The Local Development Plan (LDP) Support Programme has been developed in response to calls for additional support for planning authorities to progress their new style LDPs towards the May 2028 deadline.
The LDP Support Programme is being developed in a collaborative and flexible manner to ensure it can adapt to changing needs. It comprises several different activities that will mutually support one another including online discussion, facilitated action learning, matchmaking and mentoring and events similar to the LDP workshop held in April 2026. These activities will support the development of learning and support materials such as webinars, case studies, learning points, toolkits and templates etc.
If your authority has good practice materials or a learning experience that could support others, please complete this case study survey or email npi@improvementservice.org.uk.
As part of our role in supporting the delivery of new-style Local Development Plans (LDPs), we co-chaired a Summit on 10 August 2026 focused on the Proposed Plan stage, building on the previous Evidence Report Summit and Action Plan.
The Summit brought together Heads of Planning, the Improvement Service, the Key Agencies Group, and representatives from the DPEA, Planning Directorate and National Planning Hub to share learning, discuss Ministers' expectations, and identify ways to support the timely preparation and adoption of new-style plans across Scotland.
The resulting Action Plan and Advice Note sets out a shared commitment from all partners to simplify, streamline and accelerate plan preparation. Alongside a series of agreed actions, it provides practical advice on the key tasks between Gate Check and Proposed Plan, including place-based planning, site assessment and selection, infrastructure-first delivery, community engagement, collaboration, and delivery programming.
To support delivery of the Action Plan, the Improvement Service, in partnership with the National Planning Hub, will host a face-to-face workshop on 12 November 2026.
The event will bring together planning authorities, Scottish Government, the Improvement Service, DPEA, key agencies and the development industry to explore the advice in more detail and share emerging practice.
In response to discussions at the LDP workshop held in April 2026, we have launched the LDP Support Network Teams group.
The group aims to:
- Provide a safe space to ask questions, start conversations and collaborate with peers on LDP preparation.
- Provide updates from the National Planning Hub on the work we are carrying out on the LDP Support Programme.
Membership is open to local authority planners, Scottish Government and key agencies acknowledging our shared ambition to progress LDPs.
Please email npi@improvementservice.org.uk if you would like to be added to the group.
We organise learning events to improve understanding, share good practice and discuss challenges and opportunities.
Upcoming LDP events
LDP Planning Workshop - What should new style LDPs look like?
Thursday, November 12 , 9:30 am - 4:30 pm, Edinburgh
This event offers a practical, supportive forum for planning authorities working through the Local Development Plan (LDP) process. Officers from across Scotland will share experiences, examine emerging practice and build confidence in addressing challenges between the Gate Check and Proposed Plan stages.
Previous LDP events
1. Being Examination Ready
The Being Examination Ready face to face training event was held in collaboration with the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) in June 2026 and covered preparing for examination, including what being examination ready looks like, how to group representations, and completion of Schedule 3. We will hold future trainings on examination as subsequent authorities progress towards this stage.
2. Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA)
This event covered the Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA): Managers Guide 2026 including:
- Refreshed data and assumption
- Enhanced quality assurance
- New considerations for rural and island communities
- Issues such as empty homes, second homes and short-term lets
View the webinar recording here
We create case studies with local authorities to share knowledge, good practice and improve understanding.
This section provides guidance and templates to help and assist you with developing your LDP.
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National Planning Improvement
The National Planning Improvement Champion is responsible for monitoring the performance of planning authorities and providing advice to them (and others) on what steps might be taken to improve their performance.
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Planning Skills
The Planning Skills Programme co-ordinates training events for public sector planning officers, with the aim to develop the skills required to deliver better places.
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Planning for Place
The Planning for Place Programme supports councils and their partners to collaborate around place, seeking to encourage place-based approaches to joint planning, resourcing and delivery of places that enable all communities to flourish.
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Shaping Places for Wellbeing
The programme aims to improve Scotland’s wellbeing and reduce inequalities through changing our collective approaches to the places where we live, work and play.