In 2020 the Wester Hailes Community Trust commissioned Urban Pioneers and Dress for the Weather architects to create a Local Place Plan for Wester Hailes. In October of 2022, the Wester Hailes Local Place Plan 2.0 was submitted to the City of Edinburgh Council. In May of 2023 the Wester Hailes Local Place Plan was registered by the City of Edinburgh Council, officially making it the first registered Local Place Plan in Scotland. Hooray!

The Wester hailes Local Place Plan can be accessed here!

What is the Wester Hailes Local Place Plan?

The Wester Hailes Local Place Plan is a comprehensive report which outlines 36 proposed projects for Wester Hailes. These 36 projects address and reflect the community feedback gathered through extensive and inclusive community engagement at events, workshops, and sessions in and around Wester Hailes. The 36 projects work towards achieving a 20 minute neighbourhood and range from physical interventions to long term social strategies. The projects exemplify the equal importance of the built environment and the social supports necessary for communities to thrive. We hope that this final Place Plan will act as a catalyst for a fruitful future of community oriented development in Wester Hailes.

What are Local Place Plans?

A Local Place Plan (LPP) is a new type of planning document implemented by the Scottish government in 2019. Putting communities at the core of development, LPPs provide locals with the opportunity to propose the improvements and developments that they wish to see in their neighbourhoods.

How are Local Place Plans different from prior planning frameworks / why are they important?

Local Place plans are different from prior planning frameworks as they prioritize resident’s aspirations for their neighbourhoods over that of external developers/bodies. Once finalized and registered, The City of Edinburgh Council (or the equivalent council body) must take the LPP into account prior to any new development proposals. This means that any development proposals for a site which is addressed in the LPP must first and foremost acknowledge what the community’s intended usage for that site is. If the developer’s plans go against these wishes, they must legally argue their case. This added step in the planning framework ensures that residents control the decisions made about their communities, and therefore how their communities are shaped by them. The hope is that Local Place Plans will stimulate and encourage conversations around the values, aspirations, and futures of communities across Scotland.

Have you started implementing the 36 project proposed by the WHLPP?

Yes! In addition to building up the capacity of the Trust, the WHCT has made it our main priority to make the projects put forward by the LPP a reality.

You can view our progress on the LPP Projects Page.