The Spatial Strategy Spatial The West Lothian Local Development Plan 2018 Adopted Plan 1 West Lothian Local Development Plan 2018 On 4 September 2018, West Lothian Council adopted its first Local Development Plan (LDP), in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended) and Town and Country Planning (Development Planning) (Scotland) Regulations 2008. This plan has been produced by . West Lothian Local Development Plan 2018 : Adopted Plan 2018 : Adopted Plan Development Local Lothian West West Lothian Council Development Planning West Lothian Civic Centre Howden South Road Livingston EH49 6FF 2 The Spatial Strategy Spatial The West Lothian Local Development Plan 2018 Adopted Plan Contents 1 Background 4 2 Context 5 3 Role and Purpose of Plan 5 4 Vision Statement and Aims 6 5 The Spatial Strategy (including Policy Framework) 8 6 Development Proposals by Settlement 78 Appendix 1 Employment Land Allocations 96 Appendix 2 Schedule of Housing Sites / Site Delivery Requirements 115 Appendix 3 Schedule of Land Ownership 264 Appendix 4 LDP Supplementary Guidance (SG) and Planning Guidance (PG) 270 Appendix 5 List of Policies 279 Appendix 6 List of Proposals 281 Glossary 286 Proposals Maps 3 1 Background 1. West Lothian, formerly a county of East Central Scotland and known as Linlithgowshire, has long been synonymous with industrial progress. The area was at the centre of the world’s first oil boom in the Victorian era when underlying oil shale was exploited to literally fuel the Industrial Revolution. Shale extraction and associated industries produced much sought after products including candles, paraffin and engineering lubricants. From the 1840s, extensive deep mining - first ironstone, then coal and shale - as well as foundries, brickworks and railways changed the face of the county. These industries provided mass employment and brought substantial investment to the area. However, as markets changed and technology advanced after the First World War, these industries went into terminal decline, leaving behind a legacy of small mining towns and a landscape dramatically altered by its industrial past. Today, this is reflected in the many ‘main street’ townscapes, traditional miner’s rows and the highly distinctive red shale bings, most notably the Five Sisters, a scheduled monument at the heart of West Lothian. 2. West Lothian experienced a second major industrial renaissance after the Second World War, the catalyst in this instance being the designation of the small village of Livingston Station as the kernel of the fourth Scottish New Town. It was largely conceived to accommodate the post-war population overspill from Glasgow, attract new industry and provide thousands of people with a better quality of life. “Make it in Livingston” was the simple yet effective advertising slogan adopted by Livingston Development Corporation. The growth of Livingston has radically altered the local landscape and has had a significant social, cultural and economic impact on West Lothian and the Edinburgh city region as a whole. 3. In the early 1960s, in an effort to address high levels of unemployment, the British Motor Corporation was incentivised by government to build a major new truck and tractor plant in Bathgate and by the 1970s it employed more than 7,000 people. Regrettably, the plant struggled to remain viable, eventually closing in 1986. Bathgate suffered the loss of a second major employer in the same year when electrical company Plessey left the town. At the time, these events had a devastating impact, both socially and physically, but the area has re-invented itself in the intervening years, first benefitting from inward investment associated with “Silicon Glen” in the 1990s and more recently by diversifying into many different employment sectors. 4. It can be seen that West Lothian has actively managed and facilitated change over many decades. It has moved on from its industrial past and built on its post-industrial legacy to re-emerge as a progressive and diverse place for people to live and work. 5. One of the key roles of the Local Development Plan is to support economic activity and to promote West Lothian as an attractive place to invest and do business. Under-pinning the area’s strength as a business location is its development as a great place to live, work and visit. The LDP seeks to provide a framework for the growth which is necessary to continue this success and provides direction and clarity for the determination of planning applications in West Lothian. West Lothian Local Development Plan 2018 : Adopted Plan 2018 : Adopted Plan Development Local Lothian West 4 The Spatial Strategy Spatial The Background Background 2 Context 6. West Lothian is strategically located in the Central Belt of Scotland and is 9. The LDP builds on the spatial strategy set out in previous local plans for . Context Context well served by a number of motorways and trunk roads and it has direct rail links West Lothian and comprises a written statement setting out planning policies and from twelve rail stations to Edinburgh, Stirling, Glasgow and beyond. West Lothian’s proposals and proposals maps. Chapter 6 of the LDP allows for ready identification central location and excellent business and labour market connections make the of development proposals affecting individual settlements. The Action Programme . Role and purpose of Plan area an important economic hub. 60% of Scotland’s population live within one hour prepared in support of the LDP advises on how the requirements set out in the of West Lothian making for easy access to customers and suppliers. LDP are to be delivered. Also provided is a schedule of land ownership detailing sites within council ownership. 7. The West Lothian Local Development Plan (LDP) seeks to capitalise on this by promoting development in the right locations in order to continue to attract 10. The LDP is supported by Supplementary Guidance prepared in connection investment and growth. It sets out a spatial strategy for a ten year period from 2014 with either the SDP or LDP and will form part of the Development Plan. This together with a supporting planning policy framework. It also provides a longer term guidance will provide further detail on the policies in the LDP. framework for development beyond 2024 and reflects the spatial strategy set out in 11. A Strategic Flood Risk Appraisal, Transport Appraisal, Habitats Regulations the Strategic Development Plan (SDP1) for Edinburgh and South East Scotland – SDP1. Appraisal (HRA), Green Network Plan, an Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessment and a Strategic Environmental Appraisal (SEA) have been prepared in support of the Role and purpose of Plan 3 LDP. Preparation of the Environmental Report for the SEA is a requirement of the 8. The LDP has been prepared under the terms of the The Town and Country Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act, 2005. These documents can be viewed on Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 as amended by the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006 the council’s website. and secondary legislation and policy guidance, including the Climate Change 12. The LDP is a material consideration in the determination of any planning (Scotland) Act 2009 and Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005, National applications for development in West Lothian and replaces the West Lothian Local Plan. Planning Framework 3 (NPF3) FIGURE 1 and Scottish Planning Policy West Lothian Area and Spatial Context 2014 (SPP 2014). It has also been informed by the representations received to the Main Issues Report. 5 4 Vision Statement and Aims Local Development Plan 13. The LDP vision expressed is, in the first instance, informed by that of the Strategic Development Plan (SDP1) and it sets the land use related aspirations for Vision Statement the plan area to 2024 and beyond. At the same time it is consistent with the West Lothian Community Planning Partnership (CPP) vision and shares it’s aspiration to By 2024 West Lothian’s population will provide an improved quality of life for everyone that lives, works and does business have grown and an improved employment in West Lothian. position within a more diversified local 14. While a vision statement is not a mandatory requirement for LDPs in economy will have been established. There circumstances where an SDP is already in place, the council has concluded that there will be a greater choice of housing options is value in incorporating such a statement in the plan. available, supported by the full range 15. The key aims for the plan area and reflected in the planning policy approach of education, community, health, retail, set out in the LDP, are as follows: recreation and leisure facilities and a network of open spaces. The area will enjoy better transport connectivity with more options for Economic Development and Growth sustainable travel choices and more active travel routes. Provide an adequate and diverse range and quality of employment land and maintain West Lothian’s attraction as an area which provides a range of choice for Development will take place in a way that is those wishing to invest and do business; sustainable, meeting the challenges of climate Promote West Lothian as an attractive tourist destination; and change and renewable energy, and sensitive Continue to support major development within the Core Development Areas (CDAs) previously established under the Edinburgh and the Lothians to the area’s many built and natural heritage Structure Plan at Armadale, East Broxburn and Winchburgh