West Lothian Local Development Plan Development plan scheme: No. 6 – March 2014

westlothian.gov.uk 1 2 West Lothian Local Development Plan Development plan scheme: No. 6 – March 2014

Introduction This is the eighth Development Plan Scheme The development plan covering West Lothian (DPS) to be published by West Lothian Council. currently comprises the Strategic Development This latest version takes account of the approval Plan and the adopted West Lothian Local Plan 2009. by Scottish Ministers of the South East Scotland The Edinburgh and South East Scotland Strategic Development Plan (SDP) and the Strategic Development Plan Authority requirement to prepare supplementary guidance (SESplan) was designated by Scottish for housing. Ministers on 25 June 2008. It comprises City West Lothian Council is required, by law, to of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Fife, Midlothian, produce a Local Development Plan (LDP) for Scottish Borders and West Lothian councils. its area. In preparing the LDP the council will SESplan’s main role is to prepare and maintain engage and work with key stakeholders and the an up-to-date SDP for the Edinburgh and wider community. When adopted, the LDP will South East Scotland area. The SDP DPS No.5 replace the adopted West Lothian Local Plan. The was published by SESplan in early 2013. The LDP will require to conform to the SDP. The LDP, SDP itself was approved by Scottish Ministers will in time, help steer a sustainable growth path on 27 June 2013 with modifications and for West Lothian in the context of challenging supercedes the previous Edinburgh &the issues including the economic downturn and Lothians Structure Plan, the Fife Structure compliance with the Climate Change (Scotland) Plan (in part) and the Scottish Borders Act 2009. Structure Plan. A new DPS, DPS No.6 is expected to be produced by SESplan prior to 31 March this year.

3 What is a development plan scheme?

West Lothian Council is required by law – the The DPS includes: Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 – to prepare a summary of the new development a Development Plan Scheme (DPS) at least planning system; annually. The DPS sets out our programme a proposed updated timetable for for preparing and reviewing the LDP. We will preparing our LDP; update the DPS at least every year, to keep you a summary of what is involved at the informed about the LDP’s progress. This is the various stages of preparing the LDP; and eighth DPS that the council has approved. This latest version updates and rolls forward DPS a Participation Statement (PS), with information on when and how you can get No.5A and reflects changes to timescales in involved. taking forward the SDP which has had some impact on projected timescales for taking The Development Planning (Scotland) forward the LDP. Regulations 2008 requires the DPS timetabling information to specify the proposed year and month for the publication of our Main Issues Report (MIR), the publication of the Proposed LDP and its submission to Scottish Ministers.

4 What are development plans? The planning system impacts on us all, The projected plan period for the current SDP either directly or indirectly. There is a is 2009-2032. The plan will enable and steer statutory requirement on councils to prepare future development across the Edinburgh development plans which are the basis for city region. The SDP was approved by Scottish decision making on planning applications. They Ministers with modifications on 27 June 2013. contain a strategy for the future development Of particular importance are the modifications of an area and set out policies and proposals to requiring the preparation of supplementary guide the future development and use of land. guidance to identify the individual housing The topics are not set in legislation, but usually requirements for each LDP area. On 12 November cover issues like the environment, housing, built 2013 SESplan published draft supplementary heritage, transport and infrastructure, economic guidance for consultation. The consultation development, retailing, extraction of natural ended on 23 December 2013 and responses are resources, waste management and renewable now being assessed with a view to submission of energy development. the guidance to Scottish ministers for approval. The new development planning system, which The Scottish Ministers expect the supplementary was introduced in February 2009, will provide guidance to be adopted by June 2014. LDPs policy guidance on where and how development in the SESplan area cannot be submitted to will take place in West Lothian and elsewhere in Ministers until after the supplementary guidance Scotland and will be influenced by the following has been adopted. three key statutory documents (web links are Local Development Plans: these are produced provided where available): by the local planning authorities (i.e. West The Second National Planning Framework for Lothian Council) and set out more detailed Scotland (NPF2): this is produced by the Scottish policies and proposals to guide development. Government and sets out, at the national level, These plans, which are adopted by the council, the Scottish Government’s strategy for the must accord with the approved SDP (in the country’s development, in terms of how we case of city regions) and seek to implement are to develop our environment and includes requirements on a more detailed site-specific development proposals identified as schemes basis than exists within SDPs. The council’s Local of national importance. NPF2 was published in Development Plan webpage gives more details. December 2008. Supplementary Guidance: The SDP and The proposed NPF3, which will in time the LDP together will form the statutory supersede NPF 2, was laid before the Scottish development plan for West Lothian. In addition, Parliament on 14 January 2014. The council will Supplementary Guidance (SG) on a specific monitor any implications for West Lothian arising planning topic may be prepared and form part from this. of the statutory development plan, but only where it has been specifically identified as Strategic Development Plan: these will be required in an SDP or LDP. Proposed SG will be produced by Strategic Development Planning set out by the council in the Main Issues Report Authorities (SDPAs) which have been set up for the LDP. for Scotland’s four largest city regions. SDPs set out a long term (20 years or more) land use planning strategy indicating, in broad terms, where future development will be located and what is needed to deliver it. The South East Scotland Strategic Development Plan Authority (SESplan) comprises the City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Fife, Midlothian, Scottish Borders and West Lothian councils.

5 What development plans do we have at the What are we going to do in the future? moment covering West Lothian? The Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006 requires The approved development plan for the West West Lothian Council to establish a development Lothian area comprises the approved SDP, strategy for the future development of West which replaces the previous Edinburgh and Lothian in the form of a LDP. This must accord the Lothians Structure Plan 2015 and the West with the terms of the SDP for the Edinburgh and Lothian Local Plan 2009. South East Scotland City Region.

West Lothian Local Plan There are various key stages, work streams and documents which are required as part of the LDP The West Lothian Local Plan was adopted by preparation process and these are illustrated the council on 13 January 2009 and replaced below: the adopted Bathgate area, Broxburn area, Calders area, Linlithgow area and Livingston Technical/background papers; local plans. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA); Equalities and Human Rights Impact Assessment; Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) (proposed plan only); Monitoring Statement; Action Programme (proposed plan only); and Transport Appraisal.

6 Assessing the plans Preparing local development plans To make sure the LDP takes account of effects When we prepare LDPs, we need to follow on the environment and do not badly affect certain steps which are set out in Scottish European nature conservation sites or any Government regulations: particular social group, we will carry out the following assessments: We prepare and publish the Development Plan Scheme (DPS) A Strategic Environmental Assessment - this assessment makes sure that the plan takes full account of: We prepare and publish a monitoring report, a main issues report and an environmental report plant and animal life (flora and fauna); population and human health; We publish the proposed plan and soil, water and air; environmental report the climate; We make any changes that are necessary material assets (for example footpaths); cultural heritage; and We send the plan to Scottish Ministers the landscape. Historic Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) A reporter appointed by the Scottish and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency Government examines the proposed plan (SEPA), will closely examine this assessment and have provided comments on the council’s We publish the proposed plan with changes Scoping Opinion which was submitted to recommended by the reporter Scottish Ministers in early 2012. A habitats regulations appraisal (including We adopt the plan and publish the adopted appropriate assessment) - this assessment version considers any effects arising from development that there may be on important environmental We adopt and publish an action programme areas known as Natura 2000 sites (protected sites for plants and animals that are rare or in The progress of the LDP is dependent upon the danger). This involves looking at why the site is progress of the SDP. designated a Natura 2000 site and how it might be affected. We will work closely with Scottish Natural Heritage to prepare this assessment. A statement on the Habitats Appraisal will accompany the MIR and a full HRA will accompany the proposed plan stage of the LDP. An equalities and human rights impact assessment - this looks at how the plan might affect different groups in the community. We must carry out this assessment for the LDP, but we may also choose to carry out other assessments. If we do, we will make sure that we clearly explain what they are in the introduction to the LDP and on our website.

7 Strategic Development Plan The DPS No.5 for the SDP sets out the following timescale for preparation of SDP2 which will replace the current SDP.

Final Ministerial decision on SDP1 (27 June 2013)

Early Awareness Raising for Main Issues Report 2 (spring 2013)

Publication and Consultation of Main Issues Report 2 (autumn/winter 2014)

Analysis of Main Issues Report 2 Consultation responses (end 2014 - early 2015)

Publication of Proposed Plan 2, including revised Environmental Report, Action Programme and Equalities and Human Rights Impact Assessment including Period for Representations (spring - summer 2016)

Analysis of representations (summer 2016 – winter 2016) If the SDPA make modifications to the Proposed Plan and Environmental Report then further formal consultation will be undertaken and the timeline will be amended accordingly

Submission of the Proposed Plan, Environmental Report and representations received to Scottish Ministers (spring 2017)

Examination of Proposed Strategic Development Plan 2 by Scottish Ministers (summer 2017 - early 2018)

Approval of SDP2 (anticipated summer 2018) An updated DPS No.6 is expected to be published by SESplan before 31 March 2014 and will be published on their website. 8 West Lothian Development Plan Scheme No.6 The West Lothian DPS No.6 sets out the following timescale for preparing the LDP:

Publication of Development Plan Scheme No.1 (March 2009)

Publication of Development Plan Scheme No.2 (March 2010)

Seeking expressions of interest in development sites and general questionnaire to identify key issues for the LDP (January – May 2011)

Publication of Development Plan Scheme No.3 (January 2011)

Publication of Development Plan Scheme No.3A (June 2011)

Publication of Development Plan Scheme No.4 (March 2012)

Publication of Development Plan Scheme No.5 (March 2013)

Publication of Development Plan Scheme No.5A (September 2013)

Preparation of Main Issues Report (autumn 2010 - summer 2014)

Publication of Main Issues Report and Environmental Report (summer 2014)

Publish formal responses to Main Issues Report (late autumn / winter 2014)

Publication of proposed plan including Environmental Report and Action Programme (spring 2015)

Submission of proposed plan to Scottish Ministers for Examination (autumn 2015)

Examination of representations outstanding (within 12 months of plan being published)

With this timescale, the earliest date for adoption of the LDP would be in early to mid 2016. This will not comply with the new requirement to review Local Development Plans every five years as set out in the Development Plan Regulations 2008 and Circular 6/2013 Development Planning. However, the council has had to closely follow the progress of the SDP which has not met originally anticipated timescales. Development of the LDP to any significant degree, without the certainty of progress of the SDP, could put the LDP at risk. When will we update our DPS? We will continue to review our DPS every year. We will present a further updated DPS (DPS No.7) to the Council Executive in early 2015 and aim to publish it in April 2015, subject to Council Executive approval. If there are significant changes to report in the interim this could lead to an earlier update of the DPS.

9 Participation Statement 2012-14 – consultation with key agencies Background Purpose: to help inform the MIR the council Under the Planning etc (Scotland) Act has contacted and consulted with all key 2006, councils must include a Participation agencies such as Scottish Water, Historic Statement (PS) in their Development Scotland, Scottish Environment Protection Plan Schemes. This should set out when Agency (SEPA), Health and Safety Executive consultation is likely to take place, with whom, and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to assess its likely form, and the steps that will be taken sites submitted under the council’s ‘call for to involve the public in the LDP’s preparation sites’ exercise and identify any key issues or review stages. for the LDP. We have also consulted with neighbouring planning authorities and the The Scottish Government sets out guidance Scottish Government. on how the community can effectively engage in the planning process in Planning Advice Summer 2014 - public consultation on Main Note 81 Community Engagement – Planning Issues Report MIR with People (PAN 81). Early engagement is Purpose: to seek the views of individuals/ defined as being the Main Issues Report (MIR) organisations on the content of the published stage of the LDP. However, we intend, through MIR – an opportunity to submit representations the proposals set out in this DPS, to extend on the various LDP development options our engagement proposals beyond PAN 81’s for the LDP area, including the preferred minimum requirements. development strategy. Consultation will also take place through the Citizens Panel in West Consultation programme Lothian, with local schools, Community Councils Winter 2010/11 - press release and launch and the Association of Community Councils Purpose: to raise awareness of the LDP process through various events/meetings and also by and set out in general terms the task that lies publicising this at various council venues and ahead, generate interest, and identify those other venues such as the various partnership parties that are interested in engaging in the centres, shopping centres, libraries etc. LDP process. Late autumn / winter 2014 - publish formal Winter 2010/11 - initial consultation responses to comments on the MIR Purpose: to obtain first input from interested Purpose: to keep interested parties informed. individuals/organisations, starting with a blank Spring 2015 - proposed LDP published and canvas. Input has been obtained through a formal representation phase range of different techniques such as a key Purpose: to give stakeholders and consultees the issues questionnaire, publicity in the local press opportunity to submit formal representations and on the council’s website and Facebook to the plan. Any representations that cannot and Twitter pages, press releases, writing to all be resolved through negotiation and are not community councils and seeking expression of withdrawn will be considered in a subsequent interest in sites and identification of issues. We Examination of the plan. aimed to make sure the process was delivered efficiently by making it easy to make responses Autumn 2015 - Submission of Proposed Plan electronically, through the web site or other to Scottish Ministers, including the council e-channels. We will contact all interested parties response to formal objections and subsequent again in March 2014 via our LDP Newsletter. Examination.

Early to mid 2016 - Adoption of Local Development Plan.

This reflects our current thinking but the timing and content of planned consultation stages may change, hence the need for an annual review or a more frequent review if deemed necessary. 10 Keeping you informed Group 2, third sector and community reference We will notify interested parties and group stakeholders at periodic stages throughout Purpose: to make the views of a cross- the LDP process, but we want to do more section of community and voluntary groups than just comply with the Regulations, by available to the council: providing frequent updates. For this up to date Association of Community Councils, information visit our LDP webpage. This lets you individual Community Councils, register your details on the website, and then be residents groups, notified of any up and coming developments or the Disability Forum, events. Senior Peoples Forum and Groups of consultees local schools. Not all consultees/stakeholders will be Group 3, partners working on other regional interested or able to be involved in the and local planning exercises LDP process to the same extent. It is also Purpose: to ensure a joined up approach. hard to reach out to and hear the views Partners will be kept involved throughout of some of the sectors of our community. and involved in the decision making process. We therefore propose to identify different Steering groups will be formed as necessary. groups of consultees and tailor their level of Internal stakeholders will include: involvement. Education; Group 1, the community Economic Development; Purpose: to reach individual members of Environmental Health; the public through: Finance and Estates; newspaper advertisements, notices Flood Prevention; and articles Renewable Energy officers; and the continuously updated council Housing Services. website, External stakeholders will include the council’s Facebook and Twitter Transport Scotland; webpages; SESplan; and West Lothian Council’s iphone/ipad app; SEStran. the West Lothian Big Local App gives both Group 4, public sector delivery/ android and iphone users access to our implementation group website; Purpose: to give regular input throughout the through the council’s Citizens Panel (which LDP preparation process. Close engagement reaches to nearly 3000 West Lothian throughout, with, those involved in aspects Citizens); of evidence base gathering and testing broad through the council’s newspaper The development scenarios. These would include Bulletin; key consultees/agencies, such as: Health and Safety Executive; contacting local schools to engage our younger population; and Historic Scotland; NHS Lothian; providing updates to subscribers to our LDP e-newsletter. Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA); Engagement phases will be planned Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH); around the formal public consultation Scottish Water; and phases of the main stages of the plan, e.g. neighbouring planning authorities. the Main Issues Report and Proposed Plan Initial contact has already been made with stage of the LDP. these parties and further engagement will take place.

11 Group 5, private sector reference group Purpose: to make current market information and a cross-section of commercial views available and to establish common ground on aspects of the evidence base. This would be restricted to broader issues to respect commercial sensitivity and could include developers, existing businesses within West Lothian, the West Lothian Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses. Attendance at West Lothian business events is a further option.

Standards for involving the community We will continue to use the national standards for involving the community set out by the Scottish Government in Planning Advice Note (PAN) 81. This will allow you to have your say and be listened to. We will be using these standards alongside other guidance on involving the community. The table below sets out each standard and what it means:

Involvement Sharing information We will identify and involve people and We will make sure that we share information organisations who have an interest in what between the public and organisations we are doing. taking part. Planning Working with others We will gather evidence of what we need We will work efficiently with others who are people to be involved in, and the resources interested in getting involved in planning. available, and use this evidence to agree: Improvement why we want to involve people and organisations; We will develop the skills, knowledge and confidence of all those taking part. what we will involve them in; how long it will take; and Feedback what we will do to involve them. We will provide the results of involving the community to the wider community and Support agencies they affect. We will identify and overcome any problems Monitoring and evaluation that could stop people getting involved. We will monitor and assess whether: Methods We will use methods of involving people and we gathered the information we needed by organisations that meet our and their needs. involving people; and Working together the process met these national standards for involving the community. We will use clear procedures that allow the people and organisations taking part to work together effectively and efficiently.

Scottish Planning = Effective Engagement and Delivery This guidance by Planning Aid Scotland will help us to work towards involving the community more effectively. This document (also known as SP=EED) has three separate levels which work together to make involving the community in the planning system more effective. Level 1 - giving information Level 2 - consulting and listening Level 3 - partnership You can find out more about SP=EED on the Planning Aid Scotland website.

12 How can I get involved? publishing key documents on our website relative to the LDP and also on Facebook In the past some people have, for various reasons, and Twitter, through the council's iphone not been able to, or have chosen not to, get app which is free to sign up to and the West involved in the local planning process. Because Lothian Big Local App for both android and plans can be complex, it can be hard to see how iphone users; they can affect people in their own specific areas. providing paper copies of documents at It is vital that we hear from a wide range of each library and Council Information Service interests in order to make the plan inclusive (CIS) office at important stages of the plan, and representative of stakeholders in the i.e. MIR and proposed plan; future of West Lothian. So we want to make preparing press releases and awareness- it as easy as we can to get people involved in raising publicity drives at each key stage the LDP by making access to information and of the LDP process, including publicising communication with us as straightforward as the LDP at key stages in the council’s free newspaper, the Bulletin, which goes to all possible. There will be plenty of opportunities West Lothian households, as well as those for people to comment on our process and who have signed up to the free e-Bulletin, help to shape the LDP. We plan to use a range the electronic version of the bulletin; of techniques, including: producing documents in plain English and publicising a dedicated LDP phone number where required we will make information and email address where you can ask available in Braille, on tape, in large print questions about the LDP process and get a and other community languages; and personal response; providing a form so you can give us feedback we published our first LDP Newsletter, which at each stage of the LDP process. The form was a printed version, to keep interested will be available in hard copy format or in parties up-to-date with the progress of the LDP. interactive pdf form from the website; following from this we have now set up keeping a record of everyone who responds and sent e-newsletters, that customers can in a database for newsletters, keeping subscribe to, if they want to be kept up to people in touch with the process and up date with developments on the LDP. and coming consultation events; 13 If you want to be involved in the LDP process you can contact us by: calling the Development Planning team on: completing the online feedback form for 01506 282425 (lines open 8:30am to 5pm, this DPS Monday to Thursday and 8:30am to 4pm on our Local Development Plan webpage has Friday) more information on the LDP process and is emailing us: updated regularly [email protected] subscribe to the LDP e-newsletter writing to us: Development Planning team, Planning and Economic Development, County Buildings, High Street, Linlithgow, West Lothian EH49 7EZ visit us - we have temporarily moved office: Development Planning team, Lomond House, Beveridge Square,Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6QF

14 Glossary and list of acronyms for Development Plan Scheme APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT: The Habitats Regulations require competent authorities to carry out appropriate assessments in certain circumstances where a plan or project affects a Natura (European) site. Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) refers to the whole process, including the appropriate assessment step. Appropriate assessment is required when a plan or project affecting a Natura site: Is not connected with management of the site for nature conservation, and Is likely to have a significant effect on the site (either alone or in combination with other plans or projects) More information can be found at this link on the Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) website: http://www.snh.gov.uk/ protecting-scotlands-nature/protected-areas/international-designations/natura-sites/habitats-regulations-appraisal/ COMMUNITY COUNCILS: Community Councils are the most local tier of statutory representation in Scotland. They bridge the gap between local authorities and communities, and help to make public bodies aware of the opinions and needs of the communities they represent. Their primary purpose is to ascertain and express the views of the community to the local authority and other public bodies. Many Community Councils also involve themselves in a wide range of other activities including fundraising, organising community events, undertaking environmental and educational projects and much more. There are currently around 35 Community Councils in West Lothian, all of which are composed of elected volunteers from the community. More information on Community Councils in West Lothian can be found at these links: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/PublicServiceReform/CommunityCouncils http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/Council_and_government/pol_elec_democracy/774/ DEVELOPMENT PLAN: A generic term for the Structure Plan and/or Local Plan, or Strategic Development Plan and/or Local Development Plan, which apply to a planning authority area. Any planning application should be determined in accordance with the Development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. DEVELOPMENT PLANNING: The Development Plan is a document that sets out how places should change and what they could be like in the future. It says what type of development should take place where, and which areas should not be developed. It sets out the best locations for new homes and businesses and protects places of value to people or wildlife. The plan also helps development to take place quickly by describing how any new or improved facilities, such as roads, schools and parks, will be provided. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/National- Planning-Policy/themes/dev-plan DEVELOPMENT PLAN SCHEME: A document required to be published annually by every planning authority, outlining their timetable for preparing and reviewing their Development Plan; and also a participation statement outlining when, how and with whom, consultation will take place. DEVELOPMENT PLANNING (SCOTLAND) REGULATIONS 2008: This key piece of secondary legislation deals with the form, content and procedures for SDPs and local development plans (LDPs). The link to the regulations can be found here: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2008/426/contents/made EQUALITIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS IMPACT ASSESSMENT: The Equality Act 2010 (the Act) introduces a new public sector equality duty. The Act sets out the ‘general duty’ which requires public authorities to pay due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination; advance equality of opportunity; and foster good relations across a range of protected characteristics.

15 HABITATS REGULATIONS APPRAISAL (HRA): The Habitats Regulations require competent authorities to assess certain plans or projects which affect Natura sites. Any development proposal, which requires planning permission or other consent, is a 'project' which may require consideration under the Habitats Regulations. All strategic and local development plans are 'plans' which may require consideration under the Habitats Regulations. More information can be found at the following link: http://www.snh.gov.uk/planning-and-development/ environmental-assessment/habitat-regulations-appraisal/ LOCAL PLAN: Part of the Development Plan - a statutory document prepared after full public consultation - containing maps, and planning policies which are the main basis for assessing planning applications. As of 2009, planning authorities are required to replace Local Plans with Local Development Plans (see reference to Local Development Plans). LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (LDP): Part of the Development Plan - a statutory document required to be prepared (as of 2009), after full public consultation, by all planning authorities in Scotland to replace existing Local Plans (see reference to Local Plans). The LDP is the basis for making planning decisions in a given area. It must contain a 'spatial strategy' and a 'vision statement', planning policies and maps. In the four city-regions, the LDP will be supplemented with a Strategic Development Plan; elsewhere the Development Plan will comprise only the Local Development Plan. MAIN ISSUES REPORT (FOR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS) (MIR): The Main Issues Report represents the first formal stage of the new Local Development Plan (LDP) aimed at encouraging discussion on the key changes and issues for an area and usually based on subject areas such as housing land, employment land, transport, the environment, minerals, waste, infrastructure etc. It usually contains preferred and alternative strategies related to each 'main issue'. NATIONAL PLANNING FRAMEWORK (NPF): The Scottish Government’s strategy for the long-term development of Scotland’s towns, cities and countryside. It sets out a vision for Scotland’s development for the next 20 to 25 years and designates developments of national importance, such as the Replacement Forth Crossing. Development Plans must have regard to the content of the NPF. NPF2 is presently in place and a draft NPF3 is being worked on by the Scottish Government that will in time replace NPF2. PLANNING ADVICE NOTES (PANs): Documents produced by the Scottish Government providing advice on good practice and other relevant planning information. PLANNING ETC (SCOTLAND) ACT 2006: Primary legislation that requires all councils, in this instance West Lothian Council, to establish a development strategy for the future development of West Lothian in the form of a LDP. This will have to accord with the terms of the SDP for the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region. ‘PROPOSED PLAN’ STAGE (FOR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS): The ‘Proposed Plan’ stage of a Local Development Plan is a key stage in the process and follows the ‘Main Issues Report’ stage (see Main Issues Report). A ‘Proposed Plan’ must be in line with Government Policies and the Strategic Development Plan (in our case SESplan) and represents the council’s settled position on a Local Development Plan and invites third party comments, which normally leads to an ‘examination in public’. Following this examination, reporters findings (a reporter appointed on behalf of Scottish Ministers) will be published and plan thereafter adopted by the council and will replace the previous development plan at the level covering the area, in our case the West Lothian Local Development Plan.

16 STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AUTHORITY FOR EDINBURGH AND SOUTH EAST SCOTLAND (SESplan): SESplan is the Strategic Development Planning Authority for Edinburgh and South East Scotland tasked with providing the Strategic Development Plan for the Edinburgh City Region. It is a statutory authority that is a partnership of the following planning authorities; City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, Scottish Borders, Fife and West Lothian Councils. It has the duty to prepare and maintain a strategic development plan (SDP) for the SESplan area. The SDP, which in June 2013 replaced the previous Edinburgh and the Lothians Structure Plan, sets out a ‘strategic level’ spatial planning strategy to guide development within the Edinburgh City Region for a 20 year period. STRATEGIC DEVELEOPMENT PLAN (SDP): Part of the Development Plan - a, statutory document prepared after full public consultation. SDPs apply to the four 'city-regions' (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and surrounding areas) and cover several local authority areas. SDPs are required to be prepared jointly by planning authorities acting as 'Strategic Development Planning Authorities' (SDPAs) as of 2009 to replace existing structure plans (see below). SDPs will set parameters for Local Development Plans; contain 'vision statements' and 'spatial strategies'; and will consider how land use proposals for neighbouring areas will impact on the SDP area. The SDP relevant to West Lothian and covering the Edinburgh city region is SESplan (see reference to SESplan). STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (SEA): The requirement to undertake and publish environmental assessment of plans, programmes or strategies at a strategic level. STRUCTURE PLAN: Part of the Development Plan - a statutory document prepared after full public consultation containing strategic policies which can cover several local authority areas. As of 2009 all planning authorities are required to replace these with Strategic Development Plans (see reference to Strategic Development Plan) in the four city regions; elsewhere Local Development Plans only are required. SUPPLEMENTARY GUIDANCE: Documents used by planning authorities to provide additional detailed guidance on certain topics, policies or proposals which are set out in Development Plans. we refer to these as ‘supplementary planning guidance’ in West Lothian.

Website addresses in full: SESplan (Strategic Development Plan) - http://www.sesplan.gov.uk/ West Lothian Local Plan 2009 - http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/1210/161/178/wllp NPF2 - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/12/12093953/0 NPF3 - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/NPF3-SPP-Review/NPF3 Local Development Plan - http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/1210/161/178/localdevelopmentplan Planning Aid Scotland - http://www.planningaidscotland.org.uk/ LDP newsletter / e-bulletin subscription- http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/Council_and_government/ Winterready/enews DPS feedback form - http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/media/downloaddoc/1799514/1841832/2114979/form_dsp_no4

17 Information is available in Braille, tape, large print and community languages. Please contact the interpretation and translation service on 01506 280000. Text phones offer the opportunity for people with a hearing impairment to access the council. The text phone number is18001 01506 464427. A loop system is also available in all offices. Published by West Lothian Council.

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