Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026

Prospective

3 Aims of National Parks S

(1) The National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 is modified as follows.

(2) For section 1 (the National Park aims), substitute—

“1 The National Park aims

(1) In this Act, references to the National Park aims are to the following aims in relation to the area of a National Park—

(a) to conserve and enhance the area’s natural and cultural heritage,

(b) to promote sustainable management and use of the area’s natural resources,

(c) to promote public understanding and enjoyment of the area’s natural and cultural heritage, and

(d) to promote sustainable economic, social and cultural development of the area’s communities.

(2) Without limit to the generality of subsection (1), those aims include—

(a) restoring and regenerating biodiversity in the area,

(b) mitigating and adapting to climate change,

(c) supporting access to and within the area,

(d) encouraging recreation in the area,

(e) encouraging sustainable and regenerative agriculture,

(f) promoting sustainable tourism and visitor management, and

(g) promoting sustainable economic growth and development activity which—

(i) improves the health and wellbeing of individuals who visit, live and work in the area, and

(ii) supports the prosperity of communities in the area, including in relation to the provision of housing for people to live and work in the area.

(3) The Scottish Ministers, a National Park authority, a local authority and any other public body or office-holder must, in exercising functions so far as affecting a National Park (and only in relation to functions exercisable in or as regards Scotland which do not relate to reserved matters), have regard to the National Park aims set out in subsection (1).

(4) For the purposes of this section, a reference to any other public body or office-holder is a reference to any other—

(a) Scottish public authority, and

(b) so far as not falling within paragraph (a), cross-border public authority (but only in relation to functions exercisable in or as regards Scotland which do not relate to reserved matters).”.

(3) In section 9(6) (general purpose and functions of National Park authority), for “1(a)” in each place it occurs substitute “1(1)(a)”.

(4) In section 31(1) (application in relation to marine areas), for “1(d)” substitute “1(1)(d)”.

(5) In paragraph 3 of schedule 3, for “special qualities of the National Park” substitute “National Park area’s natural and cultural heritage”.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 3 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 59(2)