The National Scenic Areas (Scotland) Regulations 2008

Explanatory Note

(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.