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Dounby Local Place Plan Submission Statement

Contents

  1. 1 - Introduction — Page 1
  2. 2 - Contact details — Page 2
  3. 3 - Regard given to the Local Development Plan — Page 2
  4. 4 - Regard given to the National Planning Framework — Page 2
  5. 5 - Regard given to the Locality Plan — Page 2
  6. 6 - Reasons for amendments being sought to the Local Development Plan — Page 3
  7. 7 - Community support for the Local Place Plan — Page 3
  8. 8 - Evidence of compliance with Regulation 4 — Page 4
  9. Appendix — Page 4

1 - Introduction

This Supporting Statement forms part of the Local Place Plan submission to Orkney Islands Council and is accompanying the Dounby Community Plan: Local Place Plan dated January 2025.

The Plan and this statement have been prepared in accordance with:

  • Town and Country Planning (Local Place Plans) (Scotland) Regulations 2021; and
  • Scottish Government Planning Circular 1/2022 Local Place Plans.

The Plan primarily covers the settlement area of Dounby, however projects and aspirations relating to connectivity, facilities and service centres, and tourism and economy also consider the wider area within the Community Councils surrounding the village settlement.

The Plan has been developed in partnership with the Birsay Community Council and the Sandwick and Harray Community Council. The Plan includes a vision for Dounby and 4 key themes, which arose from the consultation and engagement undertaken with the community. The key themes are:

  • Getting Around;
  • Public Spaces;
  • Forward Planning; and
  • Tourism

The Plan aims to highlight key projects which will positively influence the future development of Dounby for the benefit of existing and new residents as well as the wider West Mainland community which use Dounby as a Service Hub in their day-to-day lives.

2 - Contact details

Email address: communitycouncils@orkney.gov.uk

3 - Regard given to the Local Development Plan

As part of preparation for the Local Place Plan, the community had regard to the Orkney Local Development Plan 2017 (OLDP2017).

The Plan shares many of the key objectives and principles included within the OLDP2017, particularly around health and wellbeing, active travel, sustainable communities, access to open space, housing and communities, and tourism and economy. The purpose of this plan is to try to deliver key projects that support those objectives, whilst also highlighting and contributing aspirations for the community for inclusion within the review of the next Local Development Plan.

4 - Regard given to the National Planning Framework

As part of preparation for the Local Place Plan, the community had regard to National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), including its policies and principles.

The Plan aligns with NPF4’s aim of creating sustainable, liveable and productive places. The principles and policies within NPF4 are reflected within the key themes and proposals of the Dounby Community Plan, with the community highlighting the importance of Local Living principles, Green Infrastructure and Open Space, Tourism, Active Travel and Connectivity, and Housing and Economy.

5 - Regard given to the Locality Plan

The Dounby Local Place Plan has taken regard of the three strategic priorities of the Orkney Community Plan 2023-30:

  • Sustainable Development,
  • Cost of Living Crisis, and
  • Local Equality.

The Plan’s key themes and projects align with these principles and share many of the same aspirations and goals, in particular, around supporting community growth, ensuring local economic development by supporting existing and new business, promoting and improving access to local services and facilities, and recognising the important role Dounby plays as a service hub for the wider community within the West Mainland.

6 - Reasons for amendments being sought to the Local Development Plan

The Local Place Plan contains several project aspirations that include opportunities to work with the Council as part of the review of the next OLDP in matters relating to housing, education and service provision. The Plan also includes projects relating to wider Council services, including transport, tourism, business and economy and active travel. Which are hoped will help shape other plans and policies as they are developed in the future. The aspirations and areas for consideration as part of the review of the next OLDP are detailed below:

  • Forward Planning, Project 10 – Housing:
  • Forward Planning, Project 12 – Service Hub and Businesses: Potential to identify key existing and future business areas within the village centre.

7 - Community support for the Local Place Plan

For more information on the community engagement process used to develop the Local Place Plan, please refer to:

  • Consultation section, page 12-13 of the Plan itself, which contains information describing the community engagement undertaken and the key outcomes.

The Plan went out for consultation from June to August 2024, which provided an opportunity for key stakeholders, Elected Members, Community Councils and the wider public the chance to further input into the document. This consultation included an event at the Dounby School on 7th June 2024. Members of the public, Elected Members and Community Council representatives that attended that event were supportive and praised the document and the depth of engagement undertaken to produce it.

Based on this, we believe that the Local Place Plan provides an accurate and evidence-based view of residents’ and stakeholders thoughts.

8 - Evidence of compliance with Regulation 4

The draft Local Place Plan was included within the ‘The Review of Orkney Local Development Plan Monthly Newsletter’, which was issued on the 6th June 2024. This newsletter detailed the background of the Local Place Plan and invited comments and thoughts on the key themes, proposals and projects within the document. This was sent to Elected Members and to Community Councils and included a link to the draft document on the Council’s website.

Appendix

A1 - Copy of the ‘Review of Orkney Local Development Plan, June 2024 Newsletter’

Sent to key stakeholders, including the Community Councils and Elected Members.