Freedom of Information Request - Clashindarroch II wind farm
Date: 06 November 2025
Our ref: SIR182130/A5554146
Information Request – Clashindarroch II wind farm
Your Request
1. Confirm if NatureScot has signed off on the final versions of the Species Protection Plan and Habitat Protection Plan for the Clashindarroch 2 wind farm;
2. Confirm whether the ecological clerk of works of the developer (Vattenfall) has provided NatureScot with any pre-felling surveys, and whether they have identified any wildcat resting places (per page 11 and para 2.10.5 of the draft Species Protection Plan, copy attached, being the draft version provided by NatureScot to our clients under FOI); and
3. Provide copies of any EPS derogation licences issued by NatureScot to disturb or destroy wildcats and their habitats within Clashindarroch Forest.
Our Response
We have discussed your information request with our Operations, Biodiversity and Geodiversity and Licensing Teams and have responded to each part of your request as follows
1. Confirm if NatureScot has signed off on the final versions of the Species Protection Plan and Habitat Protection Plan for the Clashindarroch 2 wind farm
We responded to Aberdeenshire Council’s consultations to discharge conditions 22 (Species Protection Plan, (SPP)) and 20 (Habitat Management Plan (HMP)) on 7th November 2024 and 20th February 2025 respectively indicating that we were satisfied that these plans were sufficient in terms of the protection they could offer wildcats.
We provided redacted copies of these plans [REDACTED] on 13th January (SPP) and 12th February 2025 (HMP). These plans were provided to NatureScot as ‘drafts’ which is standard procedure as we would only expect plans to be marked ‘final’, following discharge by the Local Authority dealing with the application. We have had no subsequent correspondence from Aberdeenshire Council on this matter, our assumption being that the Local Authority have finalised these plans in correspondence with Vattenfall.
2. Confirm whether the ecological clerk of works of the developer (Vattenfall) has provided NatureScot with any pre-felling surveys, and whether they have identified any wildcat resting places (per page 11 and para 2.10.5 of the draft Species Protection Plan, copy attached [REDACTED]
We have not been provided with any pre-felling surveys.
3. Provide copies of any EPS derogation licences issued by NatureScot to disturb or destroy wildcats and their habitats within Clashindarroch Forest
We have no record of a licence, or an application for one, for the disturbance of wildcat or the destruction of their resting places within Clashindarroch Forest specifically.
Forestry & Land Scotland do hold a licence for the purpose of science and research which includes the disturbance of wildcat on the National Forest Estate in Scotland (which will include Clashindarroch). However, this licence would not cover them for the disturbance of wildcat from logging operations nor the destruction of resting places.
If [REDACTED] is concerned that a wildlife crime is being committed, they should contact Police Scotland and ask to speak to the Wildlife Crime Officer.
As we do not hold the information for points 2 & 3 of your request we must apply, under the EIRS, the exemption 10(4)(a) (Information not held) to these parts of your request.
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
