Locality planning is a key element of Health & Social Care Integration and with the enactment of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act, 2014 has become a legal requirement in relation to the planning and delivery of heath and social care services. The legislation requires that South Ayrshire is divided into localities for the purpose of preparing a Strategic Plan. The South Ayrshire Health & Social Care Partnership Locality Boundaries dataset was created to meet this requirement.

Safeguarding zones for developments around Prestwick Airport

A Tree Preservation Order imposes conditions for the preservation of trees, groups of trees or woodlands in South Ayrshire, by prohibiting the cutting down, topping, lopping or the wilful destruction of trees, etc. except without the Council's consent. This layer depicts such Tree Preservation Orders across the area.

Boundary dataset depicting the Community Councils across South Ayrshire. Community Councils (CCs) are voluntary organisations set up by statute and run by local residents to act on behalf of their area. Their specific role can vary according to their local area’s needs.

Boundaries for designated greenbelts as defined in the South Ayrshire Local Development Plan. The greenbelt areas provide an effective method of: • protecting the operational needs of Prestwick Airport. • managing the development pressures placed on land around Ayr, Prestwick and Troon in terms of maintaining the identity of towns and preventing coalescence; • maintaining the landscape setting of settlements; • providing recreational opportunities; • and protecting good quality agricultural land.

The central core area (darkest sky) of the Galloway Dark Sky Park. The Galloway Forest Park received Gold Tier Dark Sky Park Status from the International Dark Sky Association in 2009 due to the exceptional quality of the night sky.

The LDP is a strategic land use plan that sets out strategic spatial priorities and policies for South Ayrshire and will secure land for specified uses (e.g. housing/industry etc.) to provide certainty for development.

All of South Ayrshire is divided into wards for local government elections; each ward elects three or four councillors who represent their area in the running of the Council.

Boundary dataset depicting the catchment area for non-denominational secondary schools across South Ayrshire.

Galloway Forest Park was established in 1947 and is managed by Forestry Commission Scotland.