Short-Term Let Control Areas are becoming increasingly important for holiday let owners across Scotland, particularly in the country’s capital, Edinburgh, the Highlands and other popular tourist destinations. Scotland currently has two designated Short-Term Let Control Areas: one covering the entire City of Edinburgh Council area and the other covering Badenoch and Strathspey in the Highlands. … Read more
Updated 11 October 2026 Do you own or operate a holiday let in the Highlands? Are you unsure whether planning permission is required or have you been asked to demonstrate that your short-term let is lawful? We can review your property’s planning history, assess its eligibility for a Certificate of Lawfulness and prepare and submit … Read more
Securing planning permission can, depending on the nature of the proposal, require a significant volume of plans, reports and other supporting information. However, obtaining permission is not always the end of the planning process. Receiving planning permission is an important milestone, but it does not necessarily mean that work can begin immediately. Further information may … Read more
Scotland’s planning system is governed by legislation and the statutory development plan, but these are not the only documents that applicants, Planning Authorities and decision-makers may require to consider. Planning legislation can be detailed and technical. It may establish the legal framework for a procedure without explaining every aspect of how that procedure is intended … Read more
One of the most common phrases used within Scotland’s planning system is “material planning considerations”. Whether you are applying for planning permission, commenting on a development proposal or reading a Planning Authority’s decision notice, you are likely to encounter the term. Despite its importance, many people are unclear about what a material planning consideration actually … Read more
If you have been researching planning enforcement, Certificates of Lawfulness or unauthorised development in Scotland, you have probably come across references to the “four-year rule” and the “ten-year rule”. These terms are still widely used by property owners, developers, solicitors and planning professionals. However, the current legal position in Scotland is more complex than many … Read more
Many people assume that every development project requires planning permission. In reality, some forms of development can be carried out without planning permission, while some existing uses and developments may already be lawful even though planning permission was never obtained. In these situations, a Certificate of Lawfulness can provide formal confirmation of a property’s planning … Read more
When a planning application is submitted in Scotland, members of the public, community groups, businesses and other interested parties often have the opportunity to comment on the proposal. These comments are commonly referred to as representations. Representations can support a proposal, object to it or simply provide information that the Planning Authority may wish to … Read more
If you are considering a development project in Scotland, you may hear planners and planning officers refer to the “development hierarchy”. This system categorises development proposals as either Local, Major or National developments. The category of development can influence how an application is processed, the level of information required, consultation requirements, determination timescales and the … Read more
If you are considering a development project in Scotland, you may have come across the terms “planning permission” and “planning permission in principle”. While they sound similar, they are two distinct types of planning application and are used for different purposes. Understanding the difference can help you decide which route may be most appropriate for … Read more