Masterplan consent areas

Masterplan consent areas (MCAs) allow consent to be given up front for new development proposals in Scotland. They remove the need for planning and other consent applications, including:

• planning permission
• roads construction consent
• listed building consent
• conservation area consent 

How we could use masterplan consent areas in the future

MCA schemes are a new way for us to shape new development in our area. They give us more control over the type and quality of local development.

Unlike planning applications that are usually led by a developer, MCA schemes are led by us, as the planning authority.

Within MCA areas, development could be brought forward, without the need for a full application, as long as it is in line with the agreed scheme.

We will publicise and consult on individual schemes.

Preparing new MCAs

Part 2 of the 2019 Scottish Planning Act (section 15) – legislation.gov.uk sets out the legal framework for preparing MCAs. 

The Act relating to MCAs and the associated regulations are not yet in force. We expect that the MCA provisions will be fully in place later in 2024.

Schedule 5A Paragraph 5 of the Act is in force. It requires planning authorities to consider whether it would be desirable to make a scheme for a part or parts of their district.

As the full MCA regulations are not yet in place, we have not yet identified or assessed potential locations. We intend to consider this once the legal basis for preparing MCAs is in place.

The Scottish Government has indicated that MCAs could be used help deliver the Local Development Plan (LDP). We will consider whether we would like to make any MCAs as part of the work on the preparation of LDP3.

This statement fulfils our legal requirements under Schedule 5A Paragraph 5 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act.