Local Development Plan

Adopted Local Development Plan 2015

The Report of Examination in to the Argyll and Bute Proposed Local Development Plan 2 was published on 13/06/2023 by the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA).

The Report of Examination is available here.

A summary table is available here.

The Council is currently analysing the Report of Examination and will prepare an Adoption Plan and associated documentation for publication in due course. The steps to Adoption are set out in the Development Plan Scheme available here Development Plan Scheme March 2002 (argyll-bute.gov.uk).

The Development Plan for Argyll and Bute consists of National Planning Framework 4, the Adopted Local Development Plan and any associated Supplementary Guidance.

The Council formally adopted the Argyll and Bute Local Development Plan on the 26th March 2015. The next plan (LDP2) is currently being prepared. Find out more about the LDP2 here.

The Argyll and Bute Local Development Plan provides the local planning framework for the Council area, excluding the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park area. The Plan is divided into the written statement and proposals maps. The written statement provides the general policy context against which planning applications for new development proposals should be assessed. This is supported by the proposals maps which show the range of development opportunities and constraints within the area, for example :-

the key development areas, for example, the allocations for housing, industry and business, community facilities and infrastructure;
the potential areas for future development (Potential Development Areas);
areas requiring actions such as environmental improvement or regeneration (Areas for Action);
and environmental designations such as national Scenic Areas, Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Special Protection Areas and Local Nature Conservation Sites

You can view the Online Local Development Plan here. This contains the Proposal Maps in our interactive mapping system and contains hyperlinks from the allocations to the Written Statement.

Alternatively, you can view or download PDFs of the Written Statement and the Local Development Plan Maps here:

Written Statement

Proposal maps

Settlement Map Books

You can view the maps from the four individual council administrative areas here:

You can also view hard copies of the documents in our local libraries

Supplementary Guidance

Following consideration by the Scottish Ministers the council has adopted the Supplementary Guidance in the document below:

View the adopted supplementary guidance (March 2016

Supplementary Guidance 2, which Covers Coastal development, Piers and Harbours, Aquaculture and Renewable Energy, was adopted December 2016 and can be viewed here:

Action Programme

Section 21 of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 requires that all Development Plans should contain an Action Programme that should be updated every 2 years. This Action Programme has been prepared to support delivery of the Argyll and Bute Local Development Plan 2015. The Action Programme helps drive forward the implementation of the settlement and spatial strategy of the plan. It is intended that this process will make delivery of the Local Development Plan more tangible and accountable.

Strategic Environmental Assessment

The Council as Planning Authority has prepared a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the adopted Local Development Plan (LDP).

Following on from this, Argyll and Bute Council prepared an addendum (Appendix 5 and Appendix 6) to the Environmental Report (Strategic Environmental Assessment) to incorporate the assessment on the Supplementary Guidance and Supplementary Guidance 2.

If you require further information please telephone Sheila McKenzie on 01546 604158 or email ldp@argyll-bute.gov.uk

Local Development Plan 2015 - Habitats Regulation Assessment

Habitats Regulation Assessment

Argyll and Bute Local Development Plan Examination - Additional document to the Local Development Plan Habitats Regulation Assessment

Technical Note 1 - Masterplanning

Technical Note 1 - Masterplanning - contains information and guidance for developers on when a masterplan is required, what it should contain, and the process involved. It also contains a list of the Strategic Masterplan areas identified in the Local Development Plan.

Read Technical Note 1 - Masterplanning (June 2016)

Technical Note 2 - Advertisement and Signage Policy

Technical Note 2 - Advertisement and Signage Policy – contains information and guidance for businesses on all forms of signage including shopfronts, A-boards and signage on roads.

Read Technical Note 2 - Advertisement and Signage Policy (September 2017)

Applications and guidance for A-board signs

Technical Note 3 - Houses in Multiple Occupation

Technical Note 3 - contains information and guidance for proposed Houses in Multiple Occupation.

Read Technical Note 3 - Houses in Multiple Occupation (April 2019)

Technical Note - Biodiversity

For advice on how to protect, enhance, conserve and restore our biodiversity during the planning and development process

Read the Biodiversity Technical Note

Development Plan Scheme

The Development Plan Scheme (DPS) provides details on how the Council's Development Policy Service intends to take forward preparation of Local Development Plan 2 in terms of timescales and methods of public engagement to be employed.

For more information please contact ldp@argyll-bute.gov.uk or call 01546 604158

Useful Links