Planning Guidance - Loch Leven SPA, the Dunkeld-Blairgowrie Lochs SAC and the River Tay SAC

Purpose and Scope of Guidance

These three areas have been designated as either a Special Protection Area (SPA) or a Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). These are the highest wildlife designations and means that these sites are part of the Natura 2000 network - a series of internationally important wildlife sites throughout the European Union. These guidance documents have been produced to ensure these areas are protected. All three guidance documents will provide advice on the types of appropriate information and safeguards to be provided in support of your planning application so that it can be properly and timeously assessed by Perth & Kinross Council. These documents were prepared in consultation with SNH and SEPA and were adopted by the Council.

• The Lunan Lochs SAC Guidance (PDF, 1 MB) (2020) relates specifically to water quality of the Dunkeld-Blairgowrie SAC. This Guidance relates to the Local Development Plan Policy 45: Lunan Valley Catchment Area.
• The Loch Leven SPA and Ramsar Site Guidance (PDF, 1 MB) (2022) relates specifically to water quality of Loch Leven SPA and phosphorus entering the loch's catchment. This Guidance relates to the Local Development Plan Policy 46: Drainage within the Loch Leven Catchment Area.
• The River Tay SAC Guidance (PDF, 3 MB) (2020) provides advice to developers when considering new projects which could affect the River Tay Special Area of Conservation. This Guidance relates to the Local Development Plan Policy 47: Development within the River Tay Catchment Area.

Consultation

All three Guidance documents have been reviewed and were subject to consultation between 17 February and 16 March 2020. Two of the revised documents - the River Tay and Lunan Valley Area guidance - were adopted by the Council in November 2020. The Loch Leven guidance underwent further minor revision as a response to suggestions made following consultation, and consulted on again in 2021, and was adopted by the Council following recommendation of the Kinross Area Local Committee in June 2022.

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

As part of the process of preparing and adopting Planning Guidance, we consulted Historic Environment Scotland, SEPA and SNH on whether the draft Guidance documents are likely to raise issues of significant environmental impact. It was determined that these documents did not require an SEA to be carried out.