The development plan sets out the strategy and policies for the use of land and buildings within a planning authority area.
The development plan for the West Dunbartonshire planning authority area consists of the Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) and the adopted West Dunbartonshire Local Plan (2010).
The Proposed Local Development Plan (2020, as modified) is not part of the statutory development plan for the West Dunbartonshire planning authority area but is a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.
The West Dunbartonshire planning authority area does not cover those parts of Balloch and countryside to the east and west of Loch Lomond which are within the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
The council has begun the process of preparing its third Local Development Plan, which will direct how the area will change over the next ten years by determining what land we develop and what land we protect from development. The Emerging Local Development Plan pages include information on the programme for producing the plan, progress on preparing the plan so far, and how you can receive updates on its preparation.
The Fourth National Planning Framework was adopted by the Scottish Government on 13 February 2023.
The West Dunbartonshire Local Plan was adopted in March 2010. You can view and download the plan and associated Strategic Environmental Assessment documents below.
On 15 March 2023, the Planning Committee took a decision that the Council would not adopt Local Development Plan 2. The Proposed Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2), incorporating the recommended modifications of the Examination Report received on 22 April 2020, which were accepted by the Planning Committee of 19 August 2020, remains the Council’s most up to date spatial strategy and is therefore afforded significant weight in the assessment and determination of planning applications. The Scottish Ministers’ Direction relating to the adoption of LDP2, dated 18 December 2020, is also a material consideration. Relevant documents can be viewed and downloaded below.
Documents on below are no longer referred to in decision-making and are provided here for information purposes only.
Clydebank Proposals Map (2016)
Dumbarton Proposals Map (2016)
Vale of Leven Proposals Map (2016)
Strategy and Rural Areas Proposals Map (2016)