Scottish Planning Bulletin

The Call for Sites consultation for Edinburgh City Plan 2040 is now open until 30 September 2026. This consultation stage represents the most effective opportunity to ensure client’s interests, properties or development aspirations are considered within the emerging plan framework.

Representations made during this critical period will directly inform the preparation of the Proposed Plan and help shape the planning policies that will govern development decisions across Edinburgh for years to come.

For assistance with submissions or consultation responses on this development plan, please contact Ally Campbell or Owen Brown in the Scotland Planning team.

To take part in the consultation, you can visit the https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/cityplanideas/

City of Edinburgh Council has confirmed that they will not pursue a moratorium on data centre developments locally, however they will write to the Scottish Government to request them to enforce a moratorium nationally until a definition of a ‘green data centre’ is implemented. Edinburgh Council considered it was not possible to prohibit the submission of valid applications regarding data centres due to them being supported as National Developments within National Planning Framework 4.

At Planning Committee, it was agreed that officers will begin work to produce an Edinburgh definition for what constitutes a green data centre locally, using City Plan 2030 and any Scottish Government guidance.

Planning applications for data centre proposals will continue to be assessed on their individual merits against the adopted development plan and material considerations.

a. Midlothian Local Development Plan 2 (Proposed Plan)

The Proposed Plan was approved for consultation at Midlothian Council’s Committee on 23 June. A draft of the Proposed Plan is now available, and the deadline for comments is 25 September 2026. Interested parties should review the spatial strategy, site allocations and policy framework, with representations to be submitted to Midlothian Council.

b. Glasgow City Development Plan (Proposed Plan)

Glasgow City Council is in the process of preparing its Proposed Plan for consultation. This sets out the council's strategy for development and investment across the city. Stakeholders are encouraged to review the proposals and submit formal representations during the consultation period. Timescales for the consultation are to be confirmed.

For assistance with submissions or consultation responses on any of these development plans, please contact Ally Campbell or Owen Brown.

The Scottish Parliament election on 7 May, 2026, has resulted in a new political landscape with significant implications for residential development. The Scottish National Party (SNP) secured a fifth consecutive term as the largest party but fell short of an overall majority, winning 58 of the 129 seats. This outcome necessitates a minority or coalition government, making cross-party cooperation crucial for passing legislation.

What does this mean for residential development?

The housing emergency, officially declared in 2024, was a central theme in the election, with most parties proposing measures to increase housing supply. However, their approaches differed significantly. Key manifesto pledges of influence from the SNP include:

• Ambitious affordable housing targets.
• Continued support for contentious rent controls.
• Commitment to decarbonisation targets for buildings.

In response to declining housing output, the Scottish Government has announced plans to establish More Homes Scotland, a new national executive agency designed to accelerate the delivery of all types of housing. The plan was confirmed by First Minister John Swinney in January 2026, with the agency expected to become operational from 2027-28 and fully functional by 2028-29, subject to parliamentary approval following the election.

The core objectives of More Homes Scotland are to bring "simplicity, scale and speed" to housing delivery by:

• Coordinating delivery: Bringing together land, infrastructure, and investment functions within a single national framework to reduce fragmentation.

• Unlocking sites: Taking an active role in land assembly, site preparation, and enabling infrastructure to unlock stalled development sites, particularly for large-scale affordable housing projects and in rural and island communities.

• Attracting investment: Collaborating with the Scottish National Investment Bank to leverage private finance for larger or more complex schemes.

Industry leaders have broadly welcomed the ambition behind More Homes Scotland but emphasise that its success will depend on it being granted a clear mandate, formal powers, and sufficient funding to overcome systemic barriers to housing delivery.

To discuss any of the matters discussed above or any other planning matter, please contact the team.