Tay Forest National Park

Closed 1 Dec 2023

Opened 6 Oct 2023

Results expected 1 Mar 2024

Contact

Ben Wilson

(Planning and Housing Strategy Manager)

Planning and Housing Strategy

01738 475000

DevelopmentPlan@pkc.gov.uk

Overview

The Scottish Government has announced its intention to create at least one new national park.

In March 2023, we agreed to make budget provision to support a bid submission for a new national park in northern Perthshire, called the Tay Forest National Park.

The opportunity to submit a bid to create a new national park is a rare opportunity to seek international recognition for Highland Perthshire’s outstanding natural beauty and rich cultural and landscape diversity.

The engagement period will run for eight weeks, from 6th October 2023, closing on 1st December 2023.

Why your views matter

Engagement with communities and stakeholders will now take place to shape the bid proposals further.

A key aim is to ensure that the bid submission and the vision for a national park it sets out reflects the views of the many different people that live and work in the area.

The proposed national park takes in Aberfeldy, Pitlochry, Dunkeld, Birnam, Crieff, Comrie and smalller settlements across the area. National Park status would provide benefits directly in this area, and indirectly for all of Perth and Kinross. The proposed boundary can be downloaded by clicking here (opens in a new tab) or viewed below.

Your browser does not support inline PDF viewing. Please download the PDF.

Potential benefits include:

• Additional abilities to carry out visitor management and a joined-up strategy for sustainable tourism in the park and its approach routes.

• A national park planning authority, with a role to be defined but currently envisaged as having ‘call-in’ powers similar to those of Cairngorms National Park Authority.

 • Additional funding from Scottish Government to provide the core resource for a national park authority, with the potential to lever in match funding from elsewhere.

• Additional capacity to help achieve the Council’s climate change targets, for example through nature restoration and sustainable travel.

More detailed information on the bid process, the attributes of the area, and the potential benefits of a National Park (which is also available at the in-person drop-in events) can be downloaded here or viewed below.

Your browser does not support inline PDF viewing. Please download the PDF.

Events

In-person drop-in events will be held in five settlements within the proposed park. The drop-in sessions will run from mid-afternoon to evening to allow people with different daily schedules to stop by. Full details are given at the bottom of this page.

An online session will be held on Friday 24th November (10:00 - 11:30) to supplement the in-person events. This event will be hosted on Microsoft Teams. Please e-mail DevelopmentPlan@pkc.gov.uk to register.

On-line survey

You can give us your views by answering our short on-line survey by clicking on the link below. You can save your response at any time and return to complete before the closing date on 01 December 2023. 

What happens next

Consultation findings will be gathered into a report. This will be used to prepare the finalised bid submission. The engagement report and an evidence report setting out environmental and economic information supporting the bid will be reported to Council in February 2024 for approval. They will then be submitted online to the Scottish Government.

Events

Areas

  • Action Partnership Locality - Almond and Earn
  • Action Partnership Locality - Eastern Perthshire
  • Action Partnership Locality - Highland
  • Action Partnership Locality - Kinross-shire
  • Action Partnership Locality - Perth City
  • Action Partnership Locality - Strathearn and Strathallan
  • Action Partnership Locality - Strathtay
  • All Perth & Kinross
  • Ward 1 - Carse of Gowrie
  • Ward 10 - Perth City South
  • Ward 11 - Perth City North
  • Ward 12 - Perth City Centre
  • Ward 2 - Strathmore
  • Ward 3 - Blairgowrie and Glens
  • Ward 4 - Highland
  • Ward 5 - Strathtay
  • Ward 6 - Strathearn
  • Ward 7 - Strathallan
  • Ward 8 - Kinross-shire
  • Ward 9 - Almond and Earn

Audiences

  • Area Partnerships
  • Businesses
  • Community Councils
  • Community Groups/Organisations
  • Community Planning Partners
  • Environmental Groups
  • Partner Agencies
  • PKC Employees
  • Public Sector Bodies
  • Rural Communities
  • Stakeholder Organisations
  • Voluntary Groups/Organisations
  • Civil and Public Servants
  • Elected Members
  • Landowners
  • MSPs, MPs, MEPs
  • Public Transport Users
  • Visitors and Tourists
  • All Residents of Perth and Kinross

Interests

  • Landscape Designations
  • Natural Heritage
  • Nature and Biodiversity
  • Sustainable Development
  • Climate Change
  • Parks and Green Spaces
  • Tourism and Visitor Attractions
  • Area Regeneration
  • Conservation