the Plan and whether the Council should be directed to make any changes to it.
The list of modifications as set out in the Examination Report can be viewed below:
The list of non-notifiable modifications can be viewed below:
You can still view the original proposed plan below.
Local development plan 2 examination report
On 20 December 2023, the Council received the outcome of the Local Development Plan 2 Examination. The documents can be viewed below:
Local development plan 2 examination background information
On 5 December 2022, we agreed to submit Local Development Plan 2 to Scottish Ministers for Examination. The Plan and all necessary paperwork was submitted to the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) on 24 February 2023.
On 3 April 2023, the Scottish Government appointed Mr Stephen Hall BA (Hons) BPI MRTPI to carry out the Examination of the Plan. Two further Reporters have since been appointed; Mr Steve Field BA(Hons) MRTPI and Mr Andrew Fleming BA(Hons) BTP MRTPI. The Examination of the conformity with the planning authority's participation statement has now concluded and the Examination proper commenced on 11 May 2023.
All information, including the summaries of unresolved issues (known as Schedule 4 forms) can be viewed on the DPEA website. The DPEA reference number is LDP-190-4.
Further guidance and information
Further guidance on the examination process is available from Scottish Government: Development Plans.
The Scottish Government: guidance note explains development plan examinations for people who have submitted representations.
If you require further information about the progress of the examination please contact:
Jayne Anderson, Planning and Environmental Appeals
Ground Floor, Hadrian House
Callendar Business Park
Falkirk
FK1 1XR
Telephone: 0131 244 6934
Email: jayne.anderson@gov.scot.
Local development plan 2 consultation
The consultation is now closed. Find out what happens next on the proposed Local Development Plan 2 consultation page.
The original proposed plan
The Plan comprises two separate main documents, alongside an additional map, that will be used to shape development within our district between 2023-2028:
- Volume 1: Vision, aims, spatial strategy and policies (PDF 72.58Mb)
- Volume 2: Settlement maps (site allocations) (PDF 36.01Mb)
- Rural area map (PDF 21.29Mb)
Supplementary guidance
Supplementary guidance has been published. When adopted, this will form part of the statutory development plan.
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