The key role of the SESplan Strategic Development Plan Authority is to prepare and maintain an up to date Strategic Development Plan for the South East Scotland area.  SESplan is a partnership of six member authorities – City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Fife, Midlothian, Scottish Borders and West Lothian.

The Strategic Development Plan is a land use plan for a 20 year period that is reviewed every 5 years. It covers the 'big picture' issues such as where development should and should not be and the scale of house building and employment that is being planned for. It is for the member authorities own Local Development Plans to translate this into local decisions and to allocate land for different uses. Producing a Strategic Development Plan is a process that involves engagement through joint working and consultation with a number of key stakeholder organisations and the wider community.