Development Plans

Masterplan Consent Areas (MCAs) were introduced by the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 as a new, proactive way for planning authorities to guide and consent development. MCAs allow councils to lead the preparation of a consenting masterplan for specific areas, shaping the type and quality of development in line with local needs and placemaking priorities, rather than relying on developer-led planning applications.

How MCAs support planned development

An MCA scheme can grant multiple consents in advance, including planning permission, road construction consent, listed building consent and conservation area consent. Once an area is designated, development that complies with the agreed scheme can proceed without a full planning application.

Current position and next steps

We have not yet identified potential MCA locations. This will be considered once the full legal framework is operational, likely as part of preparing Local Development Plan 3.

Legal requirement

This position statement fulfils our legal requirement to periodically consider whether it would be desirable to introduce MCA schemes under Schedule 5A Paragraph 5 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act as amended.