We are inviting communities across the Council area to prepare local place plans (LPPs) in accordance with Schedule 19 of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019. LPPs are a new approach to local participation in planning, empowering communities to come together and agree priorities for how they want to see their defined area develop and change for the better. A key feature of LPPs is that they contain proposals for the development and use of land, and the proposals are shown on a map.

Although not an exhaustive list, the following provides examples of things that could feature as proposals in LPPs:

• Sites for housing, employment, tourism, renewable energy or community growing
• Improvements to local green spaces, playparks, community facilities or town or local centres
• Re-use or redevelopment of vacant and derelict sites
• Active travel enhancements (such as improved path links for walking, cycling and wheeling)
• Conservation of local wildlife or built heritage (for example, the restoration of an historic building or the creation of a new habitat)
• Projects to sustainably manage flood risk or protect and restore the water environment

A LPP can only be prepared by a community body. The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 means this is either:

• a community-controlled body within the definition given in Section 19 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015; or
• a community council established in accordance with Part 4 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

We have started work on preparing the Proposed Falkirk Local Development Plan (LDP3). Community bodies can prepare a LPP at any time, but if their purpose in preparing one is to influence LDP3, they should submit it and the required supporting information to the Council's Development Planning Team at ldp@falkirk.gov.uk no later than Monday 05 January 2026. This date is an extension from the previous deadline of 01 April 2025, and has been chosen to fit with the Council's  updated programme for the preparation of LDP3 as set out in the Development Plan Scheme.

Our brief guide, which is currently being updated, summarises the benefits and stages of LPP preparation and also the assistance available to communities preparing their own place plan. The guide has weblinks to tools, web maps and other sources of information that could help community bodies with their LPP work.  

Templates are available to assist with the drafting and submission of LPPs. 

If you have any questions about local place plans or are considering preparing one, please contact us:

We are required by Schedule 19 of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 to keep a register of valid LPPs relating to the Council area.

Currently, there are no entries on the register.