Development plans and policies

Midlothian Local Development Plan 2

Every Council has to prepare a Local Development Plan for their area. This sets out proposals and policies for the development and use of land and for the protection and conservation of natural assets and amenity.  The current Local Development Plan for Midlothian was adopted on 7 November 2017.  The adopted Midlothian Local Development Plan can be viewed through the following link.

The Council's Planning Committee on 28 February 2023 endorsed the start of the review of the current Midlothian Local Development Plan (2017) (MLDP) and preparation of its replacement.  The replacement will be called MLDP2.  When adopted, MLDP2 will replace the current MLDP and will set out how Midlothian will develop over the 10-year period 2026-2036.

Evidence Report

We have been working to prepare the Evidence Report for the next Midlothian Local Development Plan (MLDP2) since March 2023. 

Legislation requires the Council to submit the Evidence Report to the Scottish Government Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) for “Gate Check”.  The purpose of the Gate Check is to provide an independent assessment of whether the Council has sufficient information to prepare a local development plan.

The Evidence Report was placed before Midlothian Council’s 4 June 2024 Planning Committee:

A Participation Report and Children and Young People Participation Report are included alongside the Evidence Report in the 4 June 2024 report.

Approval is required from full Council for the Evidence Report to be submitted to the Scottish Government Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) for "Gate Check".

The same documents, the Evidence Report, Participation Report and Children and Young People Participation Report, will be presented to full Council at its meeting on 25 June 2024.

If you would like to watch the Council meeting (25 June) live on the day, choose the meeting from the calendar at the foot of the meetings web page, then select “Watch Meeting” link at the top of the page.

A summary of the Evidence Report is available to read:

The summary document identifies matters which have arisen as part of the evidence gathering and key implications for MLDP2 Proposed Plan preparation. Though the summary document can be read alone, it would be beneficial to read it alongside the main Evidence Report and accompanying participation reports, available to view through the Council meeting page, above.

Key issues for MLDP2

Key issues for the second Midlothian Local Development Plan include:

  • mitigation and adaptation to the climate emergency and nature/ biodiversity crisis
  • the protection and enhancement of natural, historical and cultural assets
  • housing land supply to meet housing targets for Midlothian, set out in the Scottish Government's National Planning Framework no.4 (NPF4)
  • continuing support for the provision of affordable and specialist housing
  • support for economic development, businesses and job creation with an emphasis on community wealth building and a well-being economy
  • the provision of infrastructure and services
  • support for the rural economy
  • support for public transport and active travel
  • community building and place making to create great places to live, work, play and invest.

Next Steps

An indicative timescale for production of MLDP2 is outlined below:

1. Evidence Report

  • Following engagement over the last year, and subject to approval of Midlothian Council, the Evidence Report will be submitted to the Scottish Government Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) for Gate Check.

2. Evidence Report Gate Check

  • July 2024 – MLDP2 Evidence Report submission to Scottish Ministers for a ‘Gate Check’ to confirm sufficient information has been gathered to prepare a Proposed Plan
  • September 2024 – feedback from Scottish Ministers ‘Gate Check’ of the MLDP2 Evidence Report

3. Call for Ideas

  • July to October 2024 - the council will carry out a ‘Call for Ideas’ open to everyone to propose ideas for any aspect of the plan, including potential development sites

4. Preparation of Proposed Plan – engagement

  • November 2024 to July 2025 - there will be further engagement on the spatial strategy and other emerging elements of the Proposed Plan, in advance of its publication for representations

5. Proposed Plan - publication

  • July to October 2025 – this is a 12-week period to lodge representations on the document. Where there are unresolved objections to the plan, these will be considered by independent planning reporters at Examination

6. Modification of Proposed Plan and publication of Modification Report

  • October to December 2025 - on consideration of received representations, the council may decide that there is a case for modifying the Proposed Plan. In this case a Modification Report will be prepared setting out modifications made and the reasons for making them

7. Examination 

  • From March 2026 - examination into unresolved issues from representations received on MLDP2 Proposed Plan
  • September 2026 - Report of Examination received from the Reporter from the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) appointed by Scottish Ministers

8. Adoption

  • December 2026 – adoption of MLDP2                                     
  • March 2027 – adoption of MLDP2 Delivery Programme

LDP2 - contact details

For more information on the MLDP2 process, contact the Local Development Plan Team

  • Email: ldp@midlothian.gov.uk
  • Write to: Planning Service, Fairfield House, 8 Lothian Road, Dalkeith, Midlothian, EH22 3AA

Local Place Plans

Local Place Plans provide an opportunity for communities to contribute to development planning in their area.   They are a tool for local communities to think about how to make their 'place' better, agree priorities, and work with others to make change happen.  The council will invite local community bodies to prepare Local Place Plans.   For more information, visit our LPP web pages or contact:

  • Email: LPP@midlothian.gov.uk
  • Write to: Planning Service, Fairfield House, 8 Lothian Road, Dalkeith, Midlothian, EH22 3AA

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