Advice and Guidance

Introduction

We would like to make it easier for you to get involved in the Planning System and to do so we would like to make it easier to understand how the planning system works and produce short guidance notes for specific planning issues in Highland. To find out more about the planning system generally and how it has been changing over recent years you can view the following documents:

• Modernising the Planning System: Unlocking Planning’s Potential
• Delivering Planning Reform

Planning Advice and Guidance

General

• A Guide to the Planning System in Scotland (Scottish Government Publication)
• Using Gaelic in Signs 
• Highland Council Planning Committee Dates
• Highland Council Planning Improvement Plan

Development Management

• Development Management (Planning Aid for Scotland Publication)
• How do I get involved in Planning Applications
• Material Considerations
• Access to Single Houses and Small Housing Developments (Trial Draft Until November 2010)
• Schedule 3 - Classes of Development
• Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• Planning Appeals and Local Reviews
• Protocol for Handling Planning Applications for People with Disabilities
• Design Statements and Design and Access Statements Advice Note
• Code of Conduct for Highland Councillors dealing with Planning Applications.

Development Plans

• Development Plans and Development Plan Examinations (Planning Aid for Scotland Publication)
• How do I get involved in Development Plans?

Enforcement

• Enforcement
• Highland Council's Enforcement Charter

We also have a series of information leaflets regarding Building Standards. These are kept up to date and new information guides are issued when there are new regulations coming into force or the existing regulations are changing.

Building Standards Advice and Guidance

• Minor Building Work - Domestic (pdf, 64kb)
• Replacement Windows (187kb)
• Energy Efficiency - Boiler Installations (719kb)
• Conservatories Technical Handbook (1021kb)
• Certification - Structural Design (59kb)
• Certification - Electrical Design to BS 7671 (62kb)
• Alterations to Existing Kitchens - Domestic (69kb)
• Alterations to Existing Bathrooms Shower Rooms etc - Domestic (57kb)
• Construction Environmental Management Process for Large Scale Projects (1203kb)
• Infiltration Systems: Test Results (35kb)  
• Private Water Supplies Note (28kb)
• Septic Tank and Soakaway Systems Guidance Notes - October 2003 (117kb)
• Water supply and wastewater treatment 2008 (31kb)
• Planning Permission and Building Warrant Advice Note 01_2011 Water for Firefighting (67kb)

For futher Building Standards forms and guidance click here.

Reviewing our Advice Note

We aim to keep our advice notes as up to date and relevant as possible.  We hope to soon have new/revised advice notes on the following topics:

• Signs and Advertisements;
• Replacement Windows;
• House Extensions;
• Shop Fronts Design Guide;
• Certificate of Lawfulness.

We also will be producing a new advice note on Permitted Development Rights once new legislation and guidance is published by the Scottish Government. This is expected in Autumn 2011.

If you would like to see planning or building standards advice on any other matter please do not hesitate to contact us using the details below. 

Contact

Planning and Development Service
(01463) 702250
planning@highland.gov.uk