Moray Local Development Plan 2027 - Shaping the Future of Moray

Work on the new Moray Local Development Plan has started and we expect to adopt this in 2027. The LDP will shape how land and buildings are used over the next 10-20 years which impacts on people's lives including work, travel, access to open space, play and health.

How you can get involved

• Community bodies can prepare Local Place Plans for their area Local Place Plans
•  Let us know if you are considering a self-build project   Moray Self-Build Register

Community events and drop in sessions were held across Moray between March and September 2023. These ran alongside the Call for Ideas which closed on the 31st July 2023.

A Call for Sites and further engagement events (dates to be confirmed) will be held in 2024/25. 

Why get involved

Local Development Plans are statutory documents which guide the future use of land. They set out policies and proposals for the future development and use of land and are the basis for assessing planning applications. The primary purpose of engagement is to help shape future land use and development across Moray through to 2037. Your views and ideas can help shape the future of Moray by helping us to plan for jobs, travel, open space, infrastructure and facilities.

How we’re developing the new plan

Our Development Plan Scheme (DPS) which includes a Participation Statement was published in December 2023.  This sets out:

• The steps in preparing the next plan;
• The timelines for preparing the next plan; and,
• How communities and stakeholders will be engaged.

Comments on how communities and stakeholders will be engaged (the Participation Statement) are welcomed.  Comments can be sent to the Strategic Planning and Development Team at localdevelopmentplan@moray.gov.uk.  Any comments received will be taken into consideration to inform the next Participation Statement.  The DPS and Participation Statement are updated on an annual basis.  

Read the 2023 Development Plan Scheme

Timeline

New planning legislation makes significant changes to the approach to preparing local development plans including the role of the National Planning Framework 4. The aim is to make them more effective, with greater community involvement and more focus on delivery. More detailed timescales are set out within the 2023 Development Plan Scheme but are summarised below.

• Gathering data to inform direction of plan and engagement with communities and stakeholders – 2023
• Publish Evidence Report and submit to Scottish Ministers for review (a step referred to as a “gatecheck”) – 2024
• Prepare and publish Proposed Plan for consultation - 2025
• Examination of plan - 2026
• Adoption of plan - 2027