These Regulations further implement, in relation to water management projects for agriculture including irrigation and land drainage projects in Scotland, Council Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment.

The regulations provide for controls on abstractions for irrigation through the planning system. Any farmer who is proposing to irrigate land must apply to their local Planning Authority for a screening opinion. Where the Planning Authority finds that the proposal may cause a significant environmental impact (typically for proposals to irrigate over 50 hectares) then permitted development rights are removed and the farmer will require planning approval. This will mean that a statutory Environmental Impact Assessment must be prepared to support the application. These are temporary arrangements that will be replaced by the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 abstraction control regime when it commences.

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