Evidence Report
The Evidence Report is the first stage of preparation for the new style of LDPs and is created to provide a baseline for the new plan to work from and build upon. Evidence will be gathered, analysed and interpreted in the context of Angus in relation to NPF4 and other statutory requirements. This data analysis will provide information regarding how it will impact the preparation of the new LDP, alongside any gaps, limitations or uncertainty in the data. A site selection methodology for the allocation of new land for development for a range of purposes is also required to be provided at this stage.
The Evidence Report is not intended to focus on specific geographical areas or locations for development, but create a people-centred, place-based, and infrastructure-first perspective to provide a robust evidence base to move forward with.
The Council is also required to approve the Evidence Report for publication before submitting for its Gatecheck.
Gatecheck
The Gatecheck is a new stage which has been introduced as part of the amendments to the 1997 Act. This stage requires the Department of Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) to assess the sufficiency of information provided in the Evidence Report for moving forward to prepare and publish the Proposed Plan and to approve the site selection methodology. The Scottish Government indicate that this assessment will allow for a smoother Examination period and provide an adequate evidence base for a place-based approach to the development of the LDP.
Proposed Plan and Examination
The Proposed Plan will identify a spatial strategy and areas for development within the Angus area, heavily influenced by the information and evaluation of data gathered in the Evidence Report. After engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, organisations, and members of the public, the Proposed Plan will be finalised. Once Council has approved the Proposed Plan for consultation, it will be subject to a statutory minimum consultation period of 12 weeks and a range of stakeholders including Key Agencies, developers, and the public at large will be able to comment on the Plan. After the consultation period has ended, the Council can choose to modify the Proposed Plan, with any modifications to be subject to a further period of consultation. After these modifications, the Proposed Plan is then submitted for Examination (if no modifications are made, the Proposed Plan is submitted straight for Examination). In both scenarios, the Council is required to approve the Plan for submission to examination.
Adoption
After the Examination and the Reporter’s recommendations for modifying the Plan, as detailed in the Report of Examination to the Proposed Plan, are made and approved by the Council, it will be adopted and published by the Council. The Scottish Ministers will then be notified as per legislation that the Council has adopted the LDP.
Once adopted, the new LDP will form part of the constituted Development Plan for Angus alongside NPF4. As the new LDP will be the newer plan, it will outweigh NPF 4 policies in the assessment of planning applications where there are any differences/conflicts between the two documents.
Delivery Programme
The Delivery Programme is the final stage in the process of preparing the new LDP and will set out how the plan will be implemented. This programme will detail how policies, proposals, and delivery of the land for development in the plan will be met through a list of actions with associated timescales. Delivery programmes are a crucial stage in coordinating future development and allocating resources to the implementation of the new LDP.
Timetable
The timetable provided below details a summarised version of the Council’s proposed timetabling for the preparation and delivery of the new LDP.
The timescales provided in this table are only indicative due to the unknown nature of certain stages, processes and available resources to produce the new LDP and could be subject to change in subsequent DPS and PS documents. However, in order to create appropriate targets and incorporate these contingencies, the Council have presumed the following timescales:
- Consultation on Draft Evidence Report (8 weeks)
- Evidence Report at Gatecheck – 6 months
- Consultation on Proposed plan – 12 weeks (statutory minimum)
- Proposed Plan Examination – 1 month for reporter to review Statement of Conformity with the Participation Statement, followed by 9-month examination.
Evidence Report
- Q1 2023 - Q1 2024: data collection and early engagement
- Q2 2024: Draft evidence report to council
- Q2 2024: Consultation on Draft Evidence Report
- Q3 2024 - Q2 2025 Finalised Evidence Report at Council and publication
Gatecheck
- Q4 2024-25 - Q2 2025 Evidence Report at Gatecheck
- Q2 2025: Sufficiency Report from DPEA
Proposed plan, examination and adoption
- Q2 2025 - Q3 2027: Plan preparation including engagement and associated assessments
- Q4 2027-28 - Q1 2028: Council and public consultation on proposed plan
- Q1 2028 - Q2 2028: Preparation of Schedule 3 Forms
- Q3 2028 - Q3 2029: Examination and relevant modifications to proposed plan
- Q3 2029: Adoption of Local Development Plan 2
Delivery programme
- Q3 2029 - Q4 2029-30 Delivery Programme
- Q4 2029-30 Publication of Delivery Programme
Next: Participation Statement