Development planning is the part of the planning system that guides the future use of land and buildings through plans, policies and guidance.  

Development plans set out the long term vision for how our places will change in the future, including where development should and shouldn’t happen. This includes where new homes and workplaces will be built, and how services and facilities will be provided, such as education and travel.  

All local authorities in Scotland have a legal duty to prepare a Local Development Plan (LDP) for their area. This means that the starting point in making decisions on planning applications is the development plan, before any other considerations are then taken into account.