3 - A planning application has been submitted for my greenspace – what can I do?

Local Council

Your Local Council's Local Development Plan will indicate if the greenspace is protected open space or has been designated as of a special value. Live planning applications can be viewed and commented on via the Council's website.

Planning Aid Scotland

PAS provides free, impartial, professional planning advice to help people understand and engage with the planning system. Their website hosts a range of information sheets, and individual enquiries can be submitted by email. 

Local representatives

Contact your Community Council, Local Authority Councillor, MSP or MP to gather information, allies and to show them the site so that they can see why it is important to the community and how many people care about it.

Protecting Nature

RSPB Scotland's Local Planning Pack (2016) has information on protecting birds, wildlife, trees etc. The leaflets aim to give you the knowledge to influence local decisions and protect wildlife which is important to you.

Scottish Land Commission

Established as a result of Land Reform legislation, one of the Commission's roles is to promote and support change and good practice in the way land is owned and used in Scotland. They publish an ongoing set of Protocols including

• Community Engagement in Decisions Relating to land
• Transparency of Ownership and Land Use Decision-Making
• Land Ownership by Charities
• Land Ownership by Private Trusts 
• Diversification of Ownership and Tenure
• Negotiating Transfer of land to Communities

All of which aim to give practical advice to land owners, land managers and to communities in the fair and sustainable use of land, as set out in the Scottish Government's Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement. There are case studies of good practice on the website, and their Good Practice Team that can be contacted for advice and practical support.