Masterplan Consent Areas

The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 introduced Masterplan Consent Areas (MCAs) as an upfront consenting mechanism, to let planning authorities consent to the type and quality of development they wish to see in their places.

The council will be able to prepare MCA scheme for particular places, setting out the detail of what we are giving consent for, through the scheme. Within adopted MCA areas, development could be brought forward without the need necessarily for a planning application as long as it is in accordance with the agreed scheme.

Unlike planning applications which are typically led by a developer, the preparation of MCA schemes will be led by the council, but can be taken forward through collaboration.

We are required to consider whether it would be desirable to make a scheme for a part, or parts of Aberdeenshire, and to publish a statement of our consideration.