Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026

Prospective

15 Deer management plans S

For section 6A of the 1996 Act substitute—

“6A Deer management plans

(1) If section 6ZA or 6ZB applies, SNH may give notice to the relevant owners and occupiers of a particular area of land requiring those owners or occupiers to prepare and submit a deer management plan to SNH.

(2) A deer management plan is a plan relating to the management of deer on a particular area of land that sets out—

(a) the measures that the relevant owners and occupiers of the land consider should be taken in relation to the management of deer on the land,

(b) the time limit for taking those measures,

(c) who is to take those measures, and

(d) any other matter which appears to SNH to be necessary in the circumstances.

(3) A notice under subsection (1) must set out—

(a) why SNH is satisfied that a deer management plan is required, and

(b) any aim or outcome that it believes it is necessary for the plan to achieve.

(4) A deer management plan is to be submitted to SNH—

(a) by such date, which must not be earlier than 3 months after the date on which notice under subsection (1) was given, as SNH specifies in the notice, or

(b) by such later date as SNH may specify.

(5) But a deer management plan may be amended until SNH decides to approve or reject it.

(6) SNH may approve a deer management plan (with or without modifications) or reject it.

(7) Before approving a deer management plan with modifications, SNH must consult the relevant owners and occupiers on the proposed modifications.

(8) In this section and section 7, in relation to an area of land, a reference to the “relevant owners and occupiers” is a reference to any owner or occupier of land that SNH considers to have such sufficient interest in, or control over the use of, the land as to necessitate involvement in deer management measures.”.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 15 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 59(2)