Freedom of Information Request - A832 Dundonnell Road Closure
Date: 04 November 2025
Our ref: SIR181738/A5539828
Information Request – A832 Dundonnell Road Closure
Your Request
1. Surveys, Licences and Scoping: Copies of any surveys, licences, or scoping documents relating to the A832 Dundonnell culvert replacement and road closure, including species surveys and licence reference numbers.
2. EPS Licensing and Test 2: Copies of any European Protected Species licence applications, assessments, or correspondence relating to this project, particularly any consideration of the “no satisfactory alternative” test.
3. Survey Information and Work Sequencing: Copies of any documents recording survey information relevant to the choice of which carriageway side works would begin on.
4. Timing and Methods: Any documents, guidance, or correspondence relating to seasonal timing restrictions, working methods, or environmental controls for this project.
5. Marine Protected Area Impacts: Copies of any impact assessments or documents relating to potential effects on Little Loch Broom, Wester Ross MPA, designated Shellfish Waters, or SAC features including harbour porpoise.
6. Cumulative Impacts: Any correspondence or documents relating to cumulative impacts, including communications with SEPA or Marine Scotland concerning sedimentation or aquaculture.
7. EPS Licences Issued: Copies of any European Protected Species licences issued for this project that are held by NatureScot, and any related correspondence with other regulators.
8. Aarhus/EIR Guidance: Any internal guidance or correspondence held by NatureScot referring to EIR(S) 2004 or Aarhus Convention obligations in relation to this project.
9. Conditions for Works: Any recorded information setting out conditions or requirements that must be met before A832 works may proceed (e.g. licence conditions, ecological constraints, mitigation requirements).
Our Response
We have discussed your request with our Marine, Operations and Licensing Teams, and the information that meets the terms of your request, is attached separately.
You should be aware that NatureScot is not the licensing authority for the marine element of this development that lies with Scottish Governments Marine Directorate.
A link to an EPS licence applied for and granted in 2023 for the geophysical survey of the entire route is available from the Scottish Government website.
If you want to know more about the Western Isles to Mainland interconnection that the possible road closure relates to, the application and all the documents relating to that application including variations is also available from the Scottish Government website.
We also do not hold any information relating to point 8 of your request.
Whilst we always try to provide all the information that has been requested, we have redacted parts of the information for the following reasons:
Personal Data – We have removed all personal data including names, email addresses and phone numbers from the information being released to you, and have applied, under the EIRs the exemption 11(2) (Personal Data) to this information as to release this information in response to your request could breach the Data Protection Act 2018.
Sensitive Species Data – We have removed some sensitive species data relating to both mammals and birds. To release this information into the public domain could lead to disturbance of those species, we have therefore withheld this information under 10(5)(g) (Protection of the environment)
How We Handled Your Request
We believe you have asked for environmental information as defined in the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’), so we are dealing with your request under those regulations. To be able to use the EIRs, we must apply an exemption under section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (‘FOISA’). The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance recommends that public authorities apply this exemption to environmental information and handle request under the EIRs.
If you would like to find out more about the access to information legislation, there is a guidance booklet available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website.
Review and Appeal
I hope this information meets your requirements, but if you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to your information request, please write to us within 40 working days explaining your concerns. You can contact us at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at [email protected]. We will carry out a review of our response and contact you with our findings within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
Document downloads
Due to file size the attached information, referenced above, is available on request by contacting the FOI team at [email protected]. Please reference the case number (starting with SIR).
