2008 No. 202
COUNTRYSIDE

The National Scenic Areas (Scotland) Regulations 2008

Made
Laid before the Scottish Parliament
Coming into force

The Scottish Ministers make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by–

  1. (a)
    section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 19721;
  2. (b)
    sections 37(2)(c) and 60 of the Electricity Act 19892; and
  3. (c)
    section 40 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 19973,

and all other powers enabling them to do so.

Citation, commencement and extent1.

(1)

These Regulations may be cited as the National Scenic Areas (Scotland) Regulations 2008 and come into force on 20th June 2008.

(2)

These Regulations extend to Scotland only.

The Harbours Act 19642.

In paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Harbours Act 19644, in the definition of “sensitive area”, in paragraph (k), for “as a national scenic area under section 262C of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972” substitute “an area defined as a national scenic area in Part II of “Scotland’s Scenic Heritage” published by the Countryside Commission for Scotland on 26th April 1978”5.

The Public Gas Transporter Pipe-line Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 19993.

In regulation 2(1) of the Public Gas Transporter Pipe-line Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 19996, in the definition of “sensitive area”, in paragraph (j), for “as a National Scenic Area by a direction made by the Secretary of State under section 262C of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972” substitute “an area defined as a National Scenic Area in Part II of “Scotland’s Scenic Heritage” published by the Countryside Commission for Scotland on 26th April 1978”.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 19994.

(1)

The Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 19997 are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2)

In regulation 2(1), in the definition of “sensitive area”, for paragraph (f) substitute–

“(f)

an area defined as a National Scenic Area in Part II of “Scotland’s Scenic Heritage” published by the Countryside Commission for Scotland on 26th April 1978”.

(3)

In regulation 55(a), in the definition of “sensitive area”, for paragraph (d) substitute–

“(d)

an area defined as a National Scenic Area in Part II of “Scotland’s Scenic Heritage” published by the Countryside Commission for Scotland on 26th April 1978”.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 19995.

In paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 19998, in the definition of “sensitive area”, for paragraph (e) substitute–

“(e)

an area defined as a National Scenic Area in Part II of “Scotland’s Scenic Heritage” published by the Countryside Commission for Scotland on 26th April 1978”.

The Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 20006.

In Schedule 2 to the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 20009, in the definition of “sensitive area”, in paragraph (v), for “as a National Scenic Area by a direction made by the Secretary of State under section 262C of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972” substitute “an area defined as a National Scenic Area in Part II of “Scotland’s Scenic Heritage” published by the Countryside Commission for Scotland on 26th April 1978”.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 20067.

In regulation 5(3) of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 200610, for paragraph (f) substitute–

“(f)

an area defined as a National Scenic Area in Part II of “Scotland’s Scenic Heritage” published by the Countryside Commission for Scotland on 26th April 1978”.

The Overhead Lines (Exemption) Regulations 19908.

In regulation 3(2) of the Overhead Lines (Exemption) Regulations 199011, for the definition of “National Scenic Area” substitute–

““National Scenic Area” means an area defined as a national scenic area in Part II of “Scotland’s Scenic Heritage” published by the Countryside Commission for Scotland on 26th April 1978”.

MICHAEL W RUSSELL
Authorised to sign by the Scottish Ministers

St Andrew’s House,

Edinburgh

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend:

(a)

legislation which makes provision implementing Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27th June 1985 (as amended by Council Directives 97/11/EC and 2003/35/EC) on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (“the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive”); and

(b)

the Overhead Lines (Exemption) Regulations 1990 (“the 1990 Regulations”).

The legislation referred to at regulations 2 to 7 of these Regulations implements Articles 2 and 4.3 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive. The legislation provides that where a project takes place in a sensitive area, including a national scenic area, and the project is likely to have significant effects on the environment, an environmental impact assessment is required.

Regulations 2 to 7 amend, within that legislation, the definition of “sensitive area” by substituting a description of “national scenic area” which refers to Part II of “Scotland’s Scenic Heritage” published by the Countryside Commission for Scotland on 26th April 1978.

The 1990 Regulations make provision for cases where the consent of the Secretary of State is not required under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 to the installation or keeping installed of an electric line above ground. The cases are subject in certain circumstances to limitations or restrictions, including where the electric line or part of it is within a national scenic area.

Regulation 8 of these Regulations amends the definition of “national scenic area” in the 1990 Regulations by substituting a reference to Part II of “Scotland’s Scenic Heritage” published by the Countryside Commission for Scotland on 26th April 1978.

No Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared for this instrument as it has no impact on the cost of business.