Design Standards

Design Standards and Guidance for Moray is based on national guidance and best practice, and has been developed for the Moray Area. The primary guidance is the National Roads Development Guidelines which has been developed by Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS).

National Roads Development Guide

The National Roads Development Guide (NRDG) was published in May 2014. Produced by the Society for Chief Officers of Transport in Scotland (SCOTS), it is supported by Transport Scotland and Scottish Government Planning and Architecture Division. The draft Roads Development Guide was prepared  in consultation with all Local Roads Authorities in Scotland and the published version supports the Scottish Government Planning Policy Designing Streets (pdf), expanding on its principles to clarify the circumstances in which it can be used.

The NRDG forms part of the Designing Streets ‘Toolbox’ which is intended to help improve the efficiency, and delivery, of the Road Construction Consent and Planning process. On May 19 2015, the Planning and Regulatory Services Committee approved the use of the National Roads Development Guide as a material consideration in the determination of development proposals in Moray, subject to local variations. You can view the Moray Council local variations within the Moray Local Development Plan 2020 Vol 1 - Policies, Appendix 2 Table 2 - National Road Development Guidelines - Moray Council Variations 2017 The moray Local Development Plan was formally adopted on 27th July 2020.

Road Construction Consent

In terms of section 21 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 any person or organisation other than the Roads Authority who is seeking to construct a new road or an extension of an existing road  must obtain Roads Construction Consent, irrespective of whether or not the roads are intended to be adopted as public. Design guidance must be taken in the first instance from The National Roads Development Guide, and thereafter any application for Roads Construction Consent (RCC) should satisfy  the technical details as set out within the Moray Standards for Roads Construction Consent and Adoption (which are currently taken from Aberdeenshire Council). 

New roads that are to be added to the list of public roads must be designed and constructed in accordance with the current procedures and design standards.

Read more about Road Construction Consent.

Parking Standards

Moray Council Parking Standards can be found contained within the Moray Local Development Plan 2020 Vol1 - Policies, Appendix 2 Parking Standards for Use Classes. The moray Local Development Plan was formally adopted on 27th July 2020.

Transport Requirements for Small Developments in the Countryside (TRSDC)

Our guidance was reviewed and updated following Stakeholder Consultation in January 2016. The updated guidance was approved at the Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee on 8 March 2016 - read the report (pdf), and the Planning and Regulatory Services Committee on 19 April 2016 - read the report (pdf)

Transportation Requirements for Small Developments in the Countryside Transportation Requirements Checklist

Access Layby/Passing Place construction detail Single Track Roads - Typical Infrastructure