(SG) New Development in the Countryside

NB: This consultation is now closed.

It was agreed at a meeting of the Development and Transport Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel on 5 December 2017 to consult on revised New Development in the Countryside Planning Guidance.

The current Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) on this subject supports the adopted West Lothian Local Plan 2009 but will require to be replaced when the new West Lothian Local Development Plan (LDP) is adopted, anticipated later in 2018.

New Supplementary Guidance (SG) is produced by the council in order to explain how particular development plan policies should be applied in practice. 

The West Lothian Local Development Plan Proposed Plan identifies the circumstances where an exception can be made to an otherwise general policy of restraint in relation to development in the countryside. These are primarily where development can help to support the rural economy and where there is an evidenced and justifiable locational need. The SG seeks to maintain the need to safeguard the character and amenity of the countryside, protect the landscape and the most productive farmland while ensuring that any new development that is legitimised is well integrated into its surroundings, is visually and aesthetically attractive and is designed on environmental sustainability principles.

This new SG has had regard to and is compliant with all relevant national planning policies which are set out in the Strategic Development Plan and the policies of the new LDP in relation to rural development. Once approved it is intended that it will form part of the statutory supplementary guidance supporting the LDP.  The current guidance will not however be formally withdrawn until the new guidance has been reported to Scottish Ministers and  confirmed as statutory.