Freedom of Information Request - Muir Mhor Offshore Wind Farm (Onshore Scoping Consultation)
Date: 20 November 2025
Our ref: SIR182164/A5576440
Information Request – Muir Mhor Offshore Wind Farm (Onshore Scoping Consultation)
Your Request & Our Response
1. Whether NatureScot was formally consulted by Aberdeenshire Council in relation go the onshore aspects of the Muir Mhor Offshore Wind Farm, including the landfill, cable route, and onshore substation.
Aberdeenshire Council consulted us on 13 July 2023 on the scoping report and 8 January 2025 on the planning permission application.
2. The dates on which the scoping report request was received, acknowledged and responded to.
Scoping request received on the 13 July 2023 and responded to on the 9 August 2023
3. Any correspondence between NatureScot and Aberdeenshire Council concerning the onshore scoping, including any extension requests, deadline adjustments, or agreement to extensions.
Requested an extension from Aberdeenshire Council on the 26 July 2023. No response or agreement received for this request. We provided our response on the 9 August 2023.
4. Whether NatureScot provided a substantive response to the consultation and, if so, the date it was sent and a copy of the response.
A scoping response was provided on the 9 August 2023 and a planning permission response was provided on the 24 January 2025.
5. If no response was issued, the reasons recorded (e.g., timing, duplication with marine consultation, or internal resourcing.
A response was issued.
6. Whether NatureScot provided any subsequent advice on the onshore elements outside the formal scoping stage, and copies of that correspondence.
We responded to the planning permission application as noted above.
A copy of the information being released to you is attached separately to this formal response.
We have redacted personal data, from this information, as releasing this information would breach the Data Protection Act 2018, we have applied the exemption 11(2) (Personal Data) under the EIRs to do so.
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).
