Evidence Report Approved

A significant milestone was reached this week in the preparation of North Ayrshire's third Local Development Plan (LDP3) when, on Tuesday 9 December 2025, the Local Development Plan Committee approved the proposed Evidence Report for submission to Scottish Ministers. The approved Evidence Report can be viewed here: Evidence Report (including Committee Paper)

The Evidence Report is now being prepared for submission and will be sent to Scottish Ministers in early January.

An assessment of the Evidence Report, referred to as a ‘Gate Check’, will then be carried out by a Reporter from the Scottish Government Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA). The Gate Check provides an independent assessment of whether the Evidence Report contains sufficient information to enable the Council to prepare an LDP. It is expected the Gate Check will take 3 months to complete.

The outcome of the Gate Check has implications for the timetable for the preparation of LDP3. If the Evidence Report is returned as insufficient, time will be required to address the recommendations for improving the report and a new Gate Check. A revised indicative timetable for the preparation of LDP3 will be established following the Gate Check and published within a new Development Plan Scheme. A minimum of 12 months is expected to be required to prepare a Proposed Plan, which is the next milestone in the process following notification that the Evidence Report is sufficient.

If you have any queries regarding the Local Development Plan, or any other aspect of planning in North Ayrshire, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Strategic Planning Team.