Local Plan
The Local Plan and Structure Plan form the statutory Development Plan for the Scottish Borders area. The Local Plan sets out detailed policies and proposals for the development and use of land to guide planning decisions.
The Local Plan takes the overall land requirement for particular land uses such as housing, as defined in the Structure Plan and translates this into specific site allocations. These are precisely defined on maps that form part of the plan.
Consultation Process
The Local Plan is prepared by the Council and is approved, following a consultation process with the public. This process includes a formal Public Inquiry where there are unresolved objections to the Plan. The stages gone through to adopt the Scottish Borders Council Local Plan, to date, are set out below.
Consultative Draft
The Consultative Draft Local Plan was prepared following the approval of the Structure Plan in 2002. It combined the four Adopted Local Plan areas (Berwickshire, Ettrick & Lauderdale, Tweeddale and Roxburgh) into a single, Scottish Borders wide local plan. The consultation period for the Consultative Draft Local Plan lasted from 14 May to 31 October 2004. Members of the public were welcomed to make submissions to the Consultative Draft Local Plan.
Following review of submissions to the Consultative Draft Local Plan, the Council undertook a limited Second Stage Consultation on a range of proposed changes to the Consultative Draft Local Plan. This took place from 4 July - 12 August 2005. Again, members of the public were welcome to make submissions to the Consultative Draft Local Plan.
Finalised Local Plan
Observations raised during the two consultations on the Draft Local Plan have been taken into consideration in drawing up the Scottish Borders Finalised Local Plan. The Council is required to prepare a finalised Local Plan for formal objection. The document was placed on deposit from 13 December 2005 to closed on 31 January 2006.
Objections and comments received during the deposit period were analysed by the Council.
Local Plan Inquiry
All objections to the Finalised Local Plan were taken to the Formal Public Local Inquiry to allow them to be dealt with by independent Reporters from the Scottish Executive Reporters Unit by either written submissions, Local Plan Inquiry or Hearing.
The Local Plan Inquiry began on 4 September 2006 and ran until 15 January 2007. A recommendation report has now been prepared by the independent Reporters for consideration by the Council.
Reporters findings
The report with the Reporters findings were received by the Council in August 2007.
Recommendations to Council on proposed modifications
The Council considered the Reporters report on the 25 October 2007 together with a Council Report on the Local Plan Inquiry into Finalised Local Plan. The Council agreed to advertise the proposed modifications for a period of 12 weeks. The deadline for all comments and representations was the 25 January 2008.
Recommendations to Council on responses to the proposed modifications to the Finalised Local Plan
Following expiry of the proposed modification consultation period on 25th January 2008 all submissions received have been considered and responded to. All these submissions and formal responses are incorporated within the report on the proposed modifications to the Finalised Local Plan to be presented to the Council on the 20th March 2008. This report sought Council agreement on the final modifications to be incorporated into the Local Plan for formal adoption.
Notice of intention to adopt Local Plan
The Council sent certified copies of the approved version of the Scottish Borders Local Plan to the Scottish Ministers on 1 July 2008 advising of the intention to adopt the Plan. This has been advertised in all local papers and all consultees and respondents throughout the process have been informed.
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