Who plans Scotland: Exploring the role of Local Place Plans in a just transition to net zero

Local Place Plans were introduced by the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 to enable local communities to influence Local Development Plans. By the end of 2024 there were 88 registered Local Place Plans located largely in rural planning authorities in Scotland. How can this be explained? What are the drivers, processes and outcomes? By interviewing different actors involved in local place planning, the dissertation examined the extent to which Local Place Plans build capacity and coordinate place-based activity in rural communities and support a just transition.

Collaborative planning refers to wide involvement and engagement of local interests in plan-making to help progress change in a place. Patsy Healey’s interpretation of collaborative planning theory offers principles and ideas focused on governance, communication and relationship-building in planning processes that can be helpful when undergoing significant land use change. The dissertation argues that if just transition is based on fair and transparent stakeholder participation (also referred to in the literature as procedural justice) then collaborative planning offers useful principles for a just transition.

It's still early days but the findings suggest that the process of preparing Local Place Plans has an important deliberative role in build consensus and capacity which is important for a just transition. However, there are disparities regarding the uptake of Local Place Plans and their ability to influence planning decisions. Increased capacity and skills are needed at planning authority and community level to enable Local Place Plans to be developed evenly and equitably. The (technical) requirement to spatially map and align with National Planning Framework 4 has the potential to make communities dependent on external support and expertise. Other findings include that Local Place Plans are being used for more than ‘planning’, for example, to help access funding and to deliver local improvements linked to transport, health, and sustainability. There are early indications that the Local Place Plans register is a resource for other local interests, beyond planning.

There are range of factors are associated with the Local Place Plans process including the rural geography of communities and community benefit funds linked to renewable energy projects. The Covid-19 pandemic also was also poignant in highlighting local needs and priorities around the time of Local Place Plan development. While more research is needed to assess the practices and outcomes of Local Place Plans, the dissertation suggests that Local Plan Plans have potential to facilitate greater participation in local issues. From an academic perspective, bringing together just transition concepts and planning theory offers a valuable contribution to both theory and practice which should be further explored.