Local Development Plan 3 - Evidence Report Stage Engagement
Argyll and Bute Council · 17 December 2025
Back to Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee — 17 December 2025 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL PLANNING, PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND LICENSING COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 17TH DECEMBER 2025 Local Development Plan 3 – Evidence Report Stage Engagement 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 The purpose of this report is to notify PPSL Committee of the first stage of engagement for Local Development Plan 3 (LDP3), which Members may recall is significantly changed due to changes in the planning legislation. 1.2 The planning authority is required to prepare an Evidence Report to inform and justify the content of the next Local Development Plan (LDP3). The issues to be covered by the Evidence Report are also determined by legislation and are set out in the report. They are divided into 18 Topic Papers and cover a wide range of issues including: Housing, Transport, Infrastructure, Biodiversity, Economy, Flooding, and Play Space. 1.3 The Evidence Report will be informed by the views of stakeholders including key agencies, children and young people, and the general public, to ensure collaborative and transparent evidence gathering. A variety of engagement methods are being employed including the Place Standard Tool. Over the coming months, draft Topic Papers will be placed online for public comment regarding their accuracy and sufficiency to develop LDP3. Once the engagement process has been completed and the Evidence Report finalised, this will be presented to Members at Full Council for approval prior to submission to Scottish Ministers for a Gatecheck, which essentially will seek to confirm that there is sufficient evidence presented to form the basis of preparation of LDP3.. 1.4 Recommendations It is recommended that PPSL: i) Note the contents of this report and the engagement process being undertaken to inform the LDP3 Evidence Report.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL PLANNING, PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND LICENSING COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 17TH DECEMBER 2025 Local Development Plan 3 – Evidence Report Stage Engagement 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 The planning authority is required to prepare an Evidence Report to inform and justify the content of the next Local Development Plan (LDP3). This will be collated around policy topics, and in addition to the 18 Topic Papers, will be supplemented by additional work including a Play Sufficiency Assessment. The Evidence Report is to be informed by the views of stakeholders including key agencies, children and young people, and the general public, to ensure collaborative and transparent evidence gathering. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 Recommendations It is recommended that PPSL: i) Note the contents of this report and the engagement process being undertaken to inform the LDP3 Evidence Report. 4.0 DETAIL 4.1 The planning authority is required to prepare an Evidence Report to inform and justify the content of the next Local Development Plan (LDP3). 4.2 Section 15 (5) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended by the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019) (“the Act (as amended)”) sets out the matters which must be taken into account through the Evidence report,
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which will be collated around policy topics. To comply with this, 18 Topic Papers will be prepared and these are listed below: 1. Climate Change 2. Biodiversity, Woodland and Forestry, and Soils 3. Landscape, Rural Development, and Tourism 4. Historic Assets and Places 5. Vacant and Derelict Land 6. Energy (Renewables) 7. Transport 8. Local Living, and Design, Quality and Place 9. Housing 10. Infrastructure 11. Green and Blue Infrastructure 12. Play Space 13. Flood Risk and Water Management 14. Economy 15. Town Centres and Retail 16. Aquaculture 17. Minerals 18. Green Belt 4.3 Additionally, under section 16(D) of the Act (as amended), the planning authority must assess the sufficiency of play opportunities in its area for children in preparing the evidence report. The Town and Country Planning (Play Sufficiency Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 set out the form and content that is required of a Play Sufficiency Assessment (PSA) as well as the consultation requirements for this. 4.4 Section 16(B) of the Act (as amended) requires that, in preparing the evidence report the planning authority are to seek the views of, and have regard to any views expressed by: (a) the key agencies, (b) children and young people, in particular school pupils, youth councillors and youth parliament representatives, (c) such other persons as may be prescribed, and (d) the public at large 4.5 Additionally, for the PSA, The Town and Country Planning (Play Sufficiency Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 require that, in preparing the PSA, the planning authority must consult: (a) children, (b) parents and carers, (c) community councils within the planning authority’s area established under Part IV of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973(3), and such other community bodies or persons whom the planning authority consider should be consulted, and (d) the public
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4.6 Key agencies, as well as other relevant stakeholder groups, are being engaged with prior to public engagement on each Topic Paper. Additionally, the Topic Papers will be sent to the neighbouring planning authorities at the same time as these are each made available for public engagement. 4.7 In order to comply with section 16(B) of the Act (as amended), public engagement will be undertaken by publishing each Topic Paper online for a period of 6 weeks. A form will be made available for members of the public and community groups to complete to provide their views on whether the evidence is accurate and sufficient, to determine the implications for LDP3. It is anticipated that the 18 Topic Papers will be split into around 3 batches, with between 5 and 7 Topic Papers (and associated appendices) being online at one time, with the first set going online in early 2026. 4.8 Separately, to inform the Design, Quality and Place Topic paper, Place Standard Tool engagement is being used (as recommended in the LDP Guidance. This is a method that is suitable for children and adults alike, and which has been used by the council previously. In addition to public online engagement, Officers are working with schools to undertake targeted youth engagement. 4.9 In order to comply with section 16 (D) of the Act (as amended), as well as The Town and Country Planning (Play Sufficiency Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2023, two online surveys have been developed – one for children and a separate one for parents / carers and the wider public. 4.10 Following this engagement and subsequent finalisation of the Evidence Report, this will be presented to Members at a full Council Committee before being submitted to Scottish Ministers for Gatecheck, as required by Section 16 (B) (5) and (6) of the Act (as amended). 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 Engagement in the preparation of LDP3 is a vital component in the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended). The engagement process outlined herein will ensure collaborative and transparent evidence gathering to inform and justify the content of LDP3. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy – Local Development Plan 3 will replace Local Development Plan 2 (adopted 28th February 2024) in due course.
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6.2 Financial – The Evidence Report stage engagement is being undertaken in- house with no cost pressure. The costs for Gatecheck and Examination are outwith the Development Policy budget and are a cost pressure. Based on previous experience of the existing system these are likely to be in the order of £70-£100k. 30% of this cost would be anticipated in 2026/27 for the Gatecheck. 6.3 Legal – there is a statutory duty to engage during the Evidence Report stage of LDP preparation. 6.4 HR - None 6.5 Customer Service – This report sets out how customers can get involved in the early stage of the LDP3 process. The formal consultation period will be held following production of the Proposed Plan. 6.6 Risk - The preparation of LDP3 will run over 5 years and therefore there is an uncertainty regarding resource levels. Further reduction in resource levels would impact on delivery of LDP3 and could result in failure to meet legislative requirements and Scottish Government performance targets. 6.7 Climate Change - LDP3 will provide an up-to-date position in terms of land use development and climate change impacts against which to assess planning applications. A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) will be carried out as part of the LDP3 process. 6.8 Fairer Scotland Duty - The engagement at Evidence Report stage (as well as subsequent stages) is being handled to encourage engagement with all. An Equalities Impact Assessment will be undertaken as part of the LDP3 process. 6.9 Equalities - protected characteristics. The engagement at Evidence Report stage (as well as subsequent stages) is being handled to encourage engagement with all. An Equalities Impact Assessment will be undertaken as part of the LDP3 process. 6.10 Consumer Duty - The engagement at Evidence Report stage (as well as subsequent stages) is being handled to encourage engagement with all. An Equalities Impact Assessment will be undertaken as part of the LDP3 process. 6.11 Island Communities - The engagement at Evidence Report stage (as well as subsequent stages) is being handled to encourage engagement with all. An Equalities Impact Assessment will be undertaken as part of the LDP3 process. 6.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing - LDP Preparation Guidance requires that Local Authorities make provision for inclusion of children and young people within the preparation of LDPs. Kirsty Flanagan, Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth
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Policy Lead: Councillor Gordon Blair 28th November 2025 For further information contact: Kim de Buiteléir - kim.debuiteleir@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES None