Appendix 3 - SEA pre-screening notification
Perth and Kinross Council · 28 January 2026
Back to Economy and Infrastructure Committee — 28 January 2026 and its agenda
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Appendix 3 Pre-screening Notification Responsible Authority: Perth and Kinross Council Title of the plan: Birnam Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan
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What prompted the plan: (e.g. a legislative, regulatory or administrative provision) The Council has a duty to formulate and publish, from time to time, proposals for the preservation and enhancement of any parts of their district which are Conservation Areas. This is a provision of Section 63 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 Plan subject: (e.g. transport) Town and Country Planning Brief summary of the plan: (including the area or location to which the plan related) An appraisal of the area likely to be included within the boundaries of the Birnam Conservation Area. The Appraisal and Management Plan seeks to define the key elements of the area that contribute to its character and appearance. A map of the area showing the Conservation Area boundary is included at the end of this report. Brief summary of the likely environmental consequences: (including whether it has been determined that the plan is likely to have no or minimum effects, either directly or indirectly) An SEA is not required because the Appraisal and Management Plan is unlikely to have significant environmental effects. The Appraisal and Management Plan document is primarily one of analysis with a small element identifying future possibilities for management or enhancement. Most of the impacts of any proposals that may be set out in the document will be covered by other PPSs or will require further guidance, which will itself be considered under the SEA legislation. Brief summary of how environmental principles have been considered: (including whether any of the guiding principles, as set out in section 13 of the Continuity Act, are relevant to the plan) The Birnam Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan will set out and define the special characteristics of the built heritage in the settlement and will serve as a management tool, identifying opportunities for further action by the local planning authority and others in preparing enhancement schemes. However, the settlement of Birnam is developed in the main, and little development should be expected as a result of the Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan, and Article 4 Direction. In fact, these are more likely to reduce opportunities for minor development incompatible with the historic townscape to occur. The Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan does discuss possible enhancement schemes; however these are very much suggestions and do not constitute a programme of work. When preparing the Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan, the Council is required to identify areas where the historic environment and character of the area could be enhanced. But these are merely suggestions that would require further assessment, including: securing necessary funding; enhanced public consultation; and reaching partnership agreements with local organisations that are likely to take forward some of the enhancement projects. Therefore Perth and Kinross Council does not believe that significant environmental effects will occur as a result of this Appraisal. It is expected that the area should continue to exist largely as it is now with only minor
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When completed send to: SEA.gateway@gov.scot or to SEA Gateway, Scottish Government, Area 2F (South), Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ development occurring. The Conservation Area Appraisal and Article 4 Direction affect a small area and any impact will be localised in nature. It is worth noting that Perth and Kinross Council undertook full SEA Environmental Reports for the Pitlochry, and the Coupar Angus Conservation Areas Appraisals. For these plans, Biodiversity, Cultural Heritage and Material Assets were scoped in to the Environmental Reports. As a result of this work, it is now accepted that Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans may be characterised as guidance documents and as such do not have associated actions or works that will be carried out as part of the preparation of the Conservation Area Appraisal or Management Plan. It was noted that in response to the SEA topics originally considered: For Biodiversity, SNH (now NatureScot) was concerned that the CAA and Article 4 Direction would threaten European Protected Species (e.g. bats, salmon, and otter) and may result in loss of important habitat and greenspace. As the plans are very limited in scope and affect only small, localised areas, the Council does not believe there will be significant environmental effects. If the CAA would have been likely to result in large scale development, the Council would not have reached this conclusion. Minimal development is likely to occur in the Conservation Area, and that will not have a significant effect on biodiversity. For Cultural Heritage and Material Assets, the CAA will help protect the special character of the conservation area. However the plan is unlikely to have significant effects on the historic environment because it is limited to a small area and does not identify major or specific large- scale programmes of work. Contact details: Alasdair Finlayson Developer Contributions Officer: Economy, Development & Planning Perth & Kinross Council, 2 High Street, Perth, PH1 5PH 01738 475315 Date of opinion: 19 December 2025
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