Design statements

A design statement is a brief, illustrated report that explains the importance of design considerations in your proposed development. It presents your design clearly and logically, including the reasoning behind your final proposal.

A well-prepared design statement demonstrates that the site and its surroundings have been carefully assessed, ensuring the final design is suitable for its location. While a building might be architecturally impressive, if it does not fit its context, it may not contribute to creating a high-quality place. A good design statement helps us understand your proposal better and should lead to a higher standard of development.

The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2013 require a design statement to be submitted with planning applications for local developments in the following areas:

• Conservation Area
• National Scenic Area
• Site of a Scheduled Monument
• Curtilage of a listed building
• Historic garden or designed landscape
• World Heritage Site

Design statements or design and access statements are not required for:

• alterations or extensions to an existing house
• development within the curtilage of an existing house that is incidental to its use (for example, sheds, garages)
• planning permission in principle (outline)
• a change of use of land or buildings
• mining or engineering operations
• amendments to previously granted permissions

Design and access statements

A design and access statement combines design information with a written account of access considerations. Its aim is to illustrate how the needs of all users, especially those with disabilities, have been incorporated into the design.

A design and access statement must be submitted for all national and major developments. For marine fish farms classified as major developments, only a design statement is required.

The statement should be submitted as a single document covering both design and access elements.