NatureScot InformedDECISION™ - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

All statutory casework should; all SSSI consents (emergency ones after the fact); and all pre-applications.

Fisheries derogation cases are not in scope. In line with our standing advice and guidance and if you have a query that doesn’t fall under the areas listed in this web page, then you may continue to email as before. 

No – please submit your application by email to the relevant NatureScot area – [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] We get very few applications from outside of Scotland so the platform will not be adapted for these exceptions to the rule.

NatureScot InformedDECISION™ web page.

If you want to ask NatureScot for advice on a development proposal before an application is made to a planning authority or other regulator, please submit a pre-application inquiry (this includes EIA screening and scoping requests).  If you are a regulator such as a planning authority, and you want to consult NatureScot on an application for permission that you have received, please submit a statutory consultation.

It would be really helpful to us if you’d put the name of the NatureScot case officer in the description field of your application. If you have any other unique details (eg your previous case reference or application ID) that will help us tie together the cases.

Put in the first start and the last end date, then describe the suspensions in the description box.

Please tick the "no" button when asked if you have an existing SSSI consent. Even though you do, you're applying for a new one. We will make improvements to this process in the coming year so it's clearer and so that extending an expiring consent is easier than applying for a new one.

Yes. It’s not exhaustive, but examples are on the SSSIs Consent web page.

We accept polygons, lines, and point-based shapefiles. We do not accept polygonZ files (3d). Check first that the zip file has: SHP – geometry; SHX – index; DBF - database attributes; PRJ - co-ordinates; CPG - character coding; SBN/SBX - spatial index; HTML – metadata.

It doesn’t have to be absolutely precise, but it shouldn’t be like sticking a plaster over the map. 

You will be unlikely to be able to just draw a line – the minimum is three points. But if for some reason you manage it, you’ll be filtered out and told you don’t have to consult us. Before you hit the submit button you can navigate back to the map to alter it. If you realise after you’ve submitted, you can contact us using the obvious button.

In addition to all the designations we’re responsible for (SSSI, SAC, SPA, Ramsar, NSA, World Heritage Sites), we also include Wild Land, Carbon Rich soils (class 1 and 2), Oceanic Bryophytes (watercourse categories A/B/D), GCR sites (Geological Conservation Review). 

Paper documents cannot be accepted. You will need to scan document(s) for submission. InformedDECISION™ offers the opportunity to draw on a map for the location of your proposal. It can be a bit fiddly on a mobile phone but still works okay.

Yes, you will be sent a link that you can use to return to their application. You will be asked to provide a 4-digit number that makes the link sent to you unique. 

If you wish to save and return multiple times, you must choose a new 4-digit number each time.

You can save and return later at any point up to, but not including, the submit button. Once you have submitted, you can't return to your application. If you have further information to add, please submit a helpdesk request (green button in the bottom right of the web appliaction) with your case ID and we will upload the additional information. If you want to recall/delete your application, please do likewise.

If you click 'save and return' you are asked for a four-digit pin code of your choice. You can return to your application up to 90 days after doing this.

If you are midway through an application and leave it open on your webpage (and don't turn your computer off), the platform will remember where you are in the workflow for 24 hours. After that, you'll have to restart. If you close the webpage/turn off your computer you'll have to restart.

You can click the “contact NatureScot” button that appears on the filtered-out message screen. This saves all your information and pushes the case into our triage system.

We have a triage system (one for South, one for West Central, and the three northern areas share one). This is staffed by experienced case officers (we call them triage officers for this part of the process) who will review your case and pass it to the relevant case officer, if we deem that we need to provide a bespoke response. They may also review the case and ascertain that it does not need a bespoke response. In those cases you will get one of a set of no-comment responses

Please contact us through the Helpdesk – the green button that floats in the bottom right of InformedDECISION. We will arrange for information to be passed on to the case officer, or arrange for your application be deleted, as appropriate

Please contact us through the Helpdesk – the green button that floats in the bottom right of InformedDECISION. You can upload documents there and they will be passed on to the case officer. Please state your InformedDECISION reference number and/or your own reference number, if that's already been provided

This is to do with your email settings – you should add the emails to your “safe sender” list, and the pictures will be downloaded automatically.

You’ll have a case officer/their email copied into the response we give – please contact them by email directly. They can upload your notification within the in-house side of InformedDECISION™ so it is associated with the case.

Use the helpdesk app from the platform.  It is operated by NatureScot colleagues who can contact Informed Solutions if there are any technical difficulties that we cannot resolve.

Our cyber security requirements are such that anyone using a browser from 2018 or before won't be able to use the platform. Please get in touch through the helpdesk (if available to you), or email [email protected].

All information in InformedDECISION™ is held securely and processed only by those with a need to handle it for the purposes of giving advice on pre-application and statutory consultations, and for SSSI Consents. We would not release information to the public unless it was requested under Freedom of Information request, or other such legal instrument. We have a Data Protection Impact Assessment and Privacy Impact Assessment that are available upon request - email: [email protected].

There were a pair of innovation funds run by Scottish Government. This platform was a proposal in the first (GovTech), which was later taken over by CivTech. This project went through an initial scoping phase with 6 contractors, later whittled down to two, then to one. That one is Informed Solutions.

It’s a brand name from the contractors, Informed Solutions, and is a trademark. That’s why it’s always written as one word with the latter part in capitals.  

Yes.  South Operations were the pilot area, with five local authorities (Fife, East Lothian, Falkirk, Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway Councils), Scottish Forestry’s South Conservancy, two consultancies; and all SSSI owner/occupiers in the area. The pilot initially ran for 4 months, then was analysed. The result of that analysis eventually made it into a business case, which was approved by our Senior Leadership Team. At go-live, there was 18 months of pilot experience.

Three types of consultations were covered:

• Statutory consultations from Local Authorities and Scottish Forestry South Conservancy
• SSSI Consents
• Pre-application consultations from selected consultancies and the above local authorities 

The latest updates are shown at the bottom of the NatureScot's InformedDECISION page.

In 2026 we are working direct connections with the portals for Energy Consents Unit, Marine Directorate’s Licencing Operations Team, Scottish Forestry, and SEPA. We aim to integrate further with Local Planning Authority portals. We will be incorporating the Local Development Plan case type into the platform.

Details of new functionality are shown in the relevant section on this page. Any suggestions for improvement are welcome and can be submitted via the feedback forms, which are embedded in the platform (top of the page).