How planning decisions are made

As a Planning Authority, we make decisions on planning and related applications in South Lanarkshire.

We assess each proposal against national and local planning policy and legislation, consider comments from the public and consultees, and make decisions. Depending on the type of application, this decision may be made by councillors or planning officers.

What we do

Planning in Scotland is a legal system that manages how land is used and developed for the long‑term benefit of communities. Planning Authorities do two main jobs:

• Development planning – setting out how places should grow and change
• Development management – deciding whether to approve planning applications

Our decisions must follow national and local planning rules, including the National Planning Framework and our Local Development Plan. We are responsible for assessing applications, enforcing planning rules and carrying out other planning duties. We also investigate breaches of planning rules and take action where needed.

Who makes decisions

Different people make decisions depending on the application:

• the council approves documents linked to the Local Development Plan, as required by the Town and Country Planning (Development Planning) (Scotland) Regulations 2023
• most decisions on planning applications are made by Elected Members on the Planning Committee
• some decisions are made by the Chief Planning Officer or appointed officers under our Scheme of Delegation

The rules we follow

We must follow planning law and policy when making decisions. This includes:

• National Planning Framework
• Local Development Plan
• Scottish planning legislation

These rules make sure decisions are fair, consistent and based on evidence.

Understanding the process

You can read our planning decision making procedures to see how we assess applications, take account of comments, make and issue decisions, handle reviews and appeals.

Anyone applying for planning permission, or affected by a planning decision, should seek independent legal advice before taking action.