They contain policies for the future development and use of land in an area. Plans can cover a wide range of issues such as housing, transport, employment, shopping, recreation and conserving and protecting the countryside. The structure plan for an area takes a long-term view of development, considering its general scale and broadly where it should be located. Each council will prepare a structure plan either alone or working with neighbouring councils. After there has been wide consultation with the public and other interested people and organisations, the council submits a structure plan to us for approval.
Local plans are often for smaller areas.
They set out more detailed policies and proposals to guide development. Again, councils must consult widely on the content of a local plan. After considering all views and objections and making suitable changes, councils will adopt the local plan as the basis for their decision making in the area. They cannot do this if the local plan is not in line with the approved structure plan. Decisions on planning applications Scottish councils decide over 40,000 planning applications every year.