Campaigners have urged residents to have their say on North Ayrshire's latest Local Development Plan - which will guide the use of our land for the next decade.

North Ayrshire Council is currently carrying out a consultation to gather the opinions of residents on how they would like to see their area improve.

A Local Development Plan is created every 10 years and shows how local places will change into the future, and determine where space for housing, community amenities, and nature will be created.

And campaign groups are keen to get locals involved as much as possible.

Kat Jones, the director of Action to Protect Rural Scotland (APRS), which campaigns to promote, enhance and protect Scotland’s countryside and rural landscapes, said: “This is a once in a decade opportunity for local people to contribute to a plan that will shape their areas.

“Local people know their areas best. Whether you would like to see the protection of a green belt, more room for nature, well-built social housing, or increased community spaces, getting it into your Local Development Plan could be the best way to make it a reality.”

Clare Symonds, of Planning Democracy, said: “We believe that communities should be at the centre of Local Development Plans and the process should be made simple and straightforward for them to engage with.

"We also believe that local authorities should ensure that Local Development Plans work for the long-term interest of communities”.

North Ayrshire Council is running a series of engagement surveys to gather the opinions of esidents on how they would like to see their area improve.

These include a place standard survey, which aims to consider social and physical aspects of an area,  as well as a specific consultation for young people.

These can be found on North Ayrshire’s Local Development Plan online hub. Environmental and planning campaigners are urging local residents to get involved in this process.

The new Development Plan will be used to guide investment, development, and planning policy for local areas in the long-term interest of the local community.

They were previously renewed every five years, but due to changes made under the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019, local authorities are now required to update them every 10 years.

Because of this, there is a once in a decade opportunity for the public to get involved in shaping their local community.