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 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

Action Programme 2017, updated 2020

The Action Programme is a list of actions required to deliver each of the policies and proposals in the Midlothian Local Development Plan. It also identifies appropriate parties or organisations to carry out these actions, and provides an indicative timescale. The original Action Programme is from 2017, and was updated in 2020 (approved by Council 2021):

MLDP Action Programme 2017, updated 2020

Development Plan Scheme

The Development Plan Scheme (DPS) contains the timetable for preparing the next development plan. It sets out the Council's proposed engagement activity. The current DPS (number 15) considers Midlothian's second Local Development Plan, and seeks feedback on the Council's proposed engagement activity.

Development Plan Scheme 15

Your comments on the next scheme

While DPS15 is the most current approved DPS, DPS16 has been drafted and is open for comment in March 2024.

This is the first time we have consulted on the Development Plan Scheme before it is approved by Midlothian Council.

We want your comments and views on it, including the timetable and the Participation Statement.

Please let us know if you have any comments before 28 March 2024.

We will consider comments received and expect to report these to the April Planning Committee.

The consultation questions will remain open however, so if you have comments to make after that, we will consider these in preparing future Development Plan Schemes.

Draft Development Plan Scheme 16 Consultation