Planning and development: good practice construction

The construction industry can make a major contribution to the health and success of nature.

How we can help you

Our guidance and other information below can help ensure impacts on nature are minimised during construction, as well as showing how often simple, cost saving methods of building can promote greener, more sustainable developments.

View our good practice construction guidance on:

• Developing with Nature (Guidance on the measures that can be incorporated in to development to enhance biodiversity, as required by NPF4 policy 3(c)
• Wind farms (This guidance document focuses on pollution prevention, protection of the environment and natural resources, hydrology and archaeology related issues and the adoption of biosecurity protocols, including the control of invasive and non-native species).
   
• Hydroelectric schemes (This guidance document focuses on pollution prevention and safeguarding the natural heritage).
        - good practice visual image guide
        - Guide to Hydro Construction Good Practice

• Upland tracks (A step by step guide taking into account the natural heritage impacts of track construction, management and use). 
        - good practice quick guide
        - webinar on track construction
        - presentation on track construction and landscape impacts

• Floating roads on peat ( A good practice guide to design, construction with particular reference to wind farm developments)

• Car parks (A practical guide to planning, design and construction).

• Construction and birds (A short guide to birds and the law, and what it means for development, especially during the bird breeding season).
   
• Invasive and non-native species (INNS)
        - Guidance for INNS management
        - Law on non-native species - Legislation in Scotland

• Pollinators in Planning and Construction guidance. 

• Environmental Management and Construction (This event explored the complexities of successful environmental protection and good construction).

SEPA guidance

• Construction Site Licences – what must be done to ensure that discharges of water run-off from a construction site do not cause pollution.
• Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems – advice on the general requirement for new surface water drainage systems to pass through SUDS.
• Engineering in the Water Environment Good Practice Guide: Temporary Construction Methods - for working in rivers and lochs.
• SEPA sector plan - Housing
• SEPA sector plan - Strategic Infrastructure (Transport and Utilities)