Evidence Report engagement

The Evidence Report is the first formal stage in preparing the next Local Development Plan (LDP2). As a key part of the production of the Evidence Report, the Council is undertaking a public engagement exercise to gather the views of the communities and other interested groups. This engagement will focus on the types of evidence or information we need to produce the next Local Development Plan(LDP), and to identify the issues that the next LDP could try to address. This public engagement exercise ran to 17 September 2023.

We have prepared some consultation material to provide background and context to current planning issues in East Lothian and to help you participate in the public consultation. This can be accessed through the links on this page.

Engagement with Children and Young People

As part of our wide-ranging engagement, we seek feedback from children and young people (up to 25 years old) on this first stage of preparing the Local Development Plan.

In order to reach out to more younger people the consultation for this specific group has been extended and now closes on Friday 13 October 2023.

Story Map and engagement surveys

The online Story Map (ArcGIS) gives an overview of the types of information we will use to produce the next LDP. It also sets out the context for the next LDP, including the important point that many aspects of the existing LDP 2018 are still to be implemented. The engagement consists of three surveys aimed at gathering your views on important issues that the plan could address and how you feel your local area works for you.

You can access all the questions through the Story Map here:

Go to the LDP2 engagement document

Go directly to the questions on the LDP key challenges and identification of issues in your local area

Go directly to the assessment of the accessibility of your local services (20 minute neighbourhoods)

Watch the launch video

Copies of the Story Map and questions are available in local libraries and at John Muir House in Haddington. You can submit paper copies by email or by post.

To comment by email send to: ldp@eastlothian.gov.uk

To comment by post send to: Policy and Strategy Team, Planning Service, John Muir House, Brewery Park, Haddington, EH41 3HA.

Place Standard assessment

A national tool, called the Place Standard, has been developed to help get an understanding from local residents on what it is like to live in a particular place. You will be able to tell us what you think about the physical elements of a place (for example its buildings, spaces, and transport links) as well as the social aspects (for example whether people feel they have a say in decision making).

The place standard tool can be accessed through the links here or through the Story Map:

Factsheets

A series of factsheets have been prepared to assist you with taking part in the public consultation. These provide more detailed and technical information on aspects of planning in East Lothian.

Evidence Report

The Evidence Report is the first formal stage in preparing the next Local Development Plan (LDP2). This will set out the council’s view on a wide range of matters related to the development and use of land in East Lothian. The Evidence Report will be approved by East Lothian Council and then sent to Scottish Ministers for approval as part of the Gate Check process. They will appoint an independent assessor to determine whether the report has sufficient information to enable the planning authority to prepare a draft LDP.

The starting point for the preparation of the Evidence Report and subsequent LDP2 will be the policy approaches being proposed through NPF4 and other national strategies. The Council already has commitments to address issues like health, the nature crisis and climate change, and these known challenges will provide the context for the discussions on issues that the LDP should address. There will be general public consultation seeking to identify what the issues residents feel are affecting their area and therefore should be highlighted in the Evidence Report and addressed in the Proposed LDP.

Section 16A of the Planning (Scotland) Act, 2019, requires the Planning authority to publish information about its arrangements to promote and facilitate participation by children and young people in preparing the Local Development Plan. The information published must be kept up to date.

June 2023 sees the start of wide ranging engagement with the public and stakeholders on the review of the East Lothian Local Development Plan. To meet the requirements of Section 16A of the above Act, the Council intend to do the following, to engage with children and young people (up to 25 years old):

Month	Age group	Activity	Facilitator	Coverage
April 2023	5-12 year olds	Place Standard tool	Play Scotland	Facilitated session. Small groups in 4 primary schools
April 2023	5 – 12 year olds	Facilitators pack, including Place Standard based questions	East Lothian Council (ELC) Teacher led (information from Play Scotland)	All ELC primary and secondary schools – Play Needs / Play Opportunities
June 2023	Youth Parliament (secondary age or above)	Initial dialogue – briefing on September engagement	ELC	East Lothian youth parliament representatives
July /Aug 2023	5 - 12 year olds	Summer play programme	East Lothian Play Association	Various towns across East Lothian – See: www.elpa.org.uk/news
September 2023	Youth Parliament	Focus group Place Standard	ELC	East Lothian Youth Parliament representatives
September 2023	5 – 12 year olds	Creative engagement sessions in school	East Lothian Play Association / ELC	Facilitated session Small group of children within 10 primary schools. Full day of small group work
September 2023	12 – 18 year olds	Place Standard tool	Play Scotland	Facilitated session Small group of children from each school – cover all 7 Secondary schools
September 2023	12-18 year olds	Place based questionnaire	ELC	All East Lothian secondary school pupils. Prize draw
September 2023	16 – 25 year olds	General public consultation storyboard / questionnaire Place Standard tool	ELC	General public consultation storyboard / questionnaire Place Standard tool