This page gives information on the Developer Contributions and Affordable Housing Supplementary Guidance which includes the legal and policy background and details the contribution and affordable housing requirements from new developments.
Purpose and scope of guidance
The Developer Contributions and Affordable Housing Supplementary Guidance (2023) is linked to Policy 5: Infrastructure Contributions and Policy 20: Affordable Housing in the Perth and Kinross Local Development Plan 2 (2019). It includes the legal and policy background and details the contribution requirements towards Primary Education, Auchterarder A9 Junction Improvements and Transport Infrastructure. The Guidance also details the Council's Affordable Housing requirement.
Developer Contributions and Affordable Housing Supplementary Guidance (2023)
- Part 1: Policy Implementation and Developer Contribution (PDF, 878 KB)
- Part 2: Affordable Housing (PDF, 336 KB)
In line with Planning Circular 3/2012 Planning Obligations and Good Neighbour Agreements Local Authorities may use agreements under Section 75 of the Town & Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 to mitigate the impact of new development on infrastructure. Where a shortfall in infrastructure capacity has been identified the impact of new development may be mitigated through a financial contribution. This allows proposed development to be acceptable in planning terms and helps provide wider benefits across Perth and Kinross.
The Guidance was approved by the Council's Environment, Infrastructure and Economic Development Committee on 20 September 2023, following a period of public consultation, and submitted to Scottish Ministers in line with the necessary adoption procedure. The Guidance is effective from 18 December 2023.
Do I need to pay developer contributions?
The Supplementary Guidance contains information on when an applicant may be required to make contributions towards infrastructure needs. Advice on Developer Contributions and Affordable Housing can also be provided as part of the Development Management pre-application advice service.
The Supplementary Guidance aims to provide ample advice to assist applicants to prepare their proposals to Perth and Kinross Council. Applicants are expected to take the requirement for Developer Contributions and Affordable Housing into account in their financial appraisal prior to land deals and commercial decisions being taken and early engagement with the Council is encouraged.
Primary Education contributions may be sought for schools listed in the Supplementary Guidance Part 1 - Appendix 1. Transport contributions may be sought within the zones shown in the Supplementary Guidance Appendix 2 and 3.
Further information on holiday accommodation proposals can be read here: Holiday Accommodation SG Note 0824 (PDF, 579 KB)
There will be cases where certain proposals are not required to make contributions. Similarly, there may also be cases where the level of development will trigger a requirement to make contributions.
Certain proposals may also be required to make other site-specific contributions toward infrastructure not covered in this guidance, such as; strategic transport network improvements, open space and play areas, etc. These are assessed on a case-by-case basis by the relevant consultees.
The Council will consider the financial viability of an applicant's proposal if Developer Contributions are expressed as a potential concern. Sufficient evidence will be required in order to consider this. Further guidance on development viability can be found in section 3.15 of the Supplementary Guidance. Consideration of Development Viability Statements will be the exception rather than the rule. As noted, early engagement with the Council is advised via the pre-application advice service.
Affordable Housing
The Local Development Plan requires 25% of all homes in development proposals of five homes or more to be affordable.
Further detail on the Council's requirements for Affordable Housing are set out in more detail within Part 2 of the Supplementary Guidance, including different types of affordable housing tenure and their descriptions. In limited circumstances will a commuted sum in lieu of on-site provision be considered. Rates for each Housing Market Area are contained in the guidance. The full report of these rates can be viewed in the PKC Commuted Sum Report (PDF, 286 KB).
Pre-application advice is a service available through the Council's Development Management team. Applicants can also contact the Affordable Housing Enablers for further advice: AffordableHousing@pkc.gov.uk.
More information on the Perth and Kinross Council Local Housing Strategy and associated documents is available on the Local Housing Strategy pages of our website.
Paying developer contributions
The Payment of Contributions Procedural Notes 2023 (PDF, 134 KB) provides advice on how you can pay your contributions, which can be done via online banking or telephone payment (BACS).
Payment of developer contributions prior to the release of planning consent is the preferred procedure. However, where appropriate, the Council may enter into a legal agreement under Section 75 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended) to allow the grant of planning permission. This process will add time to the release of planning consent and be at the expense of the applicant.
Where a Section 75 agreement has been entered into, this can usually be found in our online planning application portal using the planning application reference.
What contributions have been collected?
An annual report has been prepared giving information on the contributions towards Transport Infrastructure, Primary Education and the A9 Junction improvements which have been received by the Council. It also gives details of what these sums have been spent on. The report and all registers for Transport Infrastructure, Primary Education and the A9 Junction Improvement contributions are available to download below:
- A9 Annual Monitoring Report 2015-16 (PDF, 99 KB)
- Annual Summary 2024-25 (PDF, 62 KB)
- Auchterarder CS Report 2024-25 (PDF, 287 KB)
- Blairgowrie High 2024-25 (PDF, 272 KB)
- Breadalbane Academy 2024-25 (PDF, 183 KB)
- Crieff High 2024-25 (PDF, 238 KB)
- Kinross High 2024-25 (PDF, 344 KB)
- Perth Academy 2024-25 (PDF, 241 KB)
- Perth Grammar 2024-25 (PDF, 238 KB)
- Perth High 2024-25 (PDF, 445 KB)
- Pitlochry High 2024-25 (PDF, 133 KB)
- Transport Contributions Annual Monitoring 2024-25 (PDF, 0 B)
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
As part of the process we consult NatureScot, SEPA and Historic Environment Scotland on whether the plan, programme or strategy is likely to raise issues of significant environmental impact.
We sent our Screening Report (PDF, 550 KB) to the consultation authorities to determine whether the supplementary guidance is likely to have significant effects on the environment on 28 April 2023. You can also view the responses from the consultation authorities:
- Screening Response - Historic Environment Scotland (PDF, 261 KB)
- Screening Response - Scottish Natural Heritage (PDF, 662 KB)
- Screening Response - Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) (PDF, 663 KB)
Having consulted the three consultation authorities and having considered the criteria set out in the Act, the Council considered that the Supplementary Guidance is unlikely to have significant environmental effects and has therefore decided that a SEA is not required. You can also view the Screening Determination (PDF, 479 KB)
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