Sites of special scientific interest and planning applications: FOI release

A list of all Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) that have been damaged or destroyed in Scotland due to successful planning applications between January 01 2012 and December 31 2017.

1. A copy of some of the information you requested is below at Annex B.  As you will see this does not cover the full period you have requested and is not specific to planning application. This was provided as part of a response to parliamentary question S4W-22047. Whilst we do strive to provide the information requested, on this occasion we can’t but I do hope this is of some help to you.
2. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. Therefore we are refusing your request under the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs.  The reasons why that exception applies are explained below.

However, you may wish to contact Scottish Natural Heritage at foi@nature.scot to see if they can provide further information.

REASONS FOR NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION

The Scottish Government does not have the information.

Under the terms of the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs (information not held), the Scottish Government is not required to provide information which it does not have. The Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested because Scottish Government does not hold the information you are looking for.

This exception is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exception. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exception.  While we recognise that there may be some public interest in information about SSSIs, clearly we cannot provide information which we do not hold.