Planning
SEPA is identified as a key agency under the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006 and is proactively assisting delivery of the Scottish Government's commitment to provide a more effective and efficient planning system. We provide formal environmental advice in relation to development plans and on wide range of development proposals across Scotland.
Whether you are a planning authority, a developer, a consultant, a member of the public, or any other party with an interest in SEPA’s role in the planning system, this section of our website will provide you with all our planning guidance notes, map based information and advice on different development types and topics.
We enable good development and protect Scotland’s environment through the planning system by focusing on the consultations where we can add most value. Engagement with planning authorities from the outset ensures we can support development plan proposals and aid the implementation of a genuinely plan-led land use planning system. We also welcome early engagement on larger developments to help you identify opportunities, constraints and solutions.
We are working to expand this area of our website and will update it as more guidance and advice becomes available. If you are unable to find the advice you need then please contact your local SEPA planning team.
How and when to consult SEPA
We have a number of guidance notes which give detailed information on how to consult us and what types of development to consult us on:
Standing advice
We focus our bespoke advice on environmentally sensitive developments where we can add most value. For other small-scale local developments please refer to the below standing advice notes:
Issues we comment on
We have a programme of role resolution with other key agencies in relation to which issues we comment on. At present we engage on the following areas:
Specific planning advice
Planning guidance notes
We have a number of guidance notes in relation to our role and responsibilities in the planning process. We are making as many of the guidance documents below available online as quickly as possible. Those coloured blue are links and available online now. In an effort to be open and transparent about our role in the planning process, we have made a number of our internal procedural guidance notes available. We have also produced a directory, in partnership with other Agencies, on sources of information we hold that will help embed climate change issues into planning decisions.