Planning guidance and advice notes
Guidance for planning authorities and SEPA
We have prepared Development Management Consultation Thresholds and Standing Advice guidance, which sets out our framework for how and when we should be consulted on planning proposals as well as standing advice.
Flood risk and development management
We have prepared guidance and supporting information to support the consideration of flood risk in the development management process.
Guidance
- Flood Risk and Land Use Vulnerability Guidance
- Using SEPA's flood maps to ensure new development avoids areas at flood risk
Position statements
- Development Protected by Formal Flood Protection Schemes
- Elevated buildings in areas of flood risk
- The Flood Estimation Handbook (FEH) Statistical Method Update 2025
Advice notes and checklists
- Approach to National Planning Framework 4 Policy 22 exceptions
- Climate change allowances for flood risk assessment in land use planning
- Explanatory note on the difference between our planning guidance and future flood maps
- Flood Risk Assessment Checklist
- Flood Risk Standing Advice for lower risk applications
Local Development Plan guidance
We have a duty to cooperate with planning authorities in the preparation of Local Development Plans.
Evidence gathering
We have prepared a resource pack and associated Planning Advice Notes to support planning authorities in the evidence gathering phase.
- Local Development Plans Evidence Gathering Resource Pack for Planning Authorities Part One: Overview Document
- Evidence sources by NPF4 policy topics - a summary of relevant evidence sources for local developments plans presented by NPF4 policy.
- Evidence Sources Glossary - a glossary of relevant evidence sources for local development plans presented by issue.
- Guidance for Planning Authorities on undertaking a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment - to support their Local Development Plan.
- SEPA Planning Advice Note for Planning Authorities - LPD Evidence Gathering: Water Scarcity
We have also prepared a Planning Advice Note, which outlines our key evidence requirements relating to flood risk and the water environment.
Plan preparation
We have prepared various guidance to support planning authorities in the preparation of Proposed Plans.
The Key Agency Group has also published guidance on engagement with LDP site appraisals and assessments.
- Key Agency Group Site Appraisal Guidance - advice for planning authorities on KAG engagement in site appraisal and assessment.
Other Development Management guidance and advice updated since the publication of NPF4
Guidance
- Assessing Risks to Water Environment Associated with Burial Grounds - guidance intended for developers and local authorities developing or extending existing burial grounds in terms of protection of the water environment.
- Guidance on Assessing the Impacts of Development on Groundwater Abstractions - guidance which sets out SEPA’s expectations for the assessment of impact of developments on groundwater abstractions, both public and private water supplies. It is intended for developers, local authorities, and determining authorities.
- Guidance on Assessing the Impacts of Developments on Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems - guidance which sets out SEPA’s expectations for the assessment of impact of developments on Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems (GWDTE). It is intended for developers, local authorities, and determining authorities.
- SEPA Planning Advice Note: Assessing the impact of developments on peatland and carbon rich soils - guidance which sets out SEPA’s approach to assessing the impact of development on peatlands and carbon rich soils. It is intended for developers, local authorities and determining authorities.
Standing advice
- Co-location standing advice for planning authorities - standing advice for development proposals, at both the development management and development plan stage, in the vicinity of SEPA authorised sites.
- Forestry and Woodland Strategies Standing Advice for Planning Authorities
- SEPA Standing Advice for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Marine Directorate on marine consultations - standing advice provided to apply to all marine development proposals except for a development proposal of potentially significant impact on aspects of the environment directly regulated by SEPA, which is not dealt with adequately by our standing advice or is novel or unusual. In this case, please consult us, specifying exactly the aspect of the environment regulated by SEPA on which advice is sought.
- SEPA Standing Advice on peaty soil - standing advice that applies to development on sites where the peat survey has identified that most of the soil is peaty/organo mineral soil and there are only small quantities of peat or no peat is present.
Other useful information
Contact us
If you have any questions or require any further information or advice on any aspect of planning, please contact us.