Information on Forest and Woodland Supplementary Guidance which provides information on forest and woodland management in Perth and Kinross.
Purpose and Scope of Guidance
The Adopted Forest & Woodland Strategy Supplementary Guidance (2020) (PDF, 3 MB) provides guidance relating to the Perth and Kinross Local Development Plan (LDP2)(2019) Policy 40: Forestry, Woodland and Trees, and will be used in the assessment of planning applications. The Guidance has been updated to align with the adopted local development plan (LDP2) and changes to national policy particularly the publication of the Scottish Forestry Strategy (2019-2029). Please download the Guidance document for full interactivity of the maps.
The purpose of the Perth and Kinross Forest and Woodland Strategy is to:
- Provide a strategic framework for the development of forestry in the area
- Provide a local interpretation of the Scottish Forestry Strategy
- Ensure a balance of forestry with other land uses by identifying appropriate locations for a variety of types of woodland expansion and management practice
- Ensure forestry activity contributes across the range of Council policy objectives
- Ensure that the public benefits of managing and expanding the area's forest estate are optimised
The Guidance was approved by the Council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on the 29 January 2020 and submitted to Scottish Ministers for consideration on 3 February 2020. Following the necessary adoption procedures, the Supplementary Guidance has now been formally adopted by the Council.
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
As part of the process we have to consult NatureScot, SEPA and Historic Environment Scotland on whether the plan, programme or strategy is likely to raise issues of significant environmental impact.
We sent our Screening Report (PDF, 516 KB) to the consultation authorities to determine whether the supplementary guidance is likely to have significant effects on the environment on 27 June 2019. You can also view the responses from the consultation authorities:
- Screening Response - HES (PDF, 200 KB)
- Screening Response - SEPA (PDF, 60 KB)
- Screening Response - SNH (PDF, 154 KB)
Having consulted the three consultation authorities, and having considered the criteria set out in the Act, the Council considered that the Forest and Woodland Strategy Supplementary Guidance is unlikely to have significant environmental effects and has therefore decided that SEA is not required. You can also view the Screening Determination (PDF, 150 KB).
Forest and Woodland Strategy Review (2026)
In line with the requirements of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 and National Planning Framework 4, the Council has begun a review of our Forest and Woodland Strategy (FWS). The purpose of the review is to ensure we have an up to date strategy which can inform the development of our Local Development Plan 3 (LDP3).
The 2019 Act requires planning authorities to prepare a FWS which identifies woodlands of high nature conservation (WHNCV), and sets out the authority's proposals as to the development of forestry and woodlands (protection and enhancement of, particularly WHNCV; resilience of WHNCV, and expansion of woodlands of a range of types to provide multiple benefits).
NPF4 Policy 6: Forestry, Woodland and Trees expects LDPs to: identify and protect existing woodland and the potential for its enhancement or expansion to avoid habitat fragmentation and improve ecological connectivity, helping to support and expand nature networks, and identify and set out proposals for forestry, woodlands and trees in the area (development, protection and enhancement, resilience to climate change, and expansion of a range of types for multiple benefits). These actions are to be supported and informed by an up to date FWS.
SEA Process
As with our current FWS, as part of the review we have to consult the 3 Consultation Authorities on whether the strategy is likely to raise issues of significant environmental impact. As part of that process the Council has produced an SEA Scoping Report which sets out enough information on the FWS review, to allow the Consultation Authorities to form a view on the adequacy and appropriateness of the scope and level of detail proposed for the environmental assessment, and the consultation period for the SEA Environmental Report.
The Scoping Report is currently with the Consultation Authorities for comments. A copy of the document and its appendices can be viewed below.
- Perth and Kinross FWS Review SEA Scoping Report (PDF, 2 MB)
- PKC FWS Review SEA Scoping Report Appendices A-B (PDF, 1 MB)
- PKC FWS Review SEA Scoping Report Appendix C (PDF, 29 MB)
Once feedback has been received the Council will consider the comments, amend our approach to our SEA in response, where appropriate and undertake an environmental assessment alongside the development of the draft Forest and Woodland Strategy. The draft Strategy and its SEA Environmental Report will be consulted upon during Autumn 2026.
