Planning Law

The Four-Year and Ten-Year Rules in Scotland’s Planning System

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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

Certificates of Lawfulness in Scotland: Existing Use, Proposed Use and Section 150 Certificates

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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