From Issues that will affect East Lothian in the next 10-15 years
Landscape, Green Belt and Countryside around Towns
East Lothian has an attractive landscape which is protected by a number of designations.
Green Belt
This can currently be found on the boundary between Edinburgh and East Lothian and aims to provide a defined edge to the City and prevent urban sprawl.
Countryside Around Towns
This designation is similar to Green Belt and protects key landscapes on the edge of settlements from development.
Special Landscape Areas
This designation protects areas of landscape based on their inherent quality. It aims to only allow development that would not impinge on the characteristics of the landscape in question.
Continued Protection of Landscape
All of these landscape designations will be important in shaping the approach to new development and policy in the new LDP. The boundaries of these areas will be checked as part of the work on the LDP to ensure that the designated areas are performing the function which they are designated for but the principle of protecting the landscape is reinforced through NPF4 and will be a main part of the next LDP.
