Guide

What’s changing from Monday 7 September 2026

New bin collection days

We’re changing which days we collect your bins.

This change applies to everyone.

Here are 2 ways you can see your new collection days:

• check your printed bin collection schedule we sent you in the post along with a letter explaining the changes (these started arriving from Tuesday 18 August)
• look up your new bin collection days online (from Monday 7 September 2026).

if you use iCalendar, you’ll need to download your new collection days after this date.

We're unable to provide collection information for flats with bulk bins.

Different collection days for grey and recycling bins

Most homes will have two bin collection days instead of one:

• your blue, green or brown recycling bin will be collected on one day
• your grey general waste bin will be collected on a different day.

The letter we sent you in the post will tell you if this applies to you.

If your home already has different collection days for your grey and recycling bins, check your new collection schedule as your collection days may have changed.

This does not apply to:

• flats with bulk bins
• flats where people share wheelie bins
• flats with a building caretaker who puts the bins out
• homes with sack collections (instead of wheelie bins).

Bin collection frequency

For most people, how often we collect your bins is not changing.

There are around 1500 homes in difficult to reach locations we’re able to move onto our standard collection frequency. The letter we sent you in the post will tell you if this applies to you.

Other information

Assisted bin collection

If you get help to take your bins out, this service will continue as usual on your new schedule, and you do not need to do anything.

Catch-up grey bin collection

We’re providing a one-time, grey bin collection to some homes to help avoid general waste building up. It’s only for homes who would otherwise be waiting more than 4 weeks for a grey bin collection as we start new collections. 

They are taking place from 1 to 12 September 2026 and the letter we sent you will tell you if you’re receiving this, with the one-time collection included in the printed collection schedule.

Blue bin collections

We're helping you as new collections start.

As a one-off measure during the first week of blue bin collections (week beginning Monday 21 September), you can place up to two cardboard boxes containing paper and cardboard recycling beside your blue bin for collection.

You can also store extra paper and cardboard recycling until your next collection date or take it to one of our household waste recycling centres, open every day from 8am to 6pm.

Weekly food waste caddy collection

If you have a weekly food waste caddy collection, check your collection schedule for your new collection day.

Additional grey bin collection

If you have an additional grey bin collection every week, you’ll get two letters:

• your first letter will confirm your new bin collection days and provide your printed schedule
• your second letter will confirm your additional grey bin collection day.

We’re unable to include your additional grey bin collection on your printed schedule.

When it’s changing

These changes start from Monday 7 September 2026.

Why we’re making these changes

We’re making these changes to improve and modernise our bin collection service. 

They’ll mean: 

• fewer bins to put out on each collection day 
• clearer pavements, making it easier for people to get around 
• we'll be on the most effective routes, reducing carbon emissions and fuel costs.

Contact us if you have any questions or if you need this information in another language or format such as large print, easy read, audio recording or braille.

What the new rules are

The rules are changing for how you can store your commercial waste in Paisley town centre.

Under the new rules:

• commercial waste containers cannot be permanently stored on pavements or roads
• waste contractors need to have a permit for placing containers on roads
• waste must only be on pavements or roads while awaiting collection
• collection windows will be 7am to 10am and 4pm to 8pm
• waste must not be left out overnight
• containers must be labelled with business name and collection times
• waste containers must be placed for collection as close to your premises as possible and must not obstruct pedestrians, wheelchairs, prams, or road users
• if waste is not collected within the window, it must be removed and placed back in your premises, and you’ll need to contact your waste contractor about a missed collection
• you must present your waste during your collection window even if your business is not open during that time.

Who the rules apply to

This applies to all organisations in Paisley town centre that produce commercial waste.
Commercial waste is general waste and recycling that does not come from private homes. It comes from organisations such as:

• businesses
• charities
• community organisations
• public sector bodies.

It’s your responsibility to find a waste contractor that will collect your waste within the collection window.

You can hire a private company or the council to collect your waste.
The rules will not affect you if your commercial waste is collected from within your building or on private land.

Find out more about commercial waste with Renfrewshire Council.

Map of the area with the new rules

When the rules will start

The new rules:

• start on 1 September 2026
• will have a 1-month ‘soft launch’, during which we’ll help organisations adjust to the changes
• will be enforced from 1 October 2026, including issuing penalties for failing to comply.

Over the summer, we’ll engage with Paisley First and affected organisations in Paisley town centre to discuss what the new rules mean and to support you through the changes.

What you need to do to prepare

Speak to your waste contractor

You need to speak to your waste contractor – either a private company or the council – to make sure they can still collect your waste effectively. This includes any food waste, which is subject to the same rules as other types of commercial waste.

Depending on your location, storage space, and how much waste your organisation produces, your waste contractor might suggest adaptations such as smaller bins, more frequent collections, or collections from inside your business.

You should speak to your waste contractor before the new rules start so you have time to prepare.

Properly store any food waste

Food waste will be subject to the same rules as any other type of waste. If you need to store food waste in your property, you may need to use pest-proof containers to comply with food hygiene regulations. You should store food waste away from food-handling areas and make sure the waste is collected regularly.

Check if your costs will change

We understand that this may change your waste collection costs. This is something you’ll need to plan for. Speak to your waste contractor if you have any concerns.

Find out how to analyse the waste you produce and potentially lower your costs (Zero Waste Scotland website).

What will happen if you do not comply with the rules

We’ll work with you as much as possible to help you comply with the new rules.

We’ll start enforcing the rules on 1 October 2026.

From this date, you could get a fine of up to £500 and be reported to the procurator fiscal if you store your bins and sacks on the street or pavement during times other than your collection window.

Why we’re making these changes

Improving Paisley town centre

We support private waste contractors operating in Paisley. However, there are now over 1,000 commercial bins left out in the town centre. These bins do not look nice, and they can contribute to:

• litter and spillages
• fly-tipping
• vermin and pest issues
• blocked pavements and accessibility problems
• safety risks for pedestrians and road users.

The new rules aim to:

• improve the appearance of the town centre
• reduce the number of commercial bins on public streets
• create a cleaner and more welcoming environment
• improve accessibility and public safety
• encourage waste reduction and increased recycling.

Overall, the changes will help us reduce stray litter and make our streets cleaner and safer. They’re one of the ways we’re working with the community to improve the look of Paisley town centre, which will benefit residents, businesses, and visitors by making our public spaces more welcoming for people to spend time in the town.

Learning from other councils

Similar changes have been made in other places, such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Dundee where the changes have provided long term benefits. We’ve informed our approach by learning from what other councils have done and by engaging with the local community before making the changes.

Contact us if you have any questions about the new rules.

Research

It is important to research any historic information relevant to the building that can provide details of original design and materials. 

Photographic archive records are a useful source of information and may be available from the Renfrewshire Heritage Centre.

Small scale works

If the proposed work is very small scale, for example renewal of timber windows or painting works, then you may prefer to organise and administer the project yourself. 

You should aim to get competitive quotes from 3 separate contractors, but where this has not been possible 1 or 2 quotes will be accepted. 

You should also confirm what consents are required for all repairs with our Development Standards team. You can email them at dc@renfrewshire.gov.uk or phone 0300 300 0144.

If you’re obtaining the quotes from contractors yourself, you should make sure that you give each one the same information, so that you can compare the quotes fairly. 

If possible, get recommendations from someone who has had similar work carried. Ask contractors or builders for references and check these out. 

If you’re a qualified and experienced professional, you can do the work yourself provided we approve your plans. However, you can’t use the grant to pay your own professional fees.

Consultants and professional advisors

For larger and more complex repair projects, you need to get professional advice from a qualified architect, or a surveyor with relevant conservation experience, before you apply for the grant. 

Professional advisors must be members of a recognised professional body. For listed buildings and buildings in conservation areas, they should ideally have an accreditation in conservation.

You can find a: 

• list of architects and conservation accredited architects in Scotland on the Royal Institute of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) website 
• register of accredited building conservation surveyors on the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in Scotland (RICS) website

You will need a professional advisor for:

• all projects with a total value over £8,000
• projects with a value of £8,000 or less with significant design elements.

Your professional advisor will guide you through the construction process including: 

• surveys and condition report
• research, analysis, and archaeological investigation of the fabric
• developing detailed drawings or specifications for the project
• submitting drawings for consents such as planning, listed building consent, or building warrants
• advice for other professionals involved with the work, like, structural engineers or quantity surveyors
• preparation of information required to tender the project
• inviting tenders from suitable contractors and preparing a tender report
• advising on an appropriate form of building contract 
• contract administration and inspection or valuation of the works on site
• liaising with funding partners
• advising on health and safety
• liaising with the principal designer in accordance with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (Health and Safety Executive website).

We’ll let you know when you apply if you need a professional advisor.

To use the grant towards professional fees, you should aim to get 3 competitive fee bids from suitably qualified professionals. 

You can choose not to use the lowest quote. However, the difference between this quote and the lowest quote will not be funded. 

Contractors 

Your project should be carried out by a competent contractor with relevant experience. They should have experience of working in older and historic buildings and be a member of an appropriate trade association or registration body. Ask your professional advisor for recommendations for suitable contractors.

You should aim to get at least three tenders or quotes for the proposed work. We recommended you get quotes from at least four or five contractors in case some do not submit. 

The contractor will submit a price based on tender information from your professional advisor and any other professionals, such as a quantity surveyor. This information should include:

• specifications, which can include drawings
• bills of quantities on larger projects. 

You will need a tender report from your professional advisor for projects over £8,000. 

If we approve it, you can accept your contractor’s quotation and agree a date to start works on site following the completion of the grant award process. Your professional advisor should help you set up a contract appropriate for the size of your project.

You should also be aware that as a client you have duties for health and safety under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (Health and Safety Executive website).

Quotes for costs

You should list all the items clearly in each quote so we can compare them. You might find it useful to prepare a scope of works for potential contractors when you are asking them for quotes.

If you are getting quotes for different types of work in your repair plan, you should aim for 3 quotes for each type of work.

For example:

• up to 3 separate quotes for roofing
• up to 3 separate quotes for stonemasonry 
• up to 3 separate quotes for carpentry.

Make sure your quotes are from legitimate contractors or suppliers with the necessary specialist skills. Where possible, get quotes from local contractors based in Renfrewshire.

Planning consents and building warrants

Before you start works on your property, you will need to check if you need planning consent and a building warrant. 

If your property is listed, you may also need Listed Building consent (which may need to be referred to Historic Environment Scotland). If your property is in Lochwinnoch, Kilbarchan, Bridge of Weir or Houston you may need Conservation Area consent.

You can apply for the grant even if your planning permission application is in progress, however you will need to give us written confirmation that it’s been granted, or that it’s not required, before we can award you the grant.

It can take several months for planning consent or building warrants to be processed. 

We recommend you get advice on your proposal about:

• planning consent from the Development Management team at dc@renfrewshire.gov.uk or call 0300 300 0144.
• building standards, listed buildings and conservation areas from the Building Standards team at bc@renfrewshire.gov.uk or 0300 300 0144.

Scale drawings

You do not need to submit scale drawings for a small grant application, but it may help support your submission. 

For a standard grant application, you should submit scale drawings if you can.

If submitting drawings, they must:

• be to scale and include relevant plans, elevations, and cross-sections to best explain the scope of works
• make clear what work will be done and correspond to the specification of works, and quotes for the work.

A professional advisor can help prepare drawings for you.

Owner and leaseholder details

You must include evidence of who owns the property, or a formal lease, with your application.

If you lease the property, you must also have written permission from the owner to do the proposed works.

If you’re a shared owner, you’ll need to nominate one person to apply on behalf of all the shared owners.

You’ll also need the contact details of each shared owner for the application including their name, address (floor or flat number in the building), phone number, and email address.

The nominated person could be your factor or property manager.

Other guidance on repairs and maintenance

You can find other guidance and information on repairing and maintaining historic buildings, including:

• our guide to development in conservation areas
• help with essential repairs to tenement buildings
• advice on repairing traditional buildings from Historic Environment Scotland
• publications from Historic Environment Scotland including conservation guidance leaflets
• common repair and retrofit support for tenement owners on the Under One Roof website.

Before you apply for a repairs grant, make sure you have read the guidance below on:

• research
• small scale works
• consultants and professional advisors
• contractors 
• quotes for costs
• planning consents and building warrants
• scale drawings
• owner and leaseholder details
• other guidance on repairs and maintenance.

What contamination is

Contamination happens when items are put in the wrong recycling bin. For example, non-recyclable materials, dirty items or items containing food or liquids. 

How to prevent contamination

When bins become contaminated, it can result in recyclable items being sent to landfill. To help prevent this and to ensure we can recycle and reuse where possible, it’s important to put the right items in the right bin.  

If you’re not sure what goes where, check what goes in your bins or rubbish sacks. 

Batteries and vapes 

Batteries and vapes should not be put in household bins. Instead, you can recycle them at your local household waste recycling centre where we have dedicated bins for them. 

These items can cause fires or explosions in our waste vehicles or at household waste recycling centres when put in the wrong bin. This endangers collection crews and waste staff.  

Find out what you can take to your local household waste recycling centre. 

What happens to your waste

Non-recyclable waste – grey bin or black sack 

After we collect grey bins or black sacks, the waste is put into larger containers at the facility in Linwood before being shredded at Bargeddie Materials Recovery Facility. We remove any recyclable items, which are then sent to contractors for recycling. 

Non-recyclable waste is transported to the Energy Recovery Facility in Dunbar. Here it is incinerated to generate heat, which fuels local energy networks. 

Recyclable waste – blue bin or blue sack, green bin or green sack 

After we collect recycling, the waste is put into large containers at local facilities in Inchinnan and Paisley. It’s then taken to a recycling plant where contaminated or incorrect items are removed. This job is done by hand while the waste is on a conveyor belt. 

Once incorrect items have been removed, the waste is then sorted by type. All recycled waste is then sent to the reprocessors where recycled materials are broken down and made into new items. 

Recyclable waste – brown bin 

After we collect food and garden waste, it’s put into large containers at the local facility in Linwood. The waste is then taken to a composting facility where incorrect or contaminated items are removed. This is done by hand at picking stations. 

The waste is then shredded before it’s loaded into a container where heat and bacteria break it down. The thick compost is then stored and turned before being shredded again.  

How to contact us using a BSL video call

If you’d like to contact us, contact Astrid Smallenbroek, the equalities development officer, through Contact Scotland BSL on +44 141 487 3212.

Make a BSL video call (Contact Scotland website)

Health information

You can view health information in BSL on the NHS Inform website.

View health information in BSL (NHS Inform website)

999 for BSL users

Phone the emergency video relay service for Deaf people.

Phone 999 for BSL users (999 BSL website)

How to make a complaint to the council

Watch the British Deaf Association's BSL video on how to make a complaint to your council.

Learn how to make a complaint to your council (YouTube)

BSL courses

Research online courses, such as the one below, if you’re interested in learning BSL.

Learn BSL online (british-sign.co.uk)

Other websites

Here are some BSL-related websites that you may find useful:

• RNID (non-council website)
• British Deaf Association (non-council website)
• National Deaf Children’s Society (non-council website)

British Sign Language (BSL) is the most common form of sign language in the UK.

This guide lists some resources available for BSL users and people who want to learn more about BSL.

Learn more about BSL in Renfrewshire

Learn more about:

• Renfrewshire's BSL Plan
• BSL resources.

British Sign Language (BSL) is the most common form of sign language in the UK.

BSL is the first language for many Deaf and Deafblind people in Scotland. It involves a combination of hand shapes and movements, lip patterns, facial expressions, and shoulder movements. BSL has its own grammar and structure that is completely different from English. 

BSL was recognised as its own language in 2003 and as an official language of England, Wales, and Scotland in 2022.

2% of people in Renfrewshire are BSL users, according to Scotland’s Census data.

What the council does

We’re responsible for maintaining public local roads and footpaths in Renfrewshire.

During winter weather, our gritting vehicles are available 24 hours a day to:

• grit roads
• use ploughs to remove snow from roads.

If the weather is severe, we’ll prioritise certain areas over others, including:

• routes serving hospitals and health centres
• access to schools and community centres
• town centre pedestrian areas in Paisley, Johnstone and Renfrew
• other high-traffic pedestrian areas, such as sports centres.

Depending on how severe or widespread the winter weather is, we cannot always grit smaller residential roads and footpaths.

What Transport Scotland does

Transport Scotland is responsible for motorways and trunk roads in Renfrewshire. We do not grit these roads.

What you can do

Use a grit bin

We maintain grit bins across Renfrewshire for anyone to use.

You can use the rock salt from these bins to grit:

• residential streets
• footpaths
• driveways.

Gritting is more effective before there’s any ice or snow, not after.

Find your nearest grit bin using our online map

You can top up a smaller grit bin or your own supply by taking rock salt from the large grit bins at:

• Bishopton: community centre car park
• Bridge of Weir: Livery Walk car park
• Brookfield: Albert Drive
• Crosslee: car park at Crosslee shops
• Elderslie: car park at village hall
• Erskine: Household Waste Recycling Centre on Barrhill Road or the car park to the rear of the library
• Houston: Carrick Centre car park
• Howwood: Village Hall car park
• Inchinnan: playing fields car park opposite the primary school
• Johnstone: Household Waste Recycling Centre on Miller Street or the car park of Floor Street Industrial Estate
• Kilbarchan: next to the clock tower at Steeple Hall on Steeple Street
• Langbank: footpath next to the tennis courts
• Linwood Household Waste Recycling Centre on Middleton Road
• Lochwinnoch: McKillop Centre car park
• Paisley: Household Waste Recycling Centre on Underwood Road or Glenburn Community Centre car park
• Renfrew: Household Waste Recycling Centre on Haining Road or the car park of Kirklandneuk Community Centre.

Tell us if we need to refill a grit bin

Tell us if we need to refill a grit bin

Report a road that needs clearing

If there’s heavy snowfall, report a road that needs clearing by phoning us on 0300 300 0300.

Get free gritting supplies

We can provide you with free gritting supplies, including:

• grit spreaders
• snow shovels
• gloves
• a storage unit to keep a supply of gritting salt at your home.

Email us at litterpicks@renfrewshire.gov.uk to ask for free gritting supplies.

Prepare for winter or severe weather

Read our full guide on how to prepare for winter or severe weather, which covers:

• snow and ice
• flooding
• frozen pipes
• fallen trees.

Gritting is the process of spreading rock salt on roads and footpaths to prevent ice from forming.

Planning a funeral

You can plan for a funeral yourself, but most people go to a funeral director (or undertaker) who can give advice on all aspects of a funeral service. They can make the arrangements for you, including the burial or cremation.

If you wish to have a religious funeral service, contact the relevant minister of religion as soon as possible. If you do not know one, ask your funeral director – they may be able to arrange for one to officiate at the service. 

Paying for a funeral

Make sure you’re aware of the funeral costs before finalising arrangements. This will include the costs for a burial or a cremation. 

If the person is to be buried, you may need to pay for a plot (called a lair) in a cemetery, if they did not own one already.

Find out about:

• arranging a burial and how much it costs
• costs for cemeteries including lairs and interment.

Your funeral director can advise you on the cost of a cremation if that’s what you wish.

Check if the person who died had a pre-paid funeral plan or insurance to cover the funeral costs. 

Otherwise, the cost of the funeral can be paid from money in their estate. This usually takes priority over any other debts or payments they had. 

You can get help from their bank manager or a solicitor about accessing any accounts or funds they had to pay for the funeral. 

Help with the costs of a funeral

If you or family or friends are paying for some or all of the funeral, you may be able to get help with the costs.

You may be able to get Funeral Support Payment or financial support from a benevolent fund.

Other sources of money to help pay for a funeral might include an insurance policy, a tax refund, a cash sum, pension, or war pension.

Funeral Support Payment

The Scottish Government has a benefit called Funeral Support Payment.

This helps pay for funeral costs if you live in Scotland. 

You can use the payment towards funeral costs for a baby, child, or adult. This includes babies who were stillborn.

It usually does not cover the full cost of the funeral, but it can help pay for some costs. It can be paid either to you or the funeral director who's helping you arrange the funeral.

Only 1 person can get Funeral Support Payment for the funeral.

You will not be eligible if you've already had other government support for the funeral, which includes:

• Funeral Expenses Payment (England or Wales)
• Funeral Payment (Northern Ireland)
• your hospital arranging and paying for your baby's funeral if you had a stillbirth.

Find out about Funeral Support Payment (mygov.scot website).

Our Advice Works team can help you with applying for Funeral Support Payment or other benefits you are entitled to claim.

Benevolent funds

Benevolent funds are charitable funds, trusts, and societies established by trades, professions, religious institutes, armed or civilian services, charities or members of local communities.

Depending on where you or your family members work, or have worked in the past, you may be able to get help towards the costs of arranging a funeral from specific benevolent funds. You should contact your workplace or the workplace of the deceased person to see if they can help.

Estates of the deceased

We do not hold any information on the value of the estate of a deceased person.

We do not trace relatives of the deceased, and we do not work with any genealogists.  

If no blood relative, spouse, civil partner or cohabitant are traced, the National Ultimus Haeres Unit (NUHU) will investigate if the estate has any value after any liabilities, like debts or money owed, have been taken away.

Funerals for deceased with no family

If a person dies and has no traceable relatives or executor, we may arrange their funeral. 

This is only if the person has died in Renfrewshire and no one else is arranging the funeral.

If the person died outside of Renfrewshire, you should contact the council where they died.

The arrangements we provide will only be for a simple, dignified, basic funeral. No funeral notices, service, flowers, or funeral cars are provided. We make the arrangements and use an undertaker appointed by us.

The funeral costs will be recovered from the deceased person’s estate and are usually paid before any other debts.

Funerals arranged by Renfrewshire council

You can only arrange a funeral once the death has been registered.

First, check whether the person had a will, a pre-paid funeral plan, or a record of their wishes before contacting a funeral director or making any arrangements.

These documents may be in the deceased person’s home, with relatives, a solicitor, or a bank.

If you do not know their wishes, ask family or friends, or get advice from the funeral director or person who will conduct the service.

Find advice about arranging a funeral (mygov.scot website).

Who a kinship carer is

A person is a kinship carer if:

• they’re a close family member, a close family friend, or someone who already has a relationship with the child
• the child is living with them because the child’s parents are unable to care for the child
• the child’s parents do not live in the same household as the carer and child
• they’re not looking after the child as part of a private care arrangement.

Types of kinship care

Informal kinship care 

Informal kinship care is where families make their own, independent arrangements for a child to live with close family members or friends. This is also known as a private care arrangement.

In these circumstances the child is not legally “looked after” by the council.

This arrangement would not be considered formal kinship care as our social work service was not involved in the arrangement and did not plan to remove the child from the care of their parents.

Formal kinship care 

Formal kinship care is where a child has a legal status as “looked after” and is placed with close family members or close family friends with the council involved.

A children's hearing or court may place children in formal kinship care.

We have duties and responsibilities for children in formal kinship care which are set out in law and government guidance (Scottish Government website). This includes assessing and reviewing potential kinship carers and their homes.

Family support

In circumstances where a birth parent lives with their child in a close family member or close friend’s household, or enters a shared care arrangement with that person, it is not considered a kinship placement. 

The parent will still have legal responsibility for the child.

Assessment of kinship carers

When a concern is raised about the care or protection of a child, this is investigated by our social work service.

Before we can arrange for a child to be cared for by a close family member or close family friend, we must assess if this placement meets the child’s needs.

This assessment will usually be completed by a social worker, who’ll:

• carry out police checks on every adult in the household
• check social work database systems and the health records of all potential carers
• visit the home to interview the proposed carer and make sure their home is suitable for the child's needs.

If all checks are satisfactory and we decide that it is not safe for a child to return to the care of their parents, we’ll complete a full kinship assessment within a 12-week period. This assessment will focus on strengths, vulnerabilities, and support needs.

Responsibilities of kinship carers

When a child is placed with a kinship carer, that carer has a responsibility to provide a safe and stable home environment which meets the child's needs.

Responsibilities include making sure the child attends school or nursery and receives medical and dental treatment.

We’ll assign the child a social worker who’ll see them regularly to get their views about their care and their future. The social worker may visit children at their home and in private.

The social worker will develop a care plan for the child and is responsible for making sure that the care plan progresses.

The social worker will make sure the carer has a copy of the care plan and that they understand the plan for the child. 

If a carer has any questions about this or their role in the child's care plan, the social worker should be able to answer them.

Kinship carers are expected to work with the council. This is usually through the child’s social worker, but sometimes by attending meetings with other professionals, such as health and education, to discuss the child.

These meetings are to share information and let everyone work together on the child's care plan.

As a kinship carer for the council, you’ll be allocated your own social worker to offer you support and any training that may be required. This will be a different social worker from the child.

Financial support for kinship carers

Financial support that we can provide depends on how you become a kinship carer and the child’s legal or care status.

Find out more about financial support for kinship carers.

Contact us

You can contact our social work services by:

More information

Get non-council advice and support for kinship carers from:

• Renfrewshire Carers Centre
• Kinship Care Advice Service for Scotland.

Kinship care is when a child is placed under the care of a close family member or a close family friend by the council, the children's hearing system, or the courts because their parents are unable to care for them.

In these circumstances, the child is defined as “looked after” by a council under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

Our policy is to always arrange for a child to be cared for by their close family members, if possible.

How to check if your project is permitted development

Check with us

You should always check with us if you need planning permission before moving forward with a project. It’s better to contact us before you’ve started the work than to learn that there’s a problem later on.

Get formal confirmation

We can give you advice, but it will not be formal confirmation.

It’s optional, but if you want formal and legally binding confirmation that planning permission is not needed for your development, you must apply for a certificate of lawfulness through ePlanning Scotland.

Apply on the ePlanning Scotland website.

Permitted development for domestic properties

‘Domestic properties’ are homes.

The Scottish Government has listed some examples of domestic building projects that may not need an application for planning permission if they meet the rules for being permitted development.

View a list of permitted development examples for domestic properties (Scottish Government website). 

The Scottish Government has a detailed guide on permitted development rights for householders.

View a guide on permitted development rights for householders (Scottish Government website).

Permitted development for non-domestic properties

‘Non-domestic properties’ are places that are not homes, such as shops, farms, or industrial sites.

The Scottish Government has listed some examples of non-domestic building projects that may not need an application for planning permission if they meet the rules for being permitted development.

View a list of permitted development examples for non-domestic properties (Scottish Government website).

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992 lists the full details on your permitted development rights, including for domestic and non-domestic properties.

View permitted development legislation (legislation.gov.uk).

When permitted development rights do not apply

Permitted development rights have been removed from certain properties, such as when:

• certain conditions were part of a previous planning permission (you should always check any previous consents before starting your work)
• the property is in a conservation area
• the building is listed.

Check our online planning map to see where permitted development rights have been removed. You can also see the locations of conservation areas and listed buildings.

View our online planning map.

Other types of planning consent

Even if you do not need planning permission, you may still need other types of planning ‘consent’ (approval) from us.

Listed buildings

You’ll need listed building consent for any work being done to the inside or outside of a listed building that affects the building’s special architectural or historic interest.

Check if you need listed building consent.

Advertisements

The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (Scotland) Regulations 1984 lists the types of advertisements that you can display without getting our consent – for example, deemed consent. You’ll need advertisement consent before displaying any other types of advertisement.

View planning rules for advertisements (legislation.gov.uk).

Apply on the ePlanning Scotland website.

Trees

You’ll need to get our consent for any work to a tree if the tree is:

• covered by a tree preservation order
• in a conservation area.

Check our online planning map to see where tree preservation orders and conservation areas are located in Renfrewshire. You can also see the locations of conservation areas and listed buildings.

View our online planning map.

Apply on the ePlanning Scotland website.

Even if the work to a tree does not need our consent, you should still get permission from the landowner if you do not own the tree.

Other types of consent from us

Separate from planning permission, you may need other types of consent (approval) from us for your project. Find out more about:

• building warrants
• road permissions.

It's important to note that planning permission does not give or authorise you any separate legal right to undertake the development. It's your responsibility to ensure that you're able to implement your development.

Some types of building work are known as ‘permitted development’, which means you do not need planning permission for them.