The Evidence Report
We have started work on the next Local Development Plan (LDP3) that we anticipate will be approved in 2027 for the period between 2027 and 2037. Details of the plan preparation timetable, and the engagement that we will be conducting as part of the next Plan is provided in the Development Plan Scheme (2024) (PDF, 3 MB).
Our next Plan will be prepared to accord with the Scottish Government guidance on local development planning which has been published to support reforms made in the Planning Scotland Act (2019).
The gathering of evidence is the first key stage in the preparation of the next Plan and involves the production of the Evidence Report.
The purpose of an Evidence Report is to provide the planning authority's interpretation of the evidence it has gathered and the likely implications of that evidence for the preparation of their LDP. The Report provides a summary of what the evidence means for the plan, rather than contain all the detail of evidence collected. An Evidence Report should contain sufficient information to enable a planning authority to move onto the next stage and prepare their LDP.
Evidence Reports are required to be submitted to the Scottish Government's Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) for a 'Gate Check' process. A 'Reporter' appointed on behalf of the Scottish Ministers will then assess if an Evidence Report contains sufficient information to let the planning authority prepare their LDP. They will also consider those areas of an Evidence Report which are subject of agreement or dispute by key agencies and stakeholders.
In preparing our LDP3 Evidence Report Perth and Kinross Council undertook a Big Place Conversation exercise, and prepared and consulted on a suite of Topic Papers to engage with our communities and other key stakeholders on key issues to help shape the development of the new LDP.
We submitted our LDP3 Evidence Report to the DPEA on 27 March 2025. A Reporter has now been assigned to carry out the assessment. Progress on the Report's Gate Check and all associated documents can be viewed on the DPEA's webpages under Case Reference GATE-340-1.
Topic papers
To provide a basis for the Evidence Report and to help establish the views of stakeholders on the evidence, we consulted on a number of topic papers covering a range of topics:
- Tackling the Climate and Nature Crises
- Biodiversity and Natural Places (including Landscape)
- Soils
- Forestry, Woodland and Trees
- Historic Assets and Places
- Green Belts
- Brownfield, Vacant and Derelict Land, and Empty Buildings
- Coastal Development and Aquaculture
- Energy, Heat and Cooling (including Infrastructure: Energy Supply Systems)
- Zero Waste
- Infrastructure: Communications and Digital Infrastructure
- Infrastructure: Transport (incorporating Sustainable Transport)
- Infrastructure: Education Facilities
- Infrastructure: Health Care Facilities
- Design, Quality and Place
- Local Living and 20 Minute Neighbourhoods
- Quality Homes and Rural Homes (part)
- Blue and Green Infrastructure
- Play, Recreation and Sport
- Flood Risk and Water Management (including Infrastructure: Drainage and Water Supply Systems)
- Health and Safety
- Community Wealth Building
- Business and Industry
- Retail, City, Town and Commercial Centres
- Rural Development and Rural Homes (part)
- Tourism
- Culture and Creativity
- Minerals
These papers are no longer open to comments but can be viewed for information on the Council's Consultation Hub.
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