Local Place Plan

Tuesday 14th May 2024

Our Local Place Plan

Work has started with a group of consultants, SKS Scotland, to create a Local Place Plan for Glen Urquhart.  This work is a joint project between Glen Urquhart Community Council, Soirbheas and GURCA.

What is a Local Place Plan?

Local Place Plans were introduced by the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 to enable communities to feed directly into the planning system. It is an expression of our community's aspirations and solutions which can influence the local planning policy. 

The Glen Urquhart community is seeking to develop a Local Place Plan to lodge with the Highland Council by 30 September 2024.  The Local Place Plan will then be referenced in preparing the local development plan and assessing planning applications. 

What will it include?

The Community Action Plan completed in 2023 laid the groundwork for this work and will be integrated into the Local Place Plan.

The Local Place Plan will include a map focussing on land and buildings use and development, and illustrating changes the community would like to see. It will also include an action plan list the priorities for future development and help us decide how to deliver these projects in our community. 

The community will also be undertaking a Housing Needs Survey (in partnership with Small Communities Housing Trust).  Outcomes from this separate survey will also feed into Local Place Plan.

Why do we need one?

A Local Place Plan will give us the opportunity to develop ideas for our local area, showing our challenges, aspirations and ambitions for the future. As well as feeding into the local planning policy, it will be used as evidence for potential funders, showing our priorities for future development in the area, as well as helping us develop and deliver our own projects.

We hope our Local Place Plans will also help us create a vision for the future and develop a positive community identity. It will create local connections, collaborations, and support the growth of community capacity and social capital. The plan will also help addressing major issues like climate change and inequality, offering a chance for genuine, community-driven transformation.