LDP3 in plain English

What is LDP3?

A Local Development Plan decides where new homes, businesses and other development can go, and sets the policies the council uses to decide planning applications. Local Development Plan 3 (LDP3) will be East Renfrewshire’s plan for 2027 to 2037. Together with Scotland’s National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), it will be the starting point for planning decisions across the area.

The Scottish Government has set a minimum number of homes East Renfrewshire must plan for. The council says this means LDP3 must include sites for at least 3,100 new homes over 10 years. It has named four growth areas: Barrhead, Busby, Clarkston and Eaglesham.

The plan also proposes raising the share of affordable homes required in new housing developments from 25% to 30%.

Where we are now

Evidence Report. Approved by the council on 11 September 2024.
Gate Check. An independent Reporter confirmed the evidence was sufficient, and the council was notified on 13 December 2024.
Proposed Plan. Approved by the council on 9 September 2026 and published for consultation on 29 September 2026. We are here. Responses close on Friday 22 January 2027.
Council considers responses. Any changes go to councillors for a decision, expected in summer 2027.
Examination. A Reporter appointed by Scottish Ministers considers the issues people raised that haven’t been resolved. TODO: expected dates.
Adoption. The council adopts the final plan. TODO: expected date.

What is a response?

A response, which the council calls a “representation”, is your written view on the Proposed Plan, sent to the council during the consultation. You can support, object to or comment on any part of it. Only responses lodged with the council count. Social media posts, polls and petitions don’t go forward to the examination.

TODO: Confirm with the council whether responses are published, and whether names and addresses are required.

What counts

Planning decisions can only take account of “material considerations”: things that are relevant in planning terms. Examples include:

traffic, road safety and public transport
effects on wildlife, trees and the green belt
school places, health services, water and drainage
flooding
the character of the conservation village and its setting

Things that usually don’t count include effects on property values, the loss of a private view, and who the developer is.

TODO: Check this list with Planning Aid Scotland.

Read the documents yourself

TODO: Link to the Proposed LDP3 and its maps on the council’s website
TODO: Link to the council’s response form

The issues

We're writing a page about each of the big issues the plan raises for Eaglesham. Until then, here's what each one covers.

Traffic and transport

How people from up to 660 new homes would get around, and what that means for the roads through the conservation village.

Wildlife and biodiversity

What lives on and around the proposed sites, and how the plan protects it.

Infrastructure

School places, health services, water and drainage: what would need to be in place before new homes are built.

Sources

Last updated Monday 2 November 2026.