Outcomes

National Scenic Areas: Scottish Natural Heritage's Advice to Government

Summary

1. This report presents SNH’s advice, in response to a request from Government, to review the National Scenic Area (NSA) designation. It builds on a process of discussion and research, and consultation on our initial proposals. The main points of our advice to Government are as follows.

• The priority for action should be to ensure that measures are put in place which enable the effective safeguarding and enhancement of the existing series of 40 NSAs before any systematic effort is made to identify potential new NSAs.
• We considered the basis of the NSA designation and propose that it should continue to be a scenic designation based on preferences for natural beauty and amenity, and that it should serve as an accolade designation but, if the series is to expand, it should be more comprehensive in its recognition of the diversity of Scotland’s best scenery than the present suite of 40 areas.
• To enhance effectiveness of the designation we propose:
  • a new statutory base for NSAs, which defines their purpose;
  • enhanced duties lying with local authorities in particular, but with a new responsibility on all public bodies and others to safeguard the NSA;
  • a requirement for local authorities to produce, implement and review a management strategy;
  • changes to some of the regulatory provisions under the Town & Country Planning system;
  • the revision of mainstream land-management support schemes to ensure that they contribute to NSA objectives, and the provision of additional incentives for management in recognition of the national status of NSAs;
  • clearer and fuller policy guidance issued by the Government and SNH; and
  • greater effort to increase awareness, understanding and responsibility for NSAs amongst the local communities within these areas, and by the general public.

2. To support these measures we consider that additional national funding should be provided in recognition of the national interest in the protection of NSAs. SNH proposes to fund the preparation of management strategies, mainly through the employment of NSA officers on a time-limited basis. New sources of funding should be identified to supplement existing expenditure in each area on land management support.

3. If the existing suite of NSAs is to be expanded, we consider that the search and selection for any new areas should be led by a technical group, whose role will be to advise SNH. Particular tasks for this group include refining a method of search for new NSAs, identifying an initial sift of candidate areas, ensuring wide consultation and presenting recommendations to SNH. New NSAs should be validated through the Scottish Executive or Parliament.

4. Our advice proposes that, within any National Parks, NSAs should be de-designated to reduce the potential confusion and complexity of overlapping designations. However, we consider that such former NSAs should still be regarded as representing part of the best of Scotland’s scenery, and this must be recognised in the safeguards and measures applying to them. Like National Parks, NSAs should be considered as a natural heritage designation of the highest national standing.

5. SNH considers that a designation approach to scenery at the regional or local level is appropriate, alongside the use of landscape character assessments, to assist in guiding new development. Further advice should be prepared on the identification and selection of areas. This guidance should encourage local authorities to identify only one sub-national tier of scenic designation, and that it should be titled Local Scenic Area.