Campaigning on Planning and Green Belts
APRS has supported groups and individuals campaigning to protect nature, countryside and landscapes since we established nearly a century ago. This continues today with our Green Belts Alliance and the groups and individuals we support and advise.
Our approach to change-making is grounded in the belief that communities must be empowered to shape the future of the places where they live. Many of Scotland’s least affluent communities are located on the urban fringe —precisely where damaging development pressures are greatest and access to nature is most at risk. These communities often feel dis-empowered and unheard in decision-making processes that affect their quality of life.
We work to change this. Firstly by advising on how to engage with the planning system as it stands, offering bespoke advice and online information and guidance. And secondly by gathering first-hand experience of how the planning system works to campaign for change which, in turn, helps communities’ voices to be heard so they can protect their own local green spaces and biodiversity.
Stories from the Campaigners
In October 2024 three planning permission cases in which APRS has taken a close interest, were dismissed at appeal by DPEA Reporters. Planning permission was refused in each case. Here, Nikki Sinclair explains the background and takes us through the main issues.
In this section of her green belts walk Kat meets a campaigner in Carmunnock and learns some of the tactics of the volume house-builders wanting to build on the greenbelt in some of the most sought-after countryside around Glasgow.
Planning for her next green belt walk, a treasure hunt for Neolithic rock carvings at Cochno, near Faifley, Kat discovers they are under threat from a large Battery facility.
Guest blog by Dani Garavelli – Looking at Kat Jones who is walking all the way round Greater Glasgow’s green belts.
we speak to Jane of Ferniehill who has had to become an expert of planning to object to a development of 6000 homes on their local green space.
Ann Glen and Kathleen of Woodhall, Faskine and Palacecraig Conservation Group talk about their campaign to save the Monklands canal and to create a Country Park.
Green Belt campaigners on our webinar
Four local campaigners joined us on our Winter Webinar series to tell us a bit about their work and give some advice from their own experience of campaigning: getting people involved, understanding the planning system and how they have found ways around the obstacles and difficulties.
- Robert Cochrane of Carmunock Community Council
- Inga Bullen of Save Blairforkie Greenspace
- Adrian Croften, Friends of St Fitticks Park
- Gwen Pirie, Keep Potterton Green
Having a say in the future of your area
One of the most important ways to shape the future of your area is to contribute to the Local Development Plan which lays out a 10-year plan for the development of your area. The process isn’t as inclusive of community voice as it could be and we are still campaigning for more say for communities in the planning system, not least via Equal Right of Appeal. We have written some guidance on getting involved in Local Development Plans.
Resources for Campaigners
APRS Guidance
These APRS guidance notes were written to help campaigners understand the Scottish planning system and how to make our voices heard in planning decisions. All have been updated since National Planning Framework 4.
APRS Advice Note: The Scottish Planning System
Planning affects everyone, and everyone has a right to have their say about matters that affect their lives. Planning is about making hard choices, balancing the need for appropriate development with the desire to protect both the landscapes that we cherish and the environmental quality that is vital for life and wellbeing. Knowing about the planning system can help us all to make informed choices about the future of rural Scotland.
Green Belts Advice Note
This advice note is intended to help individuals and communities understand and protect their local Green Belt.
Community Guidance on LDPs
Local Development Plan guidance for communities Key points Background The Scottish Planning System The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 states that
Energy, landscape and planning FAQs
As Scotland moves towards a more sustainable, net zero energy system, where we place renewable energy infrastructure and how communities
Case Studies
These Case studies relate to appeals that were recently related to NPF4
Burnhouse Farm, Dechmont, Planning Case Study
This case study looks at the history of the planned development at Burnhouse Farm, Dechmont.
Blairforkie, Bridge of Allan, Planning Case Study
This case study looks at the history of the planned development at Blairforkie Drive, Bridge of Allan, and the refusal of the subsequent appeal.
Webinar Series
Watch and listen to our two series of webinars created with Planning Democracy on various aspects of the Scottish Planning system with speakers from Scottish Government, Local Authorities, community campaigners and specialists. Our first season on webinars was an in depth look at the new planning system, NPF4. And the second was on Biodiversity and the Planning System.
Monitoring Biodiversity for Planning
Recorded Wednesday 6th November 2024
This webinar will help you to understand the role of planning in protecting and enhancing biodiversity, the laws around nature protection and the policies designed to prevent further loss of biodiversity.
Biodiversity and new development – Recording what is in our areas
Recorded Wednesday 4th December 2024
In this webinar, we heard from The Wildlife Information Centre about its role in building an understanding of what nature exists in different areas and how it works with communities.
Nature Networks, LDPs and planning decisions
Recorded Wednesday 15th January 2025
The National Planning Framework 4 mentions the importance of Nature Networks in the Green Belts Policy and the Biodiversity Policy but what does this mean for development planning? What are Nature Networks and how do they fit into the planning system?
Planning Conditions and Enforcement
Recorded Wednesday 5th February 2025
This webinar looks at what planning conditions are, how they work and how they are enforced. Developments inevitably affect nature, so how do planners limit the damage, and how effective is this approach?
Drainage, Ditches and Buzzing biodiversity
Recorded – 28 August 2025
This webinar explores how Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) — the shallow channels, grassy basins, and ponds built into modern developments — can do far more than manage rainwater and prevent flooding. Well designed SUDS can become vital habitats for birds, amphibians, and pollinators
See Previous Webinars
In Winter 2023-24 we delivered five webinars on National Planning Framework 4 and Local Development Planning. To see videos and resources from these webinars click the link below.
- Understanding Scotland’s new planning system
- NPF4: how things have changed
- Navigating Local Development Plans
- Having a say in the future of your area
- Green Belts and NPF4
More information
Your local plan
Local Development Plans give a blueprint for development in your area for the next 10 years. Many are being written now and communities should have a say.
Green Belts
Find out more about how to protect Green Belts, which are a planning designation to maintain countryside near to cities, prevent sprawl and incentivise development on brownfield sites.
Planning
This is an overview of the Scottish Planning System to help campaigners understand what can be a complex area of policy.
Energy FAQs
As we tackle the climate crisis, where we place renewable energy infrastructure and how communities are involved is vital. Here we answer questions on energy, landscape and the Planning system.
Other Useful Guidance
Planning Democracy is a community-led organisation campaigning to strengthen the voice and influence of the public in the planning and development of Scotland’s land. They have published some very useful guides to Scotland’s planning system
Guidance on Planning Enforcement
The Environmental Rights Centre Scotland has produced new helpful guidance about planning enforcement. This explains how enforcement should work and the tools a planning authority can use for enforcement. It also explains what you can do if you think there has been a breach of planning control, including where planning conditions have not been fulfilled.
RSPB Scotland Planning Guidance
RSPB has some excellent resources on how to engage with the planning system.
The Green Belts Alliance
We support groups and individuals campaigning to protect their Green Belt through our APRS Green Belts Alliance. We create guidance, campaign, meet as a network and have a regular email newsletter on issues of interest.
Join the Green Belts AllianceOther Resources
There are some incredible resources available to help campaigners with planning
Planning Democracy
Planning Democracy has a whole set of resources for communities and individuals looking to respond to a planning application.
RSPB Scotland
RSPB Scotland has a webpage of useful information for people wanting to get involved in planning issues. This includes general information about the planning system, how to run a campaign and specific guidance. For example protecting birds and wildlife, trees and woodland, and addressing climate change.
Local Place Plans Guidance
The Our Place website is devoted to promoting the benefits of place and place-based working. They have some guidance on Local Place Plans. You can see all their resources here
Guidance on Planning Conditions
Environmental Rights Centre Scotland (ERCS) has published new Guidance on Planning Enforcement intended to help members of the public challenge breaches of planning controls.
They also have a new Guide on how lobbying is regulated in Scotland
Common Good Land and Assets
Many Local Authorities have Common Good land and assets that have been gifted to the community and are protected for certain uses. The Scottish Land Commission have written some useful guides to what Common Good is, how to find out about it, and how it can be used to better benefit communities.
Navigating the consenting process for renewable energy developments
Planning Aid have created this useful guide on the process of energy consenting.
Support APRS
Although these webinars were free to attend, we do ask that people consider supporting us so we can continue to provide information and support as much as possible