Freedom of Information Request - Stromar Windfarm Onshore Consultation and Landfall Review
Date: 11 July 2025
Our ref: SIR180585/A5241415
Information Request – Stromar Windfarm Onshore Consultation and Landfall Review
Your Request
1. Any internal documentation or correspondence between NatureScot and Stromar (or their representatives) regarding the selection or environmental assessment of the Western Landfall (near Fluke Peel) since 2023.
2. Any scoping responses, draft responses, or briefing notes relating to Stromar’s landfall site options, including Sandhaven Harbour and the Western Landfall.
3. Records of discussion or internal decision-making regarding the involvement or exclusion of RSPB Scotland in onshore scoping consultation.
4. Any comment or review NatureScot made regarding the need for a Scoping Addendum in light of the shift to the Western Landfall.
Our Response
Following a search of the information we hold our response is below. To note, the “Western Landfall (near Fluke Peel)” is not a term that NatureScot have used, instead referring to this location as the “Rosehearty” or “East of Rosehearty” landfall.
- Any internal documentation or correspondence between NatureScot and Stromar (or their representatives) regarding the selection or environmental assessment of the Western Landfall (near Fluke Peel) since 2023.
- Any scoping responses, draft responses, or briefing notes relating to Stromar’s landfall site options, including Sandhaven Harbour and the Western Landfall.
The relevant information is attached separately.
We have marked out (redacted) commercially sensitive information under EIRs Regulation 10(5)(e) (Confidentiality of commercial information). There is a strong public interest in openness and transparency. However, on balance, commercial interests should not unduly prejudiced by the release of commercially sensitive information. Releasing detailed information about landfill options into the public domain at this stage in the planning process could undermine the site selection process and ongoing commercial negotiations between the developer (Stromar) and the landowner. Typically, site selection optioneering would be complete by the time the application is submitted and will therefore be publicly available within the planning application documentation.
We have redacted personal data in the documents provided. Releasing personal data into the public domain in response to an access to information request would breach the Data Protection Act 2018. We are therefore withholding the information under EIRs Regulation 11(2) (Personal data). Information outwith the scope of your request has also been redacted or removed.
- Records of discussion or internal decision-making regarding the involvement or exclusion of RSPB Scotland in onshore scoping consultation.
We are not responsible for the scoping consultations; this lies with the regulator (Aberdeenshire Council for the onshore scoping or Marine Directorate for the offshore scoping). Therefore, we have no records of discussion or information on the decision-making regarding the involvement of RSPB Scotland.
- Any comment or review NatureScot made regarding the need for a Scoping Addendum in light of the shift to the Western Landfall.
We have not made any comments on whether a Scoping Addendum is required, as the responsibility for this lies with the regulators (as above) and is not a statutory requirement. For information, the landfall proposal remains within the original red line boundary presented during both the onshore and offshore scoping consultations.
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 accessibility issues 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).
