Development plans and policies

The current development plan for Midlothian

The current development plan for Midlothian is made up of two plans:

• The Midlothian Local Development Plan, adopted 7 November 2017.
• National Planning Framework for Scotland 4, adopted 13 February 2023. 

National Planning Framework for Scotland 4

What is the Midlothian Local Development Plan?

The 2017 Midlothian Local Development Plan (MLDP 2017) sets out the development strategy for Midlothian. It sets out the detailed policies used to determine planning applications in Midlothian.  

The 2017 Local Development Plan

Midlothian Local Development Plan interactive map

Midlothian Local Development Plan 2017 – Delivery Programme 2025-2027

A Delivery Programme covering the period 2025-2027 for the Midlothian Local Development Plan 2017 was approved by Midlothian Council at their April meeting.

The Delivery Programme is a requirement of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 and sets out how the Council proposes to implement the adopted Plan. This document replaces the Action Programme, approved in 2021, for the MLDP 2017. Please note that the Delivery Programme is not related to the replacement Midlothian Local Development Plan 2 (MLDP2) currently under preparation.

Delivery Programme 2025-2027

Development Plan Scheme

Development Plan Scheme 17 (DPS17) was approved by Midlothian Council Planning Committee in April 2025. It contains the timetable for preparing Local Development Plan 2 and a Participation Statement setting out the council's proposed engagement activities.

Development Plan Scheme 17

The DPS must be reviewed every year. DPS17 was agreed by Planning Committee in April 2025. DPS18 is currently being prepared and will be subject to consultation following agreement at Planning Committee.