Spatial Strategy Options
The purpose of this part of the consultation is to gather feedback on the early ideas for the hierarchy of settlements and the associated development approaches, which will guide decisions about the distribution and scale of growth across the Stirling Local Development Plan area.
This element of the spatial strategy is being consulted on at this stage because it will help inform the site selection process and ensure that future development aligns with the emerging settlement hierarchy and overall strategic direction.
This part of the consultation invites comments on the Spatial Strategy Options Paper, which outlines the initial options for shaping the spatial strategy of the Proposed Local Development Plan. It builds upon the findings contained within the approved Evidence Report – Topic Paper 17 (spatial strategy and policy analysis).
A spatial strategy sets out the direction of future change within an area. Its purpose is to guide development towards locations that help create, shape, and sustain successful, well‑functioning places.
The consultation paper focuses specifically on the settlement hierarchy and the development approaches associated with each level of that hierarchy.
A settlement hierarchy is a way of organising the towns, villages, and communities across the Local Development Plan area based on their size, role, and the services and infrastructure they provide. It helps identify where development is most appropriate and how different places can grow in ways that support sustainable, well‑connected communities. These principles are reflected in the proposed development approaches for each tier of the hierarchy.
Therefore, your views will help shape how the next Local Development Plan directs growth and protects valued places across Stirling. You may have views on the options contained within the paper, suggestion for changing one or more of the options, or alternative options for consideration.
Important things to note about this consultation:
- The paper published as part of this consultation has not been approved at any level of the Council for inclusion in the Proposed Plan and does not have formal planning status. It therefore carries no material weight in the determination of planning applications.
- The options included in this consultation relate only to the Stirling Local Development Plan area and do not relate to any areas within the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.
- The ideas presented at this early stage are not fixed. Following this consultation, changes may be made - for example, settlements may move within the hierarchy and/or alternative development approaches may be identified that shape future growth.
There will be another opportunity to comment when the Proposed Plan is published – expected in early 2027. At that stage, it will be accompanied by an explanatory report that sets out the reasons why each spatial strategy option has been accepted or rejected.
10 weeks left
Phases
Next Steps
Next Steps:
- Public drop-ins: To support this consultation, and the Proposed Plan process more broadly, we will be hosting a series of community drop‑in events in the coming months. Details of these events will be published on this platform shortly.
- Proposed Plan preparation: Following this consultation, we will complete Stage 1 of the site assessment process, as set out in the approved Site Appraisal Methodology. This stage includes identifying and discounting any sites that the Planning Authority considers do not have sufficient merit to be taken forward for inclusion in the Proposed Plan. This stage will also be informed by the emerging spatial strategy settlement hierarchy and associated development approaches presented in Part 2 of this consultation.
Sites assessed as having potential will then proceed to Stages 2 and 3 of the assessment process. These stages involve a more detailed review, including, amongst others:
- assessing alignment with the emerging Proposed Plan, and
- evaluating impacts on key infrastructure such as roads, schools, and health services.
Once these stages are complete, a set of preferred sites will be selected for inclusion in the Proposed Plan, while others may be discounted.
The Proposed Plan will then be prepared and finalised for public consultation. This consultation is expected to take place in early 2027, subject to approval by Stirling Council.