Development Plans

The Development Plans Service is responsible for preparing, maintaining, implementing and reviewing the Shetland Structure Plan and Shetland Local Plan (the Development Plans).  

The Structure Plan and Local Plan

The Shetland Structure Plan was produced in 2000 and approved by the Scottish Ministers in 2001.   This plan provides the islands' strategy for land use planning until 2015.

The Shetland Local Plan, adopted in 2004, translates the wider aims of the Structure Plan into the detailed framework needed by communities, developers, public agencies and the Council itself if land use decisions are to be soundly based.   It helps to co-ordinate future development and promotes improvement and enhancement of every part of Shetland.

Local Development Plan

Please click here to view the Local Development Plan Page.

Review/Monitoring

Both the Structure Plan and Local Plan will be kept under review and updated in light of changing local circumstances, local policy and national guidance.   For example, trends in Shetland's population and employment are regularly examined and we also look at progress made on the various projects included in the Plans.   The first phase of review, dealing particularly with housing zoning, will begin in 2004.  

Implementation

The Development Plan Service strives to implement the policies of the plans through effective partnership working with other Council services, community groups, agencies and individual developers.

Supplementary advice

Periodically, the Development Plans Service produces advice leaflets and other publications intended to assist those contemplating a development.

Disclaimer

The printed Shetland Local Plan is the legal document.   We have tried to ensure that material on this website is accurate, but cannot guarantee that it exactly corresponds with the printed version.

Other Responsibilities

Our staff also deal with many other matters, for example countryside access, public rights of way, flooding and coast protection.   We intend to add more information on this site about these aspects of our work as soon as time allows.   In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact us if you wish to have more information, or need to discuss a particular site.

Contacts

Development Plans
Infrastucture Services
Grantfield
Lerwick
Shetland
Email on: development.plans@shetland.gov.uk
Phone on +44 (01595) 744800