Planning for Great Places Newsletter

Welcome to our Planning for Great Places e-bulletin. This is your way of keeping up to date with guidance, consultations, research, and good practice related to development and nature. We would be glad to receive your feedback on the bulletin via [email protected].

New Green Health Framework

NatureScot, Public Health Scotland and Greenspace Scotland have published a Framework for Advancing Green Health in Scotland. This framework has been co-created with stakeholders from across health, environment and other sectors. It sets out a shared vision, six pillars and 15 priority actions to ensure Scotland realises the potential of its natural environment for the health of its people.

There is strong evidence for the role nature plays in human health and wellbeing. Recent research carried out by Aberdeen University and supported by NatureScot and Public Health Scotland suggests the health benefits attributed to adults from visiting NHS Scotland open spaces can be valued at £73 million per year. Additionally, the total annual cost savings to the NHS in Scotland due to nature-related activity is estimated at £870 million. Great planning and place-making close to where people live, work and go to school is key to fully realising the potential of Scotland's natural environment for public health, and it underpins all pillars and several priority actions highlighted within this framework.

Shared Ground: Scotland’s Urban Nature Partnership

Scotland's urban parks and greenspaces have a vital role to play in tackling the biodiversity crisis. But are we making the most of them? And do we have the right plans, strategies and partnerships in place to deliver meaningful change by 2030?

These are the questions at the heart of Shared Ground — Scotland's Urban Nature Partnership, a programme commissioned by NatureScot to turn a national biodiversity commitment into local action.

Greenspace Scotland are leading Phase 1 of this work — bringing together practitioners from across Scotland to co-create a shared understanding of where we are now, what the barriers are, and what needs to happen next. Nearly 70% of Scotland's local authorities took part in workshops in December 2025, with biodiversity officers, park managers, grounds maintenance teams, planners, and climate change staff all contributing their expertise and experience.

Find out more about what emerged from this first phase here – and the next steps.

ScotClimATE: A tool for understanding future extreme weather in Scotland

ClimateXChange has recently launched ScotClimATE, an innovative online tool designed to help organisations understand how climate change could affect the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events across Scotland. Using data from the UK Climate Projections (UKCP18), the tool allows users to explore projected changes in extreme heat and rainfall under different global warming scenarios through interactive maps and visualisations. Developed to support climate adaptation planning and risk assessment, ScotClimATE provides valuable evidence to help public bodies, communities and businesses better understand future climate hazards and build resilience into long-term decision-making.

Scottish Planning Biodiversity Metric consultation due in Summer 2026

NatureScot has been commissioned by the Scottish Government to develop a Scottish Planning Biodiversity Metric (SPBM). This tool is being developed to support delivery of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) Policy 3b, which requires national and major developments, or those subject to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), to include significant biodiversity enhancements that leave nature in a demonstrably better state. Policy 3b states that best practice assessment methods should be used but doesn’t specify a particular assessment tool or methodology. Assessment may be qualitative or quantitative (for example through use of a metric).

The SPBM will be an adaptation of the English biodiversity metric but better reflecting the Scottish environmental and policy context. It will offer a consistent best practice qualitative assessment approach that can be used across Scotland to support the delivery of Policy 3(b). It is expected that there will be a transition towards its use for those wishing to adopt a quantitative assessment approach.

The consultation version SPBM will be released later this summer (likely August). It will be a working tool, and we will welcome any stakeholder feedback as we refine it towards publication of Version 1 in spring 2027. The success of the SPBM will depend on people understanding how it works, and so we will progress with capacity building at launch.

Please look out for the forthcoming consultation, explore the tool and user guide, and provide us with your feedback. In the meantime, further contextual information, including FAQs, can be found on the NatureScot webpage A Biodiversity Metric for Scotland’s Planning System.

Cost Recovery for Offshore Wind casework

From 1 April 2026 NatureScot's Marine Energy team has implemented a cost recovery scheme for offshore wind casework. This will enable us to meet the significant increase in demand for offshore wind advice following the ScotWind and INTOG leasing rounds.

These leasing rounds saw around 30 project proposals gain agreements from Crown Estate Scotland to develop offshore wind farm projects in Scottish waters, ranging from small-scale demonstration projects to large-scale wind farms with hundreds of turbines.

Understanding the effects of these projects on nature, minimising adverse impacts and securing positive outcomes for biodiversity, are key aspects of their consenting journey. This work has led to a significant increase in demand for NatureScot advice to support the consenting process. In close liaison with Scottish Government, and the offshore wind sector, NatureScot has implemented a full cost recovery approach. This is in line with the wider Scottish Government Public Service Reform agenda, under which public bodies are expected to explore all options of cost recovery for services provided.

NatureScot has co-designed this approach with a number of industry partners and we are grateful to them for their input and constructive feedback during its development. We are particularly grateful to Scottish Renewables for their support and input during this process. 

Our new Offshore wind cost recovery webpage will be updated regularly, including more details of the phases and services, guidance and FAQs.

Have your say - Shaping Scotland’s first Peatland Standard Open Consultation

Planners assessing development proposals where peatland habitats are involved are invited to contribute to the development of Scotland's first Peatland Standard. We are particularly interested in your views on whether Scotland’s Peatland Standard provides a useful reference for planners to refer to when assessing development proposals and/or to use as a reference for setting planning conditions. And if not, how it can be improved.

Scotland’s Peatland Standard sets out objectives, principles, requirements and guidance to help decision makers when protecting, managing and restoring peatlands in Scotland. This technical framework will ensure that activities are successful and sustainable. Scotland’s Peatland Standard will reference the previously published guidance known as the “Peatland ACTION Technical Compendium”.

Read Scotland’s Peatland Standard draft copy and complete the survey. Your feedback matters. It will help shape the final version and guide the national framework for the protection, management and restoration of Scotland’s peatlands. A summary of findings will be published before the end of 2026, with the aim of ensuring the Peatland Standard embodies a collective vision to protect these vital ecosystems; and that peatland conservation practices align with relevant Scottish government policies and objectives.

Guidance update: Advising on peatland habitats and carbon-rich soils in development management

Our guidance Advising on peatland habitats and carbon-rich soils in development management has recently been reviewed and updated. It sets out the framework within which we assess development proposals affecting peatland habitats and carbon-rich soils; how we seek specialist advice, make decisions and advise developers and planning authorities. It aligns with Scotland's National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) policies, addressing both global climate and nature crises by protecting these important habitats and essential carbon stores.

A subgroup of the Peatland Expert Advisory Group (PEAG), established by the Scottish Government, reviewed the guidance in March 2026 in collaboration with stakeholders. This was to ensure clarity on wording and terminology and how the guidance will be applied by NatureScot when responding to statutory consultations - without altering the core principles established in June 2023.

The guidance is predominantly to be used for proposals affecting land which is not already protected for its peatland interest. Different tests apply for proposals affecting peatlands which is part of the interest of a protected area such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or Special Areas of Conservation (SACs).

Peatland restoration and mountain hares

Developers and Planning Authorities will be familiar with our suite of standing advice for protected species. In addition to this, our Peatland ACTION team provides some supplementary species survey guidance for the peatland restoration sector to ensure compliance with protected species legislation. We draw your attention here in particular to recently published guidance for mountain hare.

The mountain hare needs special consideration when carrying out peatland restoration projects, especially from March to October when young hares (leverets) are born. Leverets are hidden in vegetation and vulnerable during this period, risking injury from vehicles and machinery, while adults can evade danger more effectively. Daily pre-works sweep searches for mountain hare are essential if working during the breeding season. The new Peatland ACTION guidance provides further detailed practical information on how to conduct a sweep search in the field and advice on mitigation.

This guidance is intended to assist those working in the peatland restoration sector to ensure that work can proceed without harm to mountain hare, and that any offences are avoided. It may also assist planning authorities when processing cases through prior notification or prior approval of permitted development.

Guidance on Peatland Restoration Prior Notification

All peatland restoration projects are subject to Prior Notification, and our Peatland ACTION team has worked with Heads of Planning Scotland (HoPS) to develop guidance on peatland restoration prior notification process. This new guidance aims to assist both those designing and implementing peatland restoration projects (applicants), planning authorities and key agencies in processing cases. By following the guidance and accompanying template, we hope to ensure consistency both in terms of information provided at the time of application as well as during the assessment stage for a more streamlined approval process.

The guidance has been endorsed by the Peatland ACTION partners (NatureScot, Cairngorms National Park Authority, Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park Authority, Forestry and Land Scotland, Scottish Water), SEPA, Scottish Forestry and Historic Environment Scotland.

New research provides clarity for assessing peatland

A new NatureScot Research Report – Active peatland and peatland condition, prepared by University of the Highlands and Islands, offers recommendations for clarifying terms used to define peatlands, and in assessing peatland condition for development management purposes. The report’s recommended condition assessment approach (the InSAR Field-based Rapid Assessment Tool) will be the proposed peatland condition assessment methodology for the forthcoming Scottish Planning Biodiversity Metric and will be consulted upon as part of the wider public consultation on the metric later this summer (see item above).

Management of excavated peat on development sites

SEPA guidance published in August sets out their position on when a waste management authorisation is required to manage excavated peat on a development site, and a hierarchy of management options for excavated peat.

While this is not a change in position, it is a clarification of processes as SEPA seek to use regulation and planning to drive project design that minimises peat excavation and ensure that proposed uses of excavated peat on development sites follow good practice.

The transition to peat-free horticulture in Scotland

A new ClimateXChange report explores the feasibility of transitioning Scotland’s horticulture sector away from peat-based growing media. The research found that a peat-free future is achievable, with many growers, retailers and manufacturers already adopting alternative materials and production methods. However, successful transition will depend on coordinated action across the sector, including investment in processing infrastructure, development of quality standards, strengthened supply chains and continued technical trials for more challenging crops. The report highlights that the key challenge is not the availability of alternatives, but ensuring consistency, confidence and collaboration to support a resilient and sustainable peat-free horticulture sector while protecting Scotland’s valuable peatland habitats and their carbon storage function.

Get in touch, subscribe, or unsubscribe

If you or a colleague would like to subscribe/unsubscribe to this e-bulletin, or have any questions or comments please drop us a line at [email protected].

Welcome to our Planning for Great Places e-bulletin. This is your way of keeping up to date with guidance, consultations, research, and good practice related to development and nature. We would be glad to receive your feedback on the bulletin via [email protected]

New landscape guidance

Guidance on Aviation Lighting Impact Assessment was published in November 2024. The purpose of this guidance is to bring consistency to the assessment and illustration of effects on the landscape and visual resource from visible aviation lighting located on onshore wind turbines.

Guidance on Special Landscape Qualities - Guidance on assessing effects was published in January 2025. This guidance sets out how to assess effects on the Special Landscape Qualities (SLQs) of Scotland’s National Scenic Areas (NSAs) and National Parks.  It has been prepared by NatureScot, the Cairngorm National Park Authority (CNPA) and the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority (LLTNPA). 

10-years monitoring of a Scottish windfarm: Insight to inform optimal land planning and management strategies

A recent publication by Waldron et al. (2025) reported on 10-years of monitoring at Whitelee Windfarm measuring the changes in catchment levels of dissolved organic carbon in a landscape that has been developed to host a wind farm. The study provides an insight into the development of a landscape that has previously been used for more traditional ecosystem services such as potable water abstraction and forest products, but now also considered as a critical energy landscape. The research uses direct observations at development sites to compare how carbon storage is affected by the wind farm construction process, and the findings contribute to the evidence base that can inform how land use for energy production is managed optimally for net atmospheric CO₂ drawdown.

Reuse of excavated peat on windfarm development sites

ClimateXChange published the findings of a research project investigating the opportunities, impacts and challenges associated with the reuse of excavated peat from windfarm construction sites.  It presents a hierarchy of peat reuse options and a list of implementation principles to minimise environmental impacts, as well as the basis for an Environmental Outcomes Framework to ensure that multiple potential environmental benefits of peat reuse are considered. The report identifies research gaps linked to the limited empirical studies monitoring changes in reused peat on windfarm developments over time. and highlights the need for guidance on peat reuse covering the preparation and planning steps of a windfarm development.

InformedDECISION update and next steps

Since launching this platform at the start of February we’ve had 1200 applications (by early June).  This is on par with the general trend in application numbers from the last couple of years.  The training workshops have now concluded – thank you to the 250 or so folk who attended.  All the guidance you need (including a video) is on the InformedDECISION web page, and the helpdesk is via the wee green button hovering in the bottom right of the platform.  Thank you also to the people who have taken the time to feed back using the feedback link embedded at the top of the platform.  This is open any time for anyone.  We have reviewed all the feedback thus far and have included suggestions for improvement in our list for development this year.

First up for development time this year is to expand the confirmation email with a copy of your answers, including any proposal names and reference numbers.  We will also add eastings and northings to the map interface to speed up locating the site.  The map rendering has been reported as slow – partly this is to do with the number of layers it’s displaying and the analysis that needs to be done in the background; and partly dependent on the broadband speed at the user’s end.  There are a number of other improvements we hope to make where our budget will allow.  Prioritisation of these improvements is carried out with input from a small number of local authority representatives.  Keep an eye on the “details of new functionality” section at the bottom of the page linked below.

Using existing biodiversity metrics for planning in Scotland

Guidance has recently been published on the NatureScot website regarding the use of existing biodiversity metrics in the Scottish planning system.  This is intended to provide an overview of how metric tools work, good practice advice on the use of biodiversity metrics in a planning context, and a factual explanation of the key differences between the currently published metric tools that are publicly available.  The guidance has been commissioned by the Scottish Government to address an appetite for advice on the use of existing metrics, in advance of a Scottish biodiversity metric being available.  

Separately, progress is being made on our commission to develop an adaptation of the English statutory biodiversity metric, that will be suitable for use in the Scottish planning system to support delivery of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) Policy 3b.  We are currently expecting to be able to consult on a draft metric tool and guidance in 2026, with the finalised version 1.0 of the metric to hopefully be published in late 2026 or early 2027.  Advance signalling of the intended direction for various elements of the metric, such as the proposed terrestrial habitat classification approach, is expected to be published on our biodiversity metric webpage in the coming months.

Hagshaw Energy Cluster Development Framework shortlisted for RTPI award

NatureScot led the production of the Development Framework for the Hagshaw energy cluster which was adopted in 2023. We worked collaboratively with S Lanarkshire Council, East Ayrshire Council, Scottish Power Renewables, 3R energy, Renantis, Octopus renewables, EnergieKontor, Ventient Energy and BayWaRE.

The Framework sets out a long term vision for the energy cluster, supporting repowering and extension of existing wind farms, other renewable technologies and development of a local supply chain.  It sets out a strategic framework for the investment of community benefit funds form all 11 wind farms and is being used to lever in additional public investment. A Development Officer is in post to work with communities, the developers and the planning authorities to maximise the benefits from the energy cluster and we hope this provides a powerful, collaborative example that can be replicated elsewhere in Scotland.

The Development Framework won a Scottish Green Energy Award in 2023 and was shortlisted this year for an RTPI Regional Award in the ‘Best Plan’ category.

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If you or a colleague would like to subscribe/unsubscribe to this e-bulletin, or have any questions or comments please drop us a line at [email protected].

Welcome to our Planning for Great Places e-bulletin. This is your way of keeping up to date with guidance, consultations, research, and good practice related to development and nature. We would be glad to receive your feedback on the bulletin via [email protected]

Grassland fungi mapping tool for Scotland

The UK is one of the European strongholds for Waxcaps and other grassland fungi, several of which are classed as threatened on the European Red List. They are characteristic of pastures and meadows, and come in a stunning variety of colours and shapes. The historical management of grasslands in the UK has meant we have some of the best habitat for these species of fungi. This is ancient unimproved grassland that has been nurtured by farmers for generations, keeping them short, undisturbed, unfertilised, nutrient-poor and well-drained.

To help protect these fungal assemblages we have created a mapping tool that identifies areas with the greatest diversity and the presence of threatened species. It is hoped that the map will allow developers and land managers to take account of these areas at an early stage in planning processes, so that they can remain under favourable management.

The mapping tool is available on our website page, and the mapping layers can be accessed and downloaded from Spatial Data.gov.scot.

Pollintator map of Scotland

One of the objectives of Scotland’s Pollinator Strategy is to improve our understanding of pollinators and the service they provide. Key to this is a better understanding of the spatial distribution of resources available to pollinators at a landscape scale, to help identify where habitat improvement and restoration effort is best targeted to benefit pollinators.

To deliver this in an accessible way we have created PollMap. It pulls together data on the occurrence of a broad list of pollinator-friendly plants and pollinator species to score every habitat on Scotland’s land surface in terms of pollinator-friendliness. The accompanying storyboard explains this in more detail. The map provides planners, developers and others with a quick and easy way to identify, at Scotland or local authority scale, where there is most scope for improvement or extending habitat for pollinators.

Council leads the way with major peatland restoration project

Inverclyde Council is restoring a massive area of peatland on Duchal Moor, in a three-year project funded by NatureScot’s Peatland ACTION partnership. The project is supported by Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network's Clyde Peatlands initiative, which aims to increase the rate and scale of peatland restoration across the whole City Region in a bid to reduce carbon emissions.

The project secured £768,705 of Peatland Action funding to carry out the work and will restore 788 hectares of drained peatland. Work began in early 2024 and is due to be completed in 2026. It has contributed to the Council winning the COSLA Excellence Award for improving the environment and reducing its carbon emissions. The peatland restoration project, and the planting of 10,600 trees at Coves Local Nature Reserve (supported by the Nature Restoration Fund), won the Just Transition to a Net Zero Economy category of the prestigious award.

Inverclyde Council is one of the first local authorities in Scotland to carry out peatland restoration on this scale, with one of the largest projects undertaken so far. The project is a key part of the Council’s ambitious plans to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, in line with Scottish Government targets.

Peatland restoration offers multiple benefits besides reducing carbon emissions that contribute to a range of local authority priorities and targets, such as flood mitigation, increasing biodiversity, improving water quality, reducing wildfire risk, and boosting green jobs and opportunities for recreation and tourism.

Find out more about NatureScot Peatland ACTION at www.nature.scot/peatlandaction.

CIEEM Guidelines for Ecological Impact Assessment

The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) has updated its Guidelines for Ecological Impact Assessment in the UK and Ireland, which provides  practical advice for all professionals involved with ecological evaluation and assessment for proposed developments in terrestrial, freshwater, marine and coastal environments.

The new Version 1.3 has been redesigned to improve accessibility and includes amendments to reflect recent changes to the national planning framework. It also includes more guidance on how peatland and soils should be considered in Ecological Impact Assessment.

Review of NatureScot peatland guidance

Through our involvement with the Peatland Expert Advisory Group (PEAG), we have set up a subgroup tasked with reviewing and updating aspects of our guidance Advising on peatland, carbon-rich soils and priority peatland habitats in development management. This guidance is aimed at NatureScot staff, as well as developers and consultants.

The Subgroup is composed of NatureScot, SEPA, FLS, HES and representatives from developers, consultants, contractors, and an environmental NGO. It is now finalising elements of the review, with the end goal of a ‘win-win’ for energy generation and care of peatland habitats. Further consideration is needed on the ratio for offsetting impacts to peatland from development, and the connections of this work with NatureScot’s commission to develop a Scottish biodiversity metric for the planning system.

A biodiversity metric for Scotland's planning system

As highlighted in our previous Planning for Great Places Newsletter (Issue 11, May 2024), NatureScot has been commissioned by the Scottish Government to develop a biodiversity metric for Scotland’s planning system. This is specifically to support delivery of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) Policy 3b, with a focus on adapting the existing English statutory biodiversity metric to produce a tool that is suitable for use in Scotland.

In September we published a Scottish biodiversity metric page on our website. It provides an outline of the metric work, and is where we will publish further updates and an early indication of the intended approach as the metric project progresses. A consultation on the key issues to be considered when developing the metric took place in spring 2024, and a summary of the issues identified is now available to view on the web page. This provides a useful overview of some of the main challenges that will need to be addressed in developing the metric. If you have any queries or further comments that could assist with the development the metric, please email [email protected].

Onshore Wind: New guidance on assessing the effects of aviation lighting on our landscapes

We have published new Guidance on Aviation Lighting Impact Assessment, which has been prepared by the Scottish Government led Aviation Lighting Working Group. This guidance should now be adopted as industry standard good practice and replaces the previous NatureScot advice on turbine lighting which sat within NatureScot pre-application guidance for onshore wind farms.

InformedDECISION launching early 2025

NatureScot is launching a new on-line platform InformedDECISION in early 2025, to improve our processes when consulted as a statutory planning consultee, and as a regulator when issuing consents for activities on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It will provide a faster and more consistent service to anyone needing advice or consent, by standardising the questions we ask and ensuring a smooth pathway to getting us the right information at the right time. The platform is built to Government Digital Standards so your interaction with it will feel much the same as other platforms you might be familiar with (e.g. passport applications).

We have been piloting the platform over the last 18 months in our Operations South area with several local authorities, Scottish Forestry, selected environmental consultancies, and applicants for SSSI Consents. Applications have taken approximately 10 minutes on average, and examples of the positive feedback we have had so far include “Usual familiar interface, clearly laid out and pretty straightforward”, “Clearly set out and follows a logical order. The forms are easy to use”, “It gave me a degree of comfort. This is much better than old fashioned consultation, giving me continuous feedback and enabling further comment”.

The platform is in the final stages of development before going live. This includes creating a facility to allow our case officers to select what documents they want to see directly from local authority planning portals, which should shorten the application time for planning authorities. Over the coming months, we will also be engaging with relevant organisations to raise awareness of our move to this new platform, and running training sessions (amongst a range of learning materials) in the new year. If you have any queries please get in touch via [email protected]

Marine energy planning in Scotland

Over the last 20 years, two thirds of Scotland’s breeding seabird species have declined. Adding to this, the advent of offshore wind brings concerns about potential impacts to seabirds from either collision or displacement. The slower emergence of tidal stream energy generation also brings with it risks around potential collision impacts as well as disturbance to fish, birds, and marine mammals.

Our knowledge of the marine environment is limited, and the costs of surveys are a magnitude greater than terrestrial surveys with added complexities. The ability to build out in these extreme conditions requires wide project (Rochdale) design envelopes at the application stage, which are only refined after consent. This can require a multitude of scenarios to identify the worst-case scenario under EIA. Marine spatial squeeze is increasing, there are now many more competing users and uses for our marine areas. In Scotland, whilst we have achieved over 30% of nature conservation protected areas, there is still a long way to go in implementing conservation management measures.

Innovative and strategic research has helped to fill some of the knowledge gaps – for example, designing camera systems to understand interactions between predator and prey species, miniaturising tags to attach to birds, fish etc. to track their movements and ingenious engineering designs for floating wind turbines.

We have an opportunity to be bold in securing solutions for biodiversity and meet net zero targets. The Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind, now under review, is likely to become one of the first plans in Scotland where plan-level compensation will be necessary. The first applications requiring project compensation under the Habitats Regulations are currently being determined by Marine Directorate.

Offshore wind: seabird monitoring and impact assessment guidance

In early October, our Marine Energy team along with the Scottish Offshore Wind Directorate ScotMer team held a joint workshop with invited consultants, academics and developers to discuss the emerging evidence regarding the displacement of seabirds by offshore wind farms. Over 80 people attended and heard a series of talks on recently published papers about the interaction of seabirds with windfarms.

We heard evidence on guillemot behaviour at the Beatrice windfarm in the Moray Firth,  a long-term study considering cumulative effects on operating windfarms in the German North Sea and how that is influencing the planning for new offshore windfarms. There were also presentations on the different models that are used in EIA to help calculate predicted mortality rates of displacement.

The purpose of the workshop was to share the emerging evidence and how it might change existing guidance, and to consider any further research requirements. The next step is to finalise work on the materials gathered at the workshop, and to decide emerging actions, key leads and timescales. The workshop was welcomed by all the participants as a transparent approach to closing the loop between scientific studies and how it can inform/influence policy and guidance. In light of the workshop conclusions we will be reviewing and updating our existing guidance notes in respect of ornithological impact assessment. If there are any aspects you wish us to take into consideration when updating the guidance notes, please email [email protected].

Get in touch, subscribe, or unsubscribe

If you or a colleague would like to subscribe/unsubscribe to this e-bulletin, or have any questions or comments please drop us a line at [email protected].

Welcome to our Planning for Great Places e-bulletin. This is your way of keeping up to date with guidance, consultations, research, and good practice related to development and nature. We would be glad to receive your feedback on the bulletin via [email protected]

Biodiversity Metric for Scotland's planning system

The Scottish Government has commissioned NatureScot to develop a biodiversity metric in support of NPF4 Policy 3(b). This policy requires all national, major and EIA development to include “significant biodiversity enhancements” that leave nature in a “demonstrably better state than without intervention”. How this is demonstrated in practice has been left to Planning Authorities and applicants to decide. The statutory biodiversity metric developed for England’s planning system is one possible approach, but earlier research identified that it requires refinement to better reflect the Scottish context. It is this refinement of England’s metric that we have been tasked with.

In early April we issued a consultation on the key issues identified for developing a Scottish metric, inviting comments by 10th May. The consultation paper provides more background to this work and how it will be taken forward, and discusses the issues identified without offering solutions at this stage. This is the start of a process intended to involve a range of stakeholders and learn from their experience of applying metrics to measure biodiversity enhancement that will be delivered by development. If you wish to be added to the list of stakeholders interested in this work, please email [email protected].

Nature Network Toolbox

Following the Framework for Nature Networks in Scotland, we have begun developing the Nature Networks Toolbox.

The Nature Networks Toolbox will be a ‘live’ resource for local authorities, partnerships, organisations, and groups, to facilitate the design and implementation of Nature Networks at the local and regional level. This will allow for efficiencies in designing and implementing Nature Networks and support strong alignment in approaches across Scotland. The Toolbox will evolve over time and its contents decided through working with users to ensure it provides the information that can lead to practical implementation activities.

Basic elements may include;

• Learning from existing and proposed projects for Nature Networks e.g. through case studies and best practice
• Guidance and signposting to resources
• Connectivity and opportunity mapping tools
• Information on public and private funding, finance and investment.

Some of the first sections on the toolbox cover Sector advice, Case studies, Tools and Data, Funding and more. Some key initial guidance on the toolbox is the Planning Authorities and Nature Networks, which aims to help planning authorities apply the requirements of NPF4 for Nature Networks into Local Development Plans.

The toolbox will continue to be added to over time as guidance and resources become available. Do take a look!

Guidance on Establishing and Managing Local Nature Conservation Site Systems in Scotland

Working with partners from The Scottish Geology Trust, Scottish Wildlife Trust, and local authorities, we have published updated Guidance on Establishing and Managing Local Nature Conservation Site Systems in Scotland as part of our Professional Advice on Local Designations. The updated guidance demonstrates how LNCS can contribute to local nature networks and is part of Sector advice for Local authorities and planning authorities in the new the Nature Networks toolbox.

The guidance is aimed at local authorities, members of LNCS partnerships, Local Biodiversity Action Plan partners, environmental Non-Governmental Organisations and other biodiversity and geodiversity conservation bodies, developers, planners, and ecologists. It recognises that 27 of Scotland’s Planning Authorities already manage LNCS systems, with over 3,400 sites designated, and it includes several examples of site selection methodologies.

It updates the previous guidance from 2006, confirming that the purpose of Local Nature Conservation Sites (LNCS) is to safeguard biodiversity and geodiversity of at least local importance, primarily through Local Development Plans, and that all LNCS should meet the general criteria set out in the guidance. The guidance sets LNCS within the current policy context of nature networks, spatial planning, and the nature crisis and climate emergency.

It highlights the need to map LNCS in Local Development Plans and implement policies to protect them from harmful development and other infrastructure. The guidance encourages ongoing review of LNCS to ensure that they remain fit for purpose, and the identification of new sites meeting the selection criteria. It aims to promote the good management of LNCS to retain their features of interest and to enhance sites where possible.

Peatland Expert Advisory Group

The Peatland Expert Advisory Group was set up to help deliver peatland related elements of the onshore wind sector deal. Through our involvement with the group, we have set up a subgroup tasked with reviewing and updating aspects of our guidance Advising on peatland, carbon-rich-soils and priority peatland habitats in development-management. This guidance is for NatureScot staff, as well as developers and consultants.

The subgroup is composed of NatureScot, SEPA, FLS, HES and representatives from developers, consultants, contractors, and an environmental NGO. It will co-produce elements of the guidance relevant to these stakeholders, with the end goal of a ‘win-win’ for energy generation and care of peatland habitats. The subgroup is also working towards shared definitions for peatland restoration, alignment on peat reuse and waste, assessing impacts, and compensation. Finally, we plan to develop a framework for the Scottish Peatland Standard, a coherent guidance package for mitigating impacts on peatland and providing biodiversity enhancement.

Potential surge in PDR applications for peatland restoration over the summer

Planning authorities may see a surge in Permitted Development Rights (PDR) applications this summer, as a result of a change to the way we are administering Peatland ACTION funding. Instead of a rolling programme of funding, there is now a deadline of 31 May 2024 for applications for the current financial year 2024-2025. The applications will be scored competitively against a set of criteria around cost, value for money, financial contribution and restoration size. Successful applicants will be announced by the end of June.

It is therefore possible that a larger number of applicants than usual will need to submit PDR applications at a similar time, once they have been notified that their application has been successful.

More information about the new process for applying for Peatland ACTION funding is available on the Peatland ACTION web pages.

Inverclyde Council uses peatland restoration to tackle climate change and reduce flood risks

As part of its plans to hit its net zero target by 2045 Inverclyde Council is working with Peatland ACTION through the Clyde Valley Green Network to restore over 800ha of peatlands on its land at Duchal Moor. The work at the site is taking place over three phases from 2023 to 2026.

The Council is one of the first in Scotland to take on such large-scale peatland restoration. As well as delivering significant climate savings it sees the work as contributing to its plans to reduce flood risk in the area, which is near the top of the River Calder catchment. By slowing the flow of water off the site the restoration work should help prevent flash flooding of built-up areas further downstream.

You can watch a case study film of the project on the our Peatland ACTION YouTube playlist.

If you’d like to keep up to date with all aspects of Peatland ACTION, you can follow across your social media channels LinkedIn| Facebook | X, formerly Twitter. You’ll also now find a weekly feature covering peatland restoration on the Scotland’s Nature blog.

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Welcome to our tenth Planning for Great Places e-bulletin. This is your way of keeping up to date with guidance, consultations, research, and good practice related to development and nature. We would be glad to receive your feedback on the bulletin via [email protected]

Nature Networks and 30 by 30  

Since our last update in the previous Newsletter, we have been busy preparing draft frameworks for Nature Networks and 30 by 30. Consultation on the frameworks is now underway as part of the SBS consultation. 

The frameworks aim to catalyse the urgent and transformative action needed across Scotland to implement Nature Networks and achieve the 30 by 30 target. They were developed through a co-design process involving 130 organisations and groups from across Scotland, and outline the basic principles that associated action and delivery, at all levels, should be founded upon. 

In June, the Scottish Government provided Local Authorities with capital funding of £5 million for Nature Networks. The funds, which are part of the Nature Restoration Fund, are to be spent this financial year.  Guidance and supporting information has been developed to support Local Authorities in their allocation of this money.

We are in the process of establishing a team of operational staff within NatureScot who will work with our Local Authority colleagues to share information, support the process of identifying Networks, and provide feedback at the officer level. We are also looking to work with Local Authorities, amongst others, to make clear the relationship between Nature Networks and other relevant policies e.g. positive effects for biodiversity.

Stay up to date on Nature Networks and 30 by 30 by visiting our web pages. You can also contact our team at [email protected] or [email protected]

Hydroelectric Development Planning Tool

Scotland is internationally important for mosses and liverworts (bryophytes) that enjoy the rare oceanic climate of western Scotland.  The distribution and occurrence of these bryophytes is therefore a key factor when considering the siting and design of hydroelectric development. Our Hydroelectric development planning tool identifies the most important watercourses for bryophytes in Scotland, so that developers can site and design hydro schemes that avoid harming the rarest and most vulnerable species.

The tool was updated in May following a review of the scoring system for bryophyte species.  Some minor changes to data within the tool were required to reflect new knowledge regarding the status of some species, but overall the review concluded that the tool continues to provide accurate information to help developers explore opportunities for hydroelectric development.

Celebrating Park Life

The latest meeting of the Park Managers Forum, run by the urban greenspace charity greenspace scotland, was held on Midsummer’s Day in Falkirk. The theme was ‘nature restoration in urban greenspace’. NatureScot provided funding to enable greenspace scotland and Falkirk Council to bring together staff from 14 councils, with experience in a range of greenspace and planning specialisms, to consider challenges such as naturalising amenity grass and promoting nature restoration in a public park setting. Read more about it in this article on the NatureScot Pollinator blog

NPF4 Policy 3 Biodiversity – NatureScot to develop a Scottish metric

Scottish Government have recently announced that they are in the process of commissioning NatureScot to develop an adapted biodiversity metric for application within Scotland’s planning system.  This will be particularly relevant to NPF4 policy 3(b). 

In developing this metric we will draw on the recommendations set out in the SRUC report on approaches to measuring biodiversity in Scotland, and its analysis of the metric developed by Defra for England.  Further details on timescales and engagement with stakeholders will be provided in due course.

Developing with Nature – new guidance in support of NPF4

Alongside the release of NPF4 in February 2023, NatureScot published a final version of its Developing with Nature guidance in support of biodiversity policy 3(c).  This policy applies to most local development (exclusions include householder applications and those subject to EIA), and requires ‘appropriate measures’ that conserve, restore and enhance biodiversity to be delivered as part of the development.   Developing with Nature provides applicants and planners with advice on what these appropriate measures are, and how best to select and deliver these.

Relatively few local developments will engage ecological expertise, so the Guidance sets out a straightforward approach and simple set of measures for enhancing biodiversity.  These range in complexity from providing nest and roost sites for bees, bats and birds, through planting a meadow or orchard, to constructing a green wall or living roof.  For each of the 24 measures the Guidance describes what it is and the nature benefits it provides, the site requirements and future management needed if it is to be successful, other biodiversity measures it complements, and web links to detailed design and management advice.

The intention is to demonstrate that any development can do something positive for nature, if opportunities are considered from an early stage.  This should include not just the garden and greenspace elements of the development, but also the buildings and structures to be built, the borders and boundaries partitioning the site, and the management of rain and surface water.

Pre-application guidance for onshore wind farms

We have updated our pre-application guidance for onshore wind farms. The most significant changes are:

• alignment with National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) policy, and inclusion of advice on the requirement to enhance biodiversity;
• an update to our peatland advice, including more advice on restoration;
• an update to our advice on turbine lighting (at Annex 1), including fuller information on potential mitigation options. 

And some more minor changes:

• fuller landscape advice and guidance links;
• updated habitat survey advice;
• new short section on soils and geomorphology;
• link to our new mountain hare species advice note;
• updated bat advice, emphasising the benefit of feathering compared with normal idling to reduce collision risk, and what to do given the Ecobat tool is currently unavailable;
• some additional advice on wind farm variation applications and repowering.

Landscape scale natural capital tool

NatureScot is leading on the development of an innovative new tool that will facilitate decision makers to take a natural capital approach for managing land at the landscape scale in Scotland. A natural capital approach is when the full range of benefits that we receive from nature are taken into consideration within the decision-making process. Adopting a natural capital approach enables us to understand the role of our natural environment, alongside its intrinsic value, as an asset that underpins both our economy and society.

Nature provides a whole host of benefits that we are dependent on, known as ecosystem services, that are often overlooked in land management decision making. In order for these benefits to be included within the decision making process, we need the methodologies and tools to quantify them. By mapping and modelling how certain land use changes might impact the ecosystem services they provide, you can identify the scenarios that provide the most benefits for both people and nature.

The tool will be the first of its kind in Scotland and is being developed in collaboration with Liverpool John Moores University. The 'bones' of the tool will based on EcoServR, an existing tool in the coding language R for mapping natural capital assets and ecosystem services. The functionality of the tool, the ecosystem services that are measured, and the end product will be bespoke for Scotland and developed in line with the following key criteria:

A co-design group has been formed of 50+ different individuals from across a range of organisations including public bodies, eNGOs, local authorities, landscape scale partnerships, natural capital consultants, research institutions and green finance organisations. A series of workshops are running from December 2022 to March 2024, where the co-design group will help shape the development of the tool and test a prototype. The tool will also be piloted by landscape scale partnership groups in November 2023.  More info can be found at our website: Developing a Landscape Scale Natural Capital Tool for Scotland, or contact Donya Davidson, Natural Capital Manager at NatureScot:

Advising on peatland, carbon-rich soils and priority peatland habitats in development management

We have recently issued a revised version of our guidance note on Advising on peatland, carbon-rich soils and priority peatland habitats in development management.  The guidance is for use by NatureScot staff, developers and consultants.  A key focus is on helping to ensure that development is designed and constructed to follow the mitigation hierarchy set out in NPF4, and that biodiversity enhancement is delivered through peatland restoration. 

The revised guidance provides clearer advice on how we identify priority peatland and assess whether a development will result in impacts which raise issues of national interest.  It also provides advice on the key information we require from developers to be able to advise regarding potential impacts on peatland.

Permitted development rights and peatland restoration guidance is available online

The Scottish Government’s  Infrastructure Investment Plan aims to put 250,000 hectares of degraded peatland on the road to recovery by 2030. In their Vision for Scotland, Ministers announced an interim commitment to deliver up to 110,000 hectares of restored peatland by 2026. This included a target of 10,700 hectares in 2023-24, an increase of 40% on 2022-23.

New technical compendium of peatland restoration techniques

Scotland’s Peatland ACTION programme has published a vital new source of information and guidance on peatland restoration as it marks its first decade. The technical compendium of peatland restoration techniques is built on the shared experience of the Peatland ACTION Programme, since its inception in 2012, in applying peatland restoration techniques and assessing their outcomes.

It provides an overview of the procedural and technical requirements for peatland restoration in Scotland, alongside an introduction to the types of restoration interventions that have been applied to date by Peatland ACTION.

Serving as a best practice guide, it also includes novel techniques developed by the Peatland ACTION partnership, such as wave damming and zippering and new generation forest-to-bog restoration options. It includes information on the requirements for peatland restoration in Scotland and the potential means to achieve success, and paves the way towards a UK-wide set of principles.

A new online hub for the Peatland ACTION Technical Compendium is available on the NatureScot website. Recently updated guidance on undertaking work during the bird breeding season to give a better understanding of the responsibilities and requirements during times of bird breeding activity is also available on the NatureScot Peatland Restoration and Breeding Birds publication page.

New mapping portal helps visualise peatland data

Peatland ACTION has recently launched an interactive peatland restoration data mapping tool for Scotland, offering access to valuable information and analysis. Users can view completed peatland restoration projects across the country, as well as feasibility studies and details of peat depths and condition surveys. Future development of the portal will also see hydrological monitoring results such as water table depths included in the available data.

Visit the Peatland ACTION data mapping portal web page to find out more, including tips on how to use the tool.

When producing maps or other visuals please acknowledge use of data with the following attribution statement: This [map / graphic etc.] contains Peatland ACTION data licenced under the Open Government Licence v3.0

Peat Landslide Risk Protocols – online training

A training session will be held in September to provide a refresher for existing users and an introduction for new users of the Peat Landslide Risk Protocols. These are freely available and downloadable tools for evaluating potential landslide risks associated with restoration groundworks in peatlands. Two tools are available, one addressing restoration works in blanket bogs, and one that considers raised bogs. The sessions will provide a brief overview of peat instability, an explanation of why this is relevant to peatland restoration works, and then a detailed walk through of the two landslide risk protocols. The session will close with a question and answer session to allow existing and new users an opportunity to clarify data requirements and usage scenarios.  For more information on how to sign up, contact [email protected]

Series of Peatland ACTION case study films showcase peatland restoration 

A new suite of films have been made to promote the Peatland ACTION project and encourage landowners and contractors to get involved in peatland restoration. The films feature three case studies from different parts of the country where applicants, their agents and contractors talk about their experiences of peatland restoration and the benefits restoration bring to the area. As well as a longer 14-minutes film, there are also three-minute case study films, and two one-minute films focusing on the landowners’ and contractors’ perspectives. Watch the new series of films on the NatureScot Peatland ACTION case study playlist on YouTube. The most recent case studies featuring Moss of Cree in Dumfries and Galloway; Lochrosque Estate in the Highlands; and Wemyss and March Estate in the Borders – are also available as written versions on the NatureScot Peatland ACTION webpage, alongside many more.

Change to NatureScot Operations email addresses

From 4th September NatureScot Operations will be using these new group email addresses to reflect recent boundary changes we have made to our patches and to help us manage your enquiries more effectively.

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Please see our NatureScot Offices web page for further contact details and to check where to direct your enquiry. We look forward to hearing from you.

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Welcome to our ninth Planning for Great Places e-bulletin. This is your way of keeping up to date with guidance, consultations, research, and good practice related to development and nature. We would be glad to receive your feedback on the bulletin via [email protected]

Guidance for Peatland Restoration and the Historic Environment in Scotland

NatureScot have supported the development of new guidance from The Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers (ALGAO) in partnership with a range of Peatland ACTION delivery partners across Scotland. Written by Bruce Mann for ALGAO Scotland, in consultation with colleagues across the UK, the ALGAO Peatland Restoration and the Historic Environment Guidance Note sets out an informed procedure to secure the protection of heritage and historic environment features within peatland restoration projects. It seeks to ensure that applications submitted to local authorities meet the required standards under Permitted Development Rights in relation to archaeology and the historic environment, and for the process of planning authority approval in relation to these matters to be as streamlined as possible.

Peatlands have great historic environment significance due to the nature of the archaeological resource they may contain and the unique preservation qualities of the peat. For millennia, peatland areas have been exploited by humans for settlement, agriculture, industry, as route-ways and communication networks, and as “special” places for interring the dead and other ritual activities. Peatlands also provide an invaluable and irreplaceable record of past human activity, vegetation, climate, and landscape change.

New bird breeding guidance and a technical compendium for peatland restoration coming soon

NatureScot’s Peatland ACTION team are preparing two new pieces of guidance to support a range of work in peatland restoration. Firstly, new guidance on undertaking work during the bird breeding season will give peatland practitioners better understanding of their responsibilities and requirements during times of bird breeding activity. This season runs from March and August for the majority of moorland birds, but can extend into September or longer in certain locations for some species. For Schedule 1A birds (golden eagles, white-tailed eagles, hen harriers and red kites) projects need to demonstrate protection from harassment at any time, not just within the breeding season. Whilst the default approach of programming restoration work outside the main bird breeding season will remain, a key change will allow some works to proceed under specific circumstances. This will provide further flexibility on peatland restoration project delivery whilst maintaining legal requirements and minimising any potential conflict with Scotland’s wild birds breeding on these habitats.

Also in the pipeline is a technical compendium of peatland restoration techniques, built on the shared experience and learnings of the Peatland ACTION project since 2012. The compendium will include best practices across a wide range of peatland restoration techniques including drain blocking, bunding, gully and bare peat restoration and forest-to-bog techniques. The document will set out the aims of each restoration technique, the situations they work best and common issues and considerations for each technique. This new resource will also include an overview of the basic principles of the hydrology of peatlands to help explain the impacts, and aims, of the various restoration techniques. It also sets out the necessary considerations around licensing in relation to controlled activities in the water environment, drinking water catchments, permitted development rights, archaeological assessments, project health and safety, peat slide risks, grazing densities, muirburn activities and in relation to nature protected areas and species protection in the widest sense. The technical compendium will provide a useful tool to ensure consistency, quality, confidence, and best practice by designers and contractors working on peatland restoration projects.

Both new guidance resources will be available to view following publication on the Peatland Action page of our website.

Towards a framework for Nature Networks

Over the summer we have been running a series of events to co-design a framework that will help local authorities in Scotland create new Nature Networks by 2030, a commitment of the 2021 Programme for Government and key element in delivering the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy. So far 18 different local authorities have taken part in virtual workshops, working collaboratively with over 90 different organisations to identify the challenges faced in creating Nature Networks.

The team in NatureScot are currently pulling together all the information from these workshops in preparation of the next set of workshops in October and November that will focus on finding solutions to the challenges faced. More information, including how to sign up for future events, can be found on our Nature Network themed workshops page.

Development Framework for Hagshaw Energy Cluster

The Development Framework for the Hagshaw energy cluster has now been completed and is going through the formal process of adoption by East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire Councils. The latest draft version is available on the project website, and we anticipate final adoption by December 2022.

It paves the way for a new approach to planning for wind energy, putting a Just Transition to net zero and investment in nature in and around the local communities at its heart. The project has demonstrated the benefit of collaboration between developers, agencies, communities and planning authorities, in identifying the priorities for investment of around £2.7m of community benefit funding each year.

NatureScot are looking for locations to replicate the approach and working with partners to find resources to do this. If you are interested in taking a Development Framework forward, please contact [email protected]

Coastal Adaptation takes a step forward

The Scottish Government has committed £12m over the next four years for Coastal Change Adaptation. These capital funds are being made to coastal local authorities to support the development of Coastal Change Adaptation Plans (similar to Shoreline Management Plans including Adaptation) alongside on-the-ground resilience and adaptation actions, using Nature-based approaches wherever possible. Interim Guidance is being developed to support local authorities.

Updated disturbance distances in selected bird species – The MacArthur Green Review

NatureScot have now published an updated literature review of disturbance distances of selected bird species, alongside a guidance note detailing how to interpret the findings of the review. The review provides an update to the disturbance distances presented in Ruddock and Whitfield (2007) and provides disturbance distance information for a range of additional protected bird species that regularly feature in assessments and consultations on developments. It provides an account for each species summarising: quantitative and qualitative information on disturbance distances, likely sensitivity to disturbance for the species and suggested buffer zones for each species; and includes recommendations for buffer zones that will contribute to guidance and best practice for assessments and consultations on developments affecting these species. The report and associated guidance note now replaces the Ruddock and Whitfield review when providing casework advice on disturbance to birds. 

Other updated guidance

We have also updated the following guidance documents:

• General pre-application and scoping advice for onshore wind farms, including new sections on repowering, section 36 variations and species survey shelf life.
• General pre-application and scoping-advice-for solar-farms, which replaces our previous guidance Natural heritage considerations for solar photovoltaic installations (November 2017)

Remember all our planning guidance can be found in the one place on our Planning and development: standing advice and guidance documents page, with further information and guidance on our planning service.

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​Welcome to our eighth Planning for Great Places e-bulletin. This is your way of keeping up to date with guidance, consultations, research, and good practice related to development and the natural heritage.

We would be glad to receive your feedback on the bulletin via [email protected]

Coronavirus update

We are committed to supporting the continuity of the planning and marine licensing system in Scotland as we adapt our ways of working as a result of the Covid pandemic. We are still largely operating from home and maintaining business continuity via e-mail, video conferencing and telephone. However, there has been some limited return to offices, and attendance of outdoor meetings and site visits with appropriate measures in place.

We provide some advice on our website regarding disruption to site survey work that may have occurred due to Covid restrictions.

Promoting nature-based Solutions: briefing for Local Government

Earlier in 2021 we joined with the Improvement Service, COSLA, and the Sustainable Scotland Network of climate change officers, in publishing a briefing for councillors and the wider Local Government community to raise awareness of the importance of nature-based solutions. It provides practical support for local authorities in taking actions to maximise the contribution of nature to a wide range of socio-economic outcomes.

The briefing lists the shared outcomes to which nature can contribute and identifies practical steps that can be taken by local authorities to care for nature; through managing land and buildings and ensuring that biodiversity is protected and enhanced through wildlife-friendly management of parks and greenspaces, pollinator corridors, new woodlands and local nature reserves. These span departments and functions but many incorporate a role for planning. Our website provides links to NatureScot resources to support many of these actions.

Securing positive effects for biodiversity: new guidance for local developments

We have published draft guidance Developing with Nature, which is aimed at helping those dealing with local development applications to enhance them for biodiversity.

The Scottish Government’s draft fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) includes a range of policies that will contribute to delivering the six outcomes now required by the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. One of these outcomes – securing positive effects for biodiversity – is supported by amongst other policies, proposed Policy 3(e): Nature Crisis. This requires local development (other than householder, farmed fish and shellfish applications) to include measures that will enhance biodiversity if the application is to be supported.

To aid understanding of the types of measures that applicants should be considering, the new draft guidance provides information on 23 different biodiversity measures that can be incorporated into a range of developments. This includes making the most of trees and plants for wildlife, how to provide shelter and homes for a range of animals, and utilising water to enhance nature.

We are inviting comments on the draft guidance by 4 February 2022, with this survey and will publish finalised guidance when Ministers adopt NPF4.

Peatland restoration training with the Crichton Carbon Centre

We teamed up with the Improvement Service and the Crichton Carbon Centre (CCC) to host a training event on the 28^th July on the theme of peatland restoration.

practices for peatland restoration. The subsequent discussion includes the alignment of PA fund applications and other peatland restoration with the Permitted Development Rights (PDR) prior notification process and Scottish Government PDR planning circular (2021).

The event was well-attended by staff from a range of key stakeholders including the majority of local authorities, Sport Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Clydeplan, RSPB and both National Park Authorities.

Hagshaw energy cluster: piloting a development framework

In collaboration with wind farm developers and a range of other partners we are piloting a new approach to renewable energy using a Development Framework. The pilot project is focussed on the Hagshaw Energy cluster in South Lanarkshire and the project website and public exhibition are now live. Development Frameworks are used in other sectors including housing and regeneration projects – but this is the first time the approach is being applied to renewable energy.

We aim to have the draft Framework ready by the end of December with a view to its adoption by the two planning authorities, East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire, in spring 2022. The Framework aims to deliver a place based approach to development and a wide range of benefits for nature, communities and the local economy.

Updated research from Dynamic Coast

With recent global attention on Glasgow’s COP26 conference, the subject of climate change, mitigation and adaptation are never far away. The Scottish Government’s Dynamic Coast Project has published new research, investigating future erosion expected under high and low emissions futures. A precautionary baseline assessment estimates that some £1.2bn of road, rail and residential property is at risk between now and 2050, if we don’t act. However, the researchers found around £400 million of damages can be avoided under a low emissions future. Even if we achieve NetZero, we must plan to adapt to sea level changes. Local authorities play an increasingly important role in becoming ‘sea level wise’.

Assessing impacts on Wild Land Areas

Our series of Planning for Great Places webinars continued with a presentation and discussion

on the application of our technical guidance Assessing Impacts on Wild Land Areas. Wild Land Areas were formally identified in 2014 as the most extensive areas in Scotland where wildness is best expressed, and the guidance sets out the requirement, methodology and general principles for assessing the impact of development and other proposals as they would be experienced from within Wild Land Areas.

Garnock Connections

NatureScot is the lead partner for the Green Infrastructure Strategic Intervention (GISI), part of the Sustainability strand of Scotland’s 2014-2020 European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programme. £0.5 million of this funding has been distributed to 11 community projects via the Green Infrastructure Community Engagement Fund (GICEF).

Garnock Connections in North Ayrshire was one of the recipients of the GICEF. Harnessing the power of community engagement, its 28 projects emphasise the value of both the natural and cultural heritage of the area. One of these projects Garnock’s Buzzing has created new wildflower meadows in public spaces for the benefit of pollinators and people’s enjoyment. Find out more about the wider Garnock Connections range of projects in this short video.

Switching on Glasgow’s Smart Canal

At the COP 26 Climate Summit, the button was pressed to switch on Glasgow’s Smart Canal. The system is a great example of the action needed to adapt to the parallel climate and nature emergencies. The partnership project by Glasgow City Council, Scottish Canals and Scottish Water provides a nature-based solution to managing the release of rainwater into the Fort & Clyde Canal, while avoiding the use of sewers already at capacity. In the lead up to predicted extreme rainfall the level of the canal is lowered automatically to create an additional 50,000 m³ of stormwater storage.

The project is part of the regeneration of an area of vacant and derelict land, and the creation of a climate adapted neighbourhood, with plans for 3,000 new affordable homes in high quality greenspace within a 20-minute-cycle of the city centre. It is another successful project supported by the Green Infrastructure Strategic Intervention.

Landscape Character Assessment “Evolution and Influences”

In 2019 we published an updated map-based Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) for Scotland which identifies, describes and maps variation in landscape character in a systematic way. We have now added 22 regional “Landscape Evolution and Influences” reports that provide information on how the landscapes of Scotland have developed into what we see today, giving details of the physical, human and cultural influences which have helped to shape them.

The reports have been added in response to feedback from local authorities and landscape professionals that the information is helpful in planning casework. The content was drawn from the “background chapters” of the original 1990s LCAs that we produced.  It has been updated following consultation with local authorities and Historic Environment Scotland.

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Would you like to subscribe to this e-bulletin, or would a colleague like to?  If so, please drop us a line at [email protected]

Welcome to our seventh Planning for Great Places e-bulletin. This is your way of keeping up to date with guidance, consultations, research, and good practice related to development and the natural heritage.

We welcome your feedback on the bulletin via: [email protected]

Coronavirus

We are committed to supporting the continuity of the planning and marine licensing system in Scotland as best as we can in the ongoing difficult circumstances. By operating from home, we are maintaining business continuity via e-mail, video conferencing and telephone.

Find out how we’re maintaining our Planning for Development Service, along with key contacts and advice regarding disruption to site survey work and the provision of environmental information.

Sharing our Knowledge

Assessing Impacts on Wild Land Areas Guidance published

In September 2020 we published Assessing Impacts on Wild Land Areas: Technical Guidance. The guidance sits on the web page itself and can be downloaded as a pdf.  

This guidance should now be applied to new development where relevant and replaces previous interim (2007) and consultation draft (2017) guidance. For schemes where we have already advised on the use of the 2017 draft guidance that are well advanced, we encourage a discussion with NatureScot on its consideration rather than application. The new guidance does not change the general approach but is clearer and clarifies aspects of the 2017 guidance.

In addition NatureScot will be hosting a webinar on assessing effects on wild land areas later this year. This webinar is aimed at landscape, planning or other environmental professionals who wish to better understand how to apply the recently published Assessing impacts on Wild Land Areas Technical Guidance. Wild Land Area have been formally identified since 2014 and the rise in developments that may affect how they are enjoyed and appreciated has led to the need for formal guidance. The guidance sets out the requirement, methodology and general principles for assessing the impact of development and other proposals as they are experienced from within Wild Land Areas. This webinar is your opportunity to ask questions about its application and any technical issues you may have experienced in applying it.

Draft Landscape Sensitivity Assessment Guidance published

Landscape sensitivity, in the context of spatial planning and land management, is a measure of the resilience, or robustness, of a landscape to accommodate change arising from specified development types or land management practices. Landscape sensitivity assessment provides an indication of this resilience.

Following the publication of Natural England’s “An Approach to Landscape Sensitivity Assessment” in 2019, and based on experience gained from the range of sensitivity assessments carried out in Scotland, we have published new Draft Landscape Sensitivity Assessment Guidance. The Scottish draft, based on the same principles as the English work and also emerging guidance in Wales, was consulted on in the summer of 2020. The draft guidance is currently being tested on two wind farm studies, with a view to the final version being published in spring 2021.

Local Landscape Area Designation Guidance updated

NatureScot and Historic Scotland (now Historic Environment Scotland) first published guidance on local landscape designations in 2006. This has now been jointly updated by both organisations, in a process that included public consultation. It encourages a more joined-up approach to the natural and cultural aspects of our landscapes. Aimed at local authorities, it outlines how policies and recent practice have changed the context for local landscape designation, and provides practical guidance on refreshing the approach to designating and reviewing these designation. The Guidance on Designating Local Landscape Areas is now available on the NatureScot and HES websites.

New wind farm guidance

Our pre-application and scoping advice for onshore wind farm proposals has been updated to include new advice on scoping the assessment of the impacts of turbine lighting on birds.

Our staff guidance to help us provide consistent advice on the effect of wind farms and other renewable energy proposals on peatland habitat is now available on our website. The guidance will be of interest externally, as it sets out the framework against which we decide when proposals sited on peat raise natural heritage issues of national interest.

We have published new staff guidance on what to consider when consulted on proposals to vary wind farm consents under section 36 of the Electricity Act, and which may also be of interest externally.

New beaver standing advice

This is standing advice to help planning applicants seeking permission for development that could affect beavers, and to assist planning officers and other regulators in their assessment of these applications. It is the latest in our series of species advice notes, all of which are available to view on our website.

All our planning and development guidance documents are available to view on our website.

Planning and Engineering for a nature-based future

We work with Universities and Colleges to help ensure that future planners and engineers have the knowledge and skills to adopt nature-based solutions to planning and development challenges. This capacity building includes the provision of dissertation research topics for Masters students in planning and engineering.

Examples of current research being undertaken include:

• Effective wildlife bridges;
• Natural flood management and peatland restoration;
• Measuring the success of green infrastructure with links to community;
• Effective communication with the construction industry in moving from grey to green engineering.

The list of available dissertation topics along with contact details for expressing an interest in researching a topic. We rely on University and College tutors to undertake the bulk of the supervision of the projects, but provide additional support through, for example, start-up meetings and the sharing of data.

Supporting the Government’s ambition to secure positive effects for biodiversity

As part of its work on the next National Planning Framework, Government is currently exploring how best to deliver ‘positive effects for biodiversity’.  This means leaving biodiversity in a better state than before development. Of particular concern is how to do this with a ‘light touch’ and without adding an overly complex assessment process to the planning system.  NatureScot undertook some thinking on this last summer, and our report was published in support of the NPF position statement on the Government’s Transforming Planning website in November 2020.  ‘Delivering Scotland’s Ambition to Secure Positive Effects for Biodiversity’ does not make recommendations, but will inform the discussion with stakeholders that is now underway, by setting out a range of issues and number of options for consideration.

This is an exciting and significant development in planning policy that Scotland is taking, and one that we are looking forward to contribute to.  If we get this right, it will make a real difference to addressing some of the biodiversity issues we need to tackle, and at the same time deliver wider benefits for all.

Planning for Great Places webinars

We’re delivering our new series of ‘Planning for Great Places’ webinars, covering various development and natural heritage related topics.

These webinars are intended to enable practitioners to overcome issues that arise in planning casework and deliver the best possible outcomes for nature. Each will include a short presentation to be followed by a Q&A session with the host and panellists. Upcoming webinars will focus on Wild Land Assessment in Scotland, and Landscape Sensitivity Studies. The dates for these will be confirmed soon – if you’d like to be added to the mailing list, please email [email protected].

Recordings of previous webinars are available on our website.

Nature-based Solutions

Living roofs for people, place and nature

Green-blue roofs can provide a range of benefits for people and nature, including surface water management, urban cooling, habitats for wildlife, and opportunities for people to connect with nature. Last year, in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council, the Scottish Government, Architecture and Design Scotland, and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, we explored the viability of integrating green roofs into an existing development proposal. We found that the medium-long term benefits and savings that would accrue from the function of the green roofs at this site more than outweigh the small increase in initial capital costs compared to more traditional approaches.

For more info contact [email protected]

Surf, but not as we know it!

SURF is Scotland’s Regeneration Forum which sets out to improve opportunities for residents in Scotland’s disadvantaged communities. Fernbrae Meadows, our first Green Infrastructure Fund project to cross the finishing line, has been shortlisted in their ‘most improved space’ category for a national award.

The transformation of a once rolling golf course, which commands long views over Glasgow, is a huge success story.  It’s a thriving, popular urban park and that’s the surface headline we all know. However, lurking just beneath the surface is an arguably even more impressive story.  The creation of Fernbrae Meadows is a sustainability triumph.

It’s one thing to deliver a successful project boasting sensible place-making, health and wellbeing benefits, vibrant community involvement, climate change mitigation measures and biodiversity gains.  It’s vitally important to do it whilst delivering sustainability.

Find out more about SURF. For more info contact [email protected].

Funding for better places to enjoy nature

The Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund supports projects promoting the outstanding scenery, wildlife and culture of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland. These natural and/or cultural heritage projects are part-funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).  Our projects are a long term investment of £8.9million and help deliver a green recovery in remote and rural areas. They will be vital to delivering job creation linked to nature based tourism.

With this in mind we are delighted to offer up a sneak peek of RSPB’s Loch Garten Nature Centre which has included the renovation of their building in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. The project will deliver improvements and expansion of RSPB visitor centre giving improved views of wildlife and Caledonian forest.  The Cairngorms National Park and is home to around 5000 species; roughly 20% are nationally rare or scarce. The new facility will provide an opportunity for the introduction of a new programme of talks, walks and activities.

Natural light and solar heat enables the current opening season to lengthen from 5 months to 8 months. New interpretation improves visitor experience and promotes a range of habitats and wildlife with new interpretation for walking trails.

Our NCHF Project and Funding Officer Nicholas Meny has been working to support the RSPB team as they manage the project to transform the space. Now the work is complete and RSPB can’t wait to welcome visitors back when they can. So for now please enjoy this beautiful video tour with Site Manager Jess Tomes.

The Cities they are a’ changin’

Climate change, rising sea levels, increased flooding episodes: just some of the litany of modern challenges we face.  In response cities across Europe are changing the way they look and function.

In the Netherlands, Arnhem is just one city tackling tackling the problem head on. Their 10-year plan is an attempt to prepare ‘today’ for extreme weather they anticipate ‘tomorrow’ in the wake of climate change.  In recent years, Arnhem has seen greenery added to 300 places in the city but they sense a need to do more still.

Braced for episodes of more intense rainfall, Arnhem’s plan revolves around a desire to make sure they can absorb deluges and avoid local flooding incidents.  They also want to prevent increased surface water going straight into their drains. To do this they have elected to dig up 10% of their roads, replace them with absorbent green infrastructure, and offer grants to citizens who install green roofs.

Arnheim is not alone. Read about other European cities embracing nature-based solutions to climate change.

Providing advice that enables good development

Planning Performance

Every year we provide a report to Scottish Government on our performance within the Planning System, as part of the Planning Performance Framework. Our report for the period 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 is now available to read. It reports against a series of agreed performance markers covering different elements of our engagement in the Planning System, and includes case studies highlighting some of the work we have undertaken and the priorities for improving our performance during the current 2020/21 reporting period.

To support our commitment to continuous improvement of our planning service, we undertake regular customer surveys. You can see the results of our latest 2020 survey.

Get in touch, subscribe or unsubscribe

Would you like to subscribe to this e-bulletin, or would a colleague like to?  If so, please drop us a line at [email protected]

Welcome to our sixth Planning for Great Places e-bulletin. This is your way of keeping up to date with guidance, consultations, research, and good practice related to development and the natural heritage.

We welcome your feedback on the bulletin via: [email protected]

Coronavirus

We are committed to supporting the continuity of the planning and marine licensing system in Scotland as best as we can in these unprecedented circumstances.

By operating via home working, we are currently maintaining business continuity via e-mail, video conferencing and telephone. This is allowing us to work with local authorities, developers and other stakeholders to support our planning system in a way that is as proportionate, pragmatic and as prompt as possible.

We are working closely with the other Key Agencies, Scottish Government, Marine Scotland, Heads of Planning Scotland and others to develop contingency plans and support one another during this difficult period.

Follow details regarding the maintenance of our Planning for Development Service, and for advice regarding disruption to site survey work and the provision of environmental information, as well as any future updates.

Sharing our Knowledge

Developers urged to help pollinators

Pollinators including bees, wasps, moths, butterflies and flies are vital for our biodiversity, but populations face challenges due to changes in land use, habitat loss, diseases, pesticides and climate change. This new guide: Developers urged to help pollinators offers advice on how best to fit pollinators into urban design and construction with a series of easy to follow steps to suit all project budgets and sizes.

As well as helping nature, these simple steps create more attractive environments for living, working and travelling, support local authorities in meeting biodiversity priorities and contribute to developers’ corporate social responsibility. Improving pollinator habitat can also help save money – for example the cost savings from reducing the mowing of parks and road verges.

Keeping invasive non-native species in check

Non-native species are plants and animals deliberately or accidentally introduced outside their native range by people. Invasive non-native species (INNS) are those which cause damage to the environment, the economy, our health or the way we live. The spread of INNS can have significant financial impacts. They can also cause harm to local species and habitats which can impact the food chain and biodiversity. It is against the law to cause the spread of any non-native species into the wild, even accidentally.

Our new image guide helps identify whether INNS are present on a terrestrial development site and sets out a series of 'do and don’t' recommendations for each species, as well as a set of general biosecurity measures.

New web page for planning and development guidance

We have created a new standing advice and guidance documents web page that provides links to all of our planning and development standing advice and guidance documents, as well as to key guidance documents published by other organisations. It gives quick and easy access to documents that planners, developers and consultants may find useful in progressing plans and proposals.

For more info contact [email protected]

Future work

• Preparing a narrative for nature–based solutions to development;
• Input to the revision of Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG).

For more info contact [email protected]

Working with Business

Staying in touch with our stakeholders

Although Covid-19 has disrupted normal business and our ways of working with stakeholders, our ‘virtual door’ remains open.  We appreciate that the immediate focus of many will be on responding to business critical issues for their sector.  But when the recovery starts, we want to understand how best we can support it.  Ensuring Scotland’s natural capital remains in good condition and supports our social and economic recovery has never been more important than in the face of the current challenges we face.

Offshore wind

The offshore wind industry is developing rapidly and has a key role in reducing the effects of climate change. However, offshore wind may have significant impacts on biodiversity. So how do we travel to a net zero carbon economy as well as addressing the biodiversity crisis? We have been helping to do this by contributing to the development of the Draft Sectoral Plan for Offshore Wind and supporting the impact assessment processes for individual applications.

Draft Sectoral Plan for Offshore Wind

Marine Scotland regulate the offshore wind sector in Scottish seas, and they are currently consulting on a sectoral plan for future commercial offshore windfarm development. We are strongly supportive of the evolving Plan.

As part of our response we have provided design guidance for each of the Draft Plan option areas. This will help developers to take account of landscape and/or visual impacts when progressing their lease applications.

Marine Bird Impact Assessment Guidance Workshop

Ahead of the new leasing round for offshore wind in Scotland (ScotWind), we organised a workshop to discuss current bird impact assessment guidance and tools, with a view to identifying and agreeing what issues and gaps may need to be addressed prior to the next leasing round. The workshop covered key topics, from baseline site characterisation surveys and colony counts to collision risk modelling and apportioning impacts to seabird colonies, and was well attended by developers, consultants, statutory nature conservation bodies, researchers, JNCC and Marine Scotland. It provided the perfect opportunity to take stock of what we have learned from previous offshore wind projects, and gather feedback to inform our priorities for finalising guidance planned for completion prior to scoping for ScotWind. Read the workshop report to find out more.

We thank everyone who contributed to a very useful and productive workshop, and helped us focus on the work ahead.

For more info contact [email protected]

Future work

• Evaluating the impact of our interventions in the planning system;
• Supporting Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) Clean Growth Initiative.

Supporting plan and place making

Nature-based solutions

Nature-based solutions have never been more important. For example, having a good local greenspace can play a crucial role in helping with physical and mental well-being.

In this article Mel Millar, project manager at Fernbrae Meadows, reveals the story behind converting a former golf course into a thriving urban park. It’s the first conversion project of this kind in Scotland

For more info contact [email protected]

Unlocking the potential of NHS greenspace for health and wellbeing

Since 2012, the Green Exercise Partnership – comprised of SNH, Scottish Forestry, NHS National Services Scotland and NHS Health Scotland – has led the NHS Greenspace Demonstration Project. The aim of the project was to show how the greenspaces around hospitals and health centres, including parkland, woodland, grassland and gardens, could enhance the health and wellbeing of patients, staff, visitors and the local community.

The project describes how assistance was provided to a range of area health boards to undertake landscape assessments, appraisals and ‘master planning’ of their outdoor estate, to develop priorities for greenspace improvements. Site infrastructure works were carried out at new-build as well as existing healthcare facilities, and led to greater use of this valuable health-promoting asset, as well as supporting other NHS Scotland objectives around biodiversity, climate change and corporate social responsibility. See further details of the NHS Greenspace Demonstration Project.

For more info contact [email protected]

People, place and the climate emergency: the contribution of nature to Community Planning Partnership priorities

The climate emergency has reinforced our responsibility to focus on practical measures we can all take to implement nature-based solutions. This revised version of the popular “Natural benefits” booklet will help Community Planning Partnerships consider how nature can help deliver a wide range of benefits for people and places.

For more info contact [email protected]

The Place Principle – our contribution to place-based working

By thinking of nature as ‘blue-green infrastructure’, we can use nature-based solutions to support the planning, design, delivery and good management of successful places. This leaflet: The Place Principle - Our contribution to place-based working sets out how SNH will contribute to place-based working across a range of scales, from national to regional to local.

For more info contact [email protected]

People, Place and Landscape

Together with Historic Environment Scotland we have published a joint position statement on People, Place and Landscape. The Statement sets out a vision and approach for managing change in Scotland’s landscapes. The accompanying Action Plan sets out the main areas of work that SNH and HES have committed to starting over the next two years to deliver the aims of the Statement.

For more info contact [email protected]

Future work

• Working with other Key Agencies to ensure effective integration of the environment in the new Local Development Plan process.
• Working with the Improvement Service to build greater capacity within local authorities to consider nature and range of benefits it can bring for economic and social wellbeing.

For more info contact [email protected]

Providing advice that enables good development

Planning performance and fees

In February we welcomed the Government’s Planning Performance and Fees consultation. On performance aspects we supported a continued focus on delivering outcomes rather than process, and the importance of enhancing the capacity of specialist skills in improving Planning Authority performance. And we suggested that an immediate priority for the new National Planning Improvement Co-ordinator should be strengthening the planning system’s contribution to tackling the climate emergency and loss of biodiversity.

On fees we supported the principle of full cost recovery, noting that consideration needed to be given to extending this to the advisory role that Key Agencies provide.

Future work

• Updating landscape sensitivity studies for wind farm development;
• Development of a strategic approach to onshore wind farm repowering.

For more info contact [email protected]

Would you like to subscribe to this e-bulletin, or would a colleague like to?  If so, please drop us a line at [email protected]

Published: 2020