Freedom of Information Request - Closure of and major works on A832 along Dundonnell woods SSSI
Date: 14 October 2025
Our ref: SIR181736/A5486909
Information Request – Closure of and major works on A832 along Dundonnell woods SSSI
Your Request
Has SSE or its contractor applied for licences to work along and within the SSSI. Has (have) licence(s) been issued and if so under what conditions.
Our Response
Within your request you have referred to “licences” which we have taken as being applications for SSSI consent under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.
The legislation underpinning SSSIs requires that NatureScot identifies a list of ‘Operations Requiring Consent’ for all SSSIs. Before work takes place against any activity listed on the ORC list, whoever is undertaking that work must seek permission from NatureScot, and we must issue consent for that activity before it starts. SSSI consent can only be granted where it can be concluded that activities will not adversely affect the protected habitats and species for which the SSSI is designated, and NatureScot will sometimes issue SSSI consent subject to conditions to safeguard SSSI features (e.g., restrictions to timing of works).
Having discussed your request with the Operations Team who deal with Dundonnell Woods SSSI and An Teallach SSSI, they have confirmed that an application for SSSI consent has been received from Contractors working on behalf of SSEN in relation to the proposed culvert replacement works.
However, as of the 16 September, which was the date NatureScot received your request, NatureScot has not yet issued consent for any activity, adjacent to or within, Dundonnell Wood SSSI and An Teallach SSSI which means that we cannot provide you with information relating to any SSSI consent conditions.
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
