A conservation area is an area of special architectural or historic interest, judged to have special character by virtue of their particular arrangement of the townscape, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.
There are a total of 35 conservation areas that Perth and Kinross manage as planning authority, listed below. You can also check whether a property is located within a conservation area by using the interactive heritage map.
List of conservation areas
- Aberfeldy
- Abernethy
- Baledgarno
- Birnam
- Blair Atholl*
- Blairgowrie
- Cleish
- Comrie
- Coupar Angus
- Crieff
- Dunkeld
- Dunning
- Errol
- Forgandenny
- Fortingall
- Fowlis Wester
- Grandtully and Strathtay
- Inchture
- Kenmore
- Kinnesswood
- Kinross
- Kinrossie
- Knapp
- Longforgan
- Meikleour
- Moulin
- Muthill
- Perth Central
- Perth Kinnoull
- Pitcairngreen
- Pitlochry
- Rait
- Scotlandwell
- Spittalfield
- St. Fillans**
- Wester Balgedie
*Blair Atholl Conservation Area is located within the Cairngorms National Park Authority however, for planning matters, we consult with this National Park Authority when required.
**St. Fillans Conservation Area is located within the Perth and Kinross Council boundary however all matters relating to conservation are managed by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, who designated that conservation area.
Conservation area appraisals
Conservation area appraisals are management tools which inform about the special needs and characteristics of the area and assist in the formulation and guidance for development proposals. They serve as supplementary guidance to the Adopted Local Development Plan 2019 (PDF, 46 MB) and assists in development management.
So far we have appraised the Aberfeldy (PDF, 5 MB), Abernethy (PDF, 7 MB), Blair Atholl (PDF, 5 MB), Blairgowrie (PDF, 6 MB), Cleish (PDF, 176 KB)(opens new window), Comrie (PDF, 9 MB), Coupar Angus (PDF, 25 MB), Crieff (PDF, 6 MB), Dunkeld (PDF, 6 MB), Dunning (PDF, 5 MB), Errol (PDF, 4 MB), Grandtully & Strathtay (PDF, 3 MB), Inchture (PDF, 7 MB), Kenmore (PDF, 6 MB), Kinross (PDF, 7 MB), Longforgan (PDF, 4 MB), Muthill (PDF, 5 MB), Perth Central (PDF, 10 MB), Perth Kinnoull (PDF, 6 MB), Pitlochry (PDF, 21 MB), Rait (PDF, 4 MB) and Scotlandwell (PDF, 4 MB) conservation areas.
Are there any restrictions on development or signs?
Conservation areas may have an Article 4 Direction, Regulation 11 Order or conservation area appraisal in place. An Article 4 Direction can restrict certain types of 'permitted development', and as such would require planning permission. A Regulation 11 Order can restrict certain adverts and signs, meaning that advertisement consent is usually required.
You can apply online via the eplanning.scot portal. Further information about what we would expect to receive as part of a submission can be found in our Application Checklist section.
If in any doubt as to whether conservation area consent, advertisement consent or planning permission is required, you can engage in pre-application advice.
'Permitted' development
Article 4 Directions and Regulation 11 Orders are additional controls for specific classes of development and advertisement, respectively, which would otherwise be regarded as 'permitted development', i.e. development that does not require planning permission. Directions can cover a variety of minor works and might include the replacement of doors and windows, the erection of gates, fences, garages, sheds, porches, storage tanks or the installation of satellite antennae. Orders remove 'deemed consent' to display most signs and adverts, meaning they will require advertisement consent.
Demolition
Many buildings in a conservation area, whilst not listed, contribute significantly to the character of the conservation area. Demolition of an unlisted building within a conservation area will require Conservation Area Consent if the building is more than 115 cubic metres in volume.
Trees
All trees are protected from pruning, lopping or felling. Before any work can be undertaken, we as the planning authority must be notified; we then have six weeks in which to make a decision on the proposed tree works. A Tree Preservation Order may be imposed in order to protect the tree or trees if considered to be of substantial merit to the conservation area.
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