Planning Circular 1/2007: planning controls for marine fish farming

Introduction

1. The purpose of this Circular is to explain and give guidance to planning officers, developers, communities and regulators on the provisions contained in the following Acts, Regulations and Order which pertain specifically to marine fish farming and which come into force on the relevant dates around April 2007.

Annex A Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003

Annex B Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006

Annex C Town and Country Planning (Marine Fish Farming) (Scotland) Order 2007

Annex D Town and Country Planning (Prescribed Date) (Scotland) Regulations 2007

Annex E Town and Country Planning (Marine Fish Farming) (Scotland) Regulations 2007

2. It relates specifically to the determination by planning authorities of decisions relating to new fish farms and modifications to existing fish farms in designated marine zones. It also contains information on the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (National Parks) (Marine Fish Farming) Direction 2007 at Annex F.

3. It also contains information on changes in notification arrangements contained in Town and Country Planning (Notification of Applications Affecting Controlled Sites) (Scotland) Direction 2007 at Annex G which sets out additional notification arrangements specifically relating to fish farming.

4. Although the Circular is primarily aimed at the consideration of applications for new fish farms, it contains information at Annexes D and E on provisions relating to existing fish farms.