LDP 3 Community Engagement Stage 2 live for inputs from individuals, community representatives, businesses and public groups
In a world where it is easy to feel your voice isn’t heard this is an opportunity to have your say locally through a democratic process.
Argyll & Bute Council is currently preparing LDP 3 which is scheduled to be adopted in 2030. This may seem a long way in the future but it is important to input now as the Council is currently at Stage 2 (Evidence Gathering) of the process.
Cove & Kilcreggan Community Council have already publicised this through their facebook page and cross-posted it other facebook sites. However, given that the documents are verbose, complex and hard to decipher, below is a simplified explanation of the process and accessible links to the topic papers and response forms.
This document provides guidance on how to engage with the process as your input is vital to keep the spirit & beauty of our villages alive!
What is a Local Development Plan?
LDP3 is a 10-year statutory plan document created by councils guiding the future use of land, and setting out where new homes, businesses and infrastructure should be. It is the legal framework for planning applications.(https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning-policy/local-development-plan-3)
LDP 3 will take four years to develop and will set out a spatial strategy with opportunities and constraints for development of the county.
When creating LDP3 the Council must have regard for Local Place Plans that communities, including Cove & Kilcreggan, have produced. However, Argyll & Bute Council is keen to further engage with individuals, community representatives, businesses, public groups to develop the plan. This involves the following key stages:
Preparation: Already complete –the announcement of LDP 3 and associated publicity.
Evidence Gathering (Community Engagement): We are at this stage now – see below
Independent Assessment: of all the evidence gathered.
Plan Preparation: Further community consultation on the draft plan
Plan Finalization: Closed to the public.
Plan Approval: Plan is passed by the Council.
Delivery Stage
Stage 2: Evidence Gathering
The evidence gathering stage covers 18 topics and the Council has produced ‘Topic Papers’ for each (https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning-policy/ldp3-evidence-report-engagement). The topics range from historic assets & places, climate change, economy, flood risk, water management and many others. People can consult on any one or all of the topics. Each topic also has a Response Form which is a very short survey, allowing you to agree/disagree with and comment on the evidence supplied.
Available Topic Papers and How to Respond
Currently there are five Topic Papers open for comment. You can comment by either:
Feeding back directly into the Council’s Response Form by 13April 2026 (links below)
Contacting either Cove and Kilcreggan Community Council (https://coveandkilcreggan.org.uk/contact-us/) by 10 April 2026
Contacting Our Community in Cove and Kilcreggan (hello@coveandkilcreggancommunity.com) by 10 April 2026
Please note that if you are using the Council response form , after you read the Topic Paper you need to go BACK a page to click onto the Response Form.
We have provided links to each of the current topic papers and their response forms below. Pages are not numbered but we have referenced where Cove and Kilcreggan are mentioned.
Topic Papers
We have provided links to each of the current topic papers and their response forms below. Pages are not numbered but we have referenced where Cove and Kilcreggan are mentioned.
1. Historic Assets and Places: Cove & Kilcreggan mentioned on Pages 20 and 21
Response Form: https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/form/ldp3-historic-assets-topic-paper
2. Vacant and Derelict Land: Page 19 – no vacant sites referenced for Cove and Kilcreggan
Response Form: https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/form/ldp3-vacant-land-topic-paper
3. Transport
Topic Paper: https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-02/Transport%20Topic%20Paper%20accessible%20format%20v0.7.pdf
Response Form: https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/form/ldp3-transport-topic-paper
4. Town Centres and Retail: Cove & Kilcreggan don't class as a town but Helensburgh does and is mentioned on nearly every page.
Topic Paper: https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-03/Town%20Centres%20and%20Retail%20Finalised.pdf
Response Form: https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/form/ldp3-town-centres-topic-paper
5. Aquaculture: No reference to Cove and Kilcreggan
Response Form: https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/form/ldp3-aquaculture-topic-paper
ADDITIONAL SURVEYS
There are two additional surveys which communities are being invited to complete as part of this process. They are:
Place Standard Tool Survey (general quality of life/place in Argyll and Bute)
https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/place-standard-tool
Outdoor Play Survey
Link to Survey: https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning-policy/play-sufficiency-assessment
We will be keeping you updated of further Topic Papers and feedback deadlines as they are made available by the Council. In the meantime, we encourage you to take time and feedback on topics that could impact on all our lives in the future.