The parallel roads of Lochaber Site of Special Scientific Interest Nature Conservation Order 2025

Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004

The Parallel Roads of Lochaber Site of Special Scientific Interest Nature Conservation Order 2025

The Scottish Ministers, having consulted Scottish Natural Heritage (operating as “NatureScot”) and having had regard to NatureScot’s representations, hereby give notice under paragraph 4 of schedule 2 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (“the 2004 Act”), that the Parallel Roads of Lochaber Site of Special Scientific Interest Nature Conservation Order 2025 (“the Order”) was made on 30 September 2025 by the Scottish Ministers, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by section 23 of the 2004 Act.

The Order applies to part of the Achnabobane area within the Parallel Roads of Lochaber Site of Special Scientific Interest as delineated on the map found here: http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781806432776/documents.

The Order specifies that the following are prohibited operations within the areas covered by the Order:

(a) dumping, spreading or discharge of any materials,

(b) the use of mechanical equipment to dig into or move material including sand and gravel, topsoil or sub-soil,

(c) extraction of minerals including sand and gravel, topsoil or sub-soil using either mechanical or manual means,

(d) modification of natural features,

(e) modification or creation of manufactured features including—

(i) construction, removal or destruction of tracks, walls, fences, hardstands, banks, ditches or other earthworks, or the laying, maintenance or removal of pipelines and cables, above or below ground,

(ii) the creation or modification of drainage channels using either mechanical or manual means,

(iii) the placement, building, or removal of premises (whether temporary or permanent), including—

(aa) buildings including sheds and cabins,

(bb) tents or other moveable structures including caravans, marquees and portable toilets,

(f) planting of trees or shrubs,

(g) felling, which includes any intentional killing of trees,

(h) forestry projects, including deforestation, which would require consent from the Scottish Ministers under the Forestry (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017, or

(i) the introduction or release into the area (including in containment) of any species of animal, plant or seed not present in the area on or before the date on which the Order comes into force.

Any person who breaches, or causes or permits another person to breach, the Order by carrying out a prohibited operation is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £40,000 or if convicted on indictment liable to an unlimited fine.

The Order sets out exceptions to the prohibited operations to allow operations which have been approved or are otherwise permitted through other legislative processes, such as under the:

• Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997
• Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004
• Foresty and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018
• Forestry (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2019

The Order takes effect from 23 October 2025.

The Order is available online at: http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781806432776/documents

A copy of it may also be inspected free of charge at all reasonable hours at The Highland Council, Charles Kennedy Building, Achintore Road, Fort William, PH33 6RQ and a copy of it may be obtained at that address.

Any person who wishes to make representations with respect to the Order may, within 3 months from the date of this notice, do so by writing to Biodiversity Team, Natural Resources Division, Scottish Government, 3-H South, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ or to biodiversity@gov.scot

If any representation to the Order is made during the period specified in the notice and is not withdrawn, the Scottish Ministers must either cause a local inquiry to be held, or give the person who made the representation an opportunity of being heard by a person appointed by the Scottish Ministers for the purpose, before deciding either to confirm the Order, with or without modifications, or not to confirm the Order.

Environment and Forestry Directorate, Scottish Government