Architecture and Masterplanning in Perth & Kinross
Land to Homes designs residential schemes in Perth & Kinross from first sketch to planning drawings. For a single infill plot that might mean one carefully placed house; for a larger field, a phased masterplan with roads, open space and a mix of homes for sale, rent and affordable tenures. Good design is often what makes a council comfortable saying yes.
Perth & KinrossFree site appraisal
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- Free site appraisalNo cost, no obligation
- Legal fees coveredReasonable fees, on options and promotion
- Nothing to pay upfrontOn promotion: we fund planning
- Direct purchaseSuitable sites, with or without planning
- UK-wideEngland, Wales, Scotland and NI
Planning and building around Perth & Kinross
We cover 3 places across Perth & Kinross: Perth is the main one, alongside Crieff and Blairgowrie. Neighbouring areas we also cover include Fife, Forth Valley and Angus & Dundee.
Near Perth & Kinross, we look at sites where the layout needs to change, land where self-build plots could suit the market and in-principle consents that still need detailed approval. As Perth & Kinross is in Scotland, applications are judged against National Planning Framework 4, and the buyer of land pays Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT).
Send us the site address near Perth & Kinross and we will tell you what we think the planning route is.
Our approach in Perth & Kinross
Design codes followed
Where a council has adopted a design code or design guide, we design to it and explain in the design statement how the scheme responds.
House types that suit the place
Homes designed to reflect local materials, scale and character, with layouts people want to live in, rather than a standard pattern book dropped onto the site.
Drainage and ecology built in
Sustainable drainage, biodiversity and tree retention shape the layout from the first sketch, rather than being squeezed in after the homes are placed.
Masterplans for larger sites
Streets, open space, landscaping, play areas and phasing set out in one coherent plan, with room for homes for sale, rent and affordable tenures.
The Scottish system, as it applies in Perth & Kinross
Land sales in Scotland are concluded through missives, an exchange of formal letters between solicitors. Once missives are concluded they form a binding contract, and the buyer takes entry at settlement, then registers the title with Registers of Scotland. For land near Perth & Kinross, missives can be made conditional on planning permission in principle, so the sale only proceeds if consent is secured. The buyer pays Land and Buildings Transaction Tax to Revenue Scotland.
In Scotland, National Planning Framework 4 sets out the qualities of successful places, and Designing Streets guides how residential streets are laid out. Building standards are approved through a building warrant from the council, and the New Build Heat Standard means new homes generally need zero direct emissions heating, such as heat pumps.
| National planning policy | National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), which forms part of the statutory development plan |
|---|---|
| Local planning document | Local Development Plan (LDP) |
| Who decides applications | The council as planning authority (or a national park authority in its area) |
| In-principle consent | Planning permission in principle (PPP), followed by approval of matters specified in conditions |
| Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer) | Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) |
| Land registration | Registers of Scotland (Land Register of Scotland) |
| How a sale becomes binding | Land sales are concluded through missives, formal letters exchanged between solicitors that become a binding contract once concluded, followed by settlement on the date of entry and registration in the Land Register of Scotland. |
| Developer contributions | Section 75 planning obligations, with Section 69 agreements sometimes used for simple one-off payments |
Architecture and Masterplanning in Perth & Kinross: questions
Can a layout keep part of my land free from development?
Yes. A layout can be drawn to leave a paddock, a garden or a buffer next to your own home outside the development, and the boundary can be fixed in any agreement. We will explain how that choice affects the number of homes, the access and the value of the land being sold.
Do I need an architect for a planning application?
Not by law, but a well-designed scheme with clear drawings stands a much better chance. Larger schemes also need specialist input from landscape architects, highways engineers, drainage engineers and ecologists. Where Land to Homes promotes land, we appoint and fund the design team as part of the planning work, so the landowner does not need to.
What is a design and access statement?
It is a short report submitted with certain planning applications that explains the design principles behind a scheme and how people will get to and move around it. In England and Wales it is usually needed for major development and for some smaller schemes in sensitive areas. Scotland and Northern Ireland set their own requirements for design statements.
What is a design code?
A design code is a set of simple, measurable design rules for an area or a site, covering matters such as building heights, materials, street widths and green space. In England, councils are encouraged to produce design codes, guided by the National Model Design Code. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland use design guides and placemaking policies to similar effect.
Do you take on planning and building work in Perth & Kinross?
Yes, on sites we buy, option, promote or develop in partnership across Perth & Kinross, including Crieff, Blairgowrie and Perth. We do not take on planning or building work for third parties as a consultancy.
Read more: Architecture and Masterplanning · Guide: Planning permission explained for landowners