Local Place Plans are community-led proposals for the development and use of land offering communities the chance to have their say on the local area and their aspirations for future change.

Once Local Place Plans have been registered by the planning authority, there is a legal responsibility to take them into account in the preparation of the Local Development Plan.

Moray Council’s Local Development Plan 2027 is in development now and communities are being encouraged to have a more direct role in the decisions that influence their place through their Local Place Plan.

Local Place Plans provide a tool for local communities to think about how to make their “place” better, agree priorities and take action, often working with others to make change happen. Guidance on whether a Local Place Plan is the right thing for a community can be found from the Scottish Government here.

Moray Council’s planning and regulatory services chair, Cllr David Gordon, said: “The world of planning and development can be an intimidating one but we know communities across Moray have some fantastic ideas and creative ways to develop their area. Local Place Plans offer a route to council to share these ideas and have them considered under wider planning processes.

“I’d also encourage anyone in the Lossiemouth and surrounding coastal areas in particular to come along to the public session on the Local Development Plan 2027 on 17 June in Lossie Town Hall, where you can speak with our planning team on how you can get involved.”

Future events looking at the Local Development Plan 2027 and giving opportunities to speak with the team include:

• Lossiemouth Town Hall: 17 June, 10am-3pm
• Fochabers Institute: 22 June, 3pm-8pm
• Maggie Fair: 24 June
• Dallas Gala: 2 July, 1pm-4pm
• Cullen Harbour Gala: 23 July
• Glenlivet Tea in the Park: August
• Buckie North Church Hall: 26 August, 10am-3pm
• Keith Longmore Hall: 9 September, 10am-3pm

To register an interest in preparing a Local Place Plan email localplaceplans@moray.gov.uk and include details of the community group submitting the plan and a map of the area the Local Place Plan is to cover.