OpenLegislation

The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 in Scotland

S.I. 2017/1012 · Made 30 October 2017 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 22 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 16 July 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
reg. 85B headingwords insertedLevelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 Sch. 9 para. 4(6)(a)
reg. 85B(1)(a)words insertedLevelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 Sch. 9 para. 4(6)(b)
reg. 75 headingwords insertedLevelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 Sch. 9 para. 4(2)(a)
reg. 75words insertedLevelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 Sch. 9 para. 4(2)(b)
reg. 76 headingwords insertedLevelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 Sch. 9 para. 4(3)(a)
reg. 76(1)words insertedLevelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 Sch. 9 para. 4(3)(b)
reg. 76(6)words insertedLevelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 Sch. 9 para. 4(3)(c)
reg. 77 headingwords insertedLevelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 Sch. 9 para. 4(4)
reg. 78 headingwords insertedLevelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 Sch. 9 para. 4(5)(a)
reg. 78(3)(b)words insertedLevelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 Sch. 9 para. 4(5)(b)
reg. 111(2)(c)word substitutedLevelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 Sch. 8 para. 40(3)(b)
reg. 75(2)words insertedPlanning and Infrastructure Act 2025 Sch. 5 para. 14(2)
reg. 108(6)(a)words omitted in earlier amending provision 2023 c. 55, Sch 8 para 39(6)(a)Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 11(6)
reg. 111(1)words omitted in earlier amending provision 2023 c. 55, Sch. 8 para. 40(2)(a)Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 11(7)(a)
reg. 111(1)words substitutedPlanning and Infrastructure Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 12(2)(a)
reg. 111(1)words insertedPlanning and Infrastructure Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 12(2)(b)
reg. 111(1)words insertedPlanning and Infrastructure Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 12(3)(a)
reg. 111(1)words insertedPlanning and Infrastructure Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 12(3)(b)
reg. 111(1)words insertedPlanning and Infrastructure Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 12(3)(c)
reg. 111(2)(aa)omitted in earlier amending provision 2023 c. 55, Sch. 8 para. 39(3)(a)Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 11(7)(b)
reg. 111(2)(c)words insertedPlanning and Infrastructure Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 12(4)(a)
reg. 111(2)(ca)-(cc)insertedPlanning and Infrastructure Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 12(4)(b)

Wildlife

Countryside

Made 30th October 2017

Laid before Parliament 31st October 2017

Laid before the National Assembly for Wales 31st October 2017

Coming into force 30th November 2017

M1M2M3The Secretary of State is designated for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 in relation to the environment, and the Welsh Ministers are designated for those purposes in relation to the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora.

M4M5The Secretary of State and the Welsh Ministers make these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred on them by section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 and paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 to that Act , and by section 307(3) and (5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 .

These Regulations make provision for a purpose mentioned in section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 and it appears to the Secretary of State and to the Welsh Ministers that it is expedient for any reference in these Regulations to an Annex to Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora M6 to be construed as a reference to that Annex as amended from time to time.C1

Annotations to the whole text

Marginal citations

M1

S.I. 2008/301.

M2

1972 c. 68. Section 2(2) was amended by the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (c. 51), section 27(1); and the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 (c. 7), Part 1 of the Schedule.

M3

S.I. 2002/248. The designation is subject to the exceptions set out in Schedule 2 to that Order. The functions conferred on the National Assembly for Wales by means of that Order are now exercisable by the Welsh Ministers, by virtue of paragraph 30 of Schedule 11 to the Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32).

M4

Paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 was inserted by the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006, section 28. It was amended by the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008, Part 1 of the Schedule, and by S.I. 2007/1388.

M5

2003 c. 44. Section 307(3) and (5) was amended by S.I. 2011/1043.

M6

OJ No. L 206, 22.7.1992, p.7, as last amended by Council Directive 2013/17/EU (OJ No. L 158, 10.6.2013, p.193).

Modifications

C1

Regulations: power to amend conferred (24.1.2022) by Environment Act 2021 (c. 30), ss. 112, 147(3) (with s. 144); S.I. 2022/48, reg. 2(p)

Contents

  1. Part 1: Introductory and General Provisions
  2. 1Citation and commencement
  3. 2Extent
  4. 3Interpretation
  5. 5Nature conservation bodies
  6. 7Competent authorities
  7. 8European sites and European marine sites
  8. 9Duties relating to compliance with the Directives
  9. 10Duties in relation to wild bird habitat
  10. Part 2: Conservation of Natural Habitats and Habitats of Species
  11. 12Duty to designate special areas of conservation
  12. 13Priorities for designating special areas of conservation
  13. 14Consultation as to inclusion of site omitted from the list Repealed
  14. 15Classification of sites as special protection areas
  15. 16Notification of a proposal to classify a special protection area
  16. 17Register of European sites
  17. 18Notification of changes to the register
  18. 19Notice to landowners and other bodies
  19. 20Management agreements
  20. 21Existing agreements
  21. 22Certain payments under management agreements
  22. 23Notification of potentially damaging operations
  23. 24Assessment of implications for European sites and certain Ramsar sites
  24. 25Sites of special scientific interest which become European sites or Ramsar sites: duty to review
  25. 26Farm capital grants
  26. 27Power to make special nature conservation order
  27. 28Restriction on carrying out operations specified in order
  28. 29Assessment of implications for European sites after service of stop notice
  29. 30Compensation for effect of stop notice
  30. 31Restoration orders
  31. 32Power to make byelaws
  32. 33Byelaws: supplementary provisions
  33. 34Compensation for effect of byelaws
  34. 35Continuation in force of existing byelaws
  35. 36Powers of compulsory acquisition
  36. 37Marking of site and advice by nature conservation bodies
  37. 38Management scheme for European marine site
  38. 39Direction to establish or amend management scheme
  39. 40European marine sites: byelaws and orders
  40. Nature conservation policy in planning contexts
  41. 41Nature conservation policy in planning contexts
  42. Protection of animals
  43. 42European protected species of animals
  44. 43Protection of certain wild animals: offences
  45. 45Prohibition of certain methods of capturing or killing wild animals
  46. Protection of plants
  47. 46European protected species of plants
  48. 47Protection of certain wild plants: offences
  49. Interpretation of Part 3
  50. Surveillance and monitoring
  51. 50Surveillance of conservation status of habitats and species
  52. 51Protection of certain animals and plants from exploitation
  53. 52Monitoring of incidental capture and killing
  54. 53Protection from incidental capture and killing
  55. Introduction of new species
  56. 54Introduction of new species from ships
  57. Grant of licences
  58. 55Licences for certain activities relating to animals or plants
  59. 56Licences for the introduction of new species
  60. 57Licences: general provisions
  61. Relevant licensing body
  62. 58Relevant licensing body
  63. Offences
  64. 59False statements made for obtaining licence
  65. 60Offence of breaching licence condition
  66. Part 6: Assessment of plans and projects
  67. Chapter 1: General provisions
  68. Introductory provisions
  69. 61Interpretation of Part 6
  70. 62Application of provisions of Chapter 1
  71. General provisions for protection of European sites, European offshore marine sites and certain Ramsar sites
  72. 63Assessment of implications for European sites , European offshore marine sites and certain Ramsar sites
  73. 64Considerations of overriding public interest
  74. 65Review of existing decisions and consents
  75. 66Consideration on review
  76. 67Co-ordination where more than one competent authority involved
  77. 68Compensatory measures
  78. 68ACompensatory measures for relevant offshore wind activity in the Scottish inshore region
  79. 68ZACompensatory measures: relevant offshore wind plans or projects
  80. 69Modifications of regulations 63 to 68 in certain cases
  81. Chapter 2: Planning
  82. Planning permission
  83. 70Grant of planning permission
  84. 71Planning permission: duty to review
  85. 75General development orders
  86. 76General development orders: opinion of appropriate nature conservation body
  87. 77General development orders: approval of local planning authority
  88. 78General development orders: supplementary
  89. Development consent under Planning Act 2008
  90. 84Grant of development consent
  91. 85Development consent: review
  92. 85AAssumptions to be made about nutrient pollution standards: general
  93. 85BAssumptions to be made about nutrient pollution standards: general development orders
  94. 85CDirection that assumptions are not to apply
  95. 85DRegulations 85A to 85C: interpretation
  96. Interpretation of Chapter 2
  97. 86Interpretation of Chapter 2
  98. 87Construction or improvement of highways or roads
  99. Chapter 4: Electricity
  100. 89Consents under Electricity Act 1989: application of assessment and review provisions
  101. 90Consents under Electricity Act 1989: procedure on review
  102. 91Consents under Electricity Act 1989: effect of review
  103. 92Consents under Electricity Act 1989: compensation
  104. Chapter 5: Pipe-lines
  105. 93Authorisations under Pipe-lines Act 1962: application of assessment and review provisions
  106. 94Authorisations under Pipe-lines Act 1962: procedure on review
  107. 95Authorisations under Pipe-lines Act 1962: effect of review
  108. 96Authorisations under Pipe-lines Act 1962: compensation
  109. 97Orders under Transport and Works Act 1992: application of assessment and review provisions
  110. 98Orders under Transport and Works Act 1992: procedure on review
  111. 99Orders under Transport and Works Act 1992: effect of review
  112. 100Orders under Transport and Works Act 1992: compensation
  113. Chapter 7: Environmental Controls
  114. 103Marine works
  115. Chapter 8: Land Use Plans
  116. Land use plans
  117. 105Assessment of implications for European sites , European offshore marine sites and certain Ramsar sites
  118. 107Considerations of overriding public interest
  119. 109Compensatory measures
  120. Planning Act 2008
  121. 110National policy statements
  122. 110AAssessments under this Chapter: required assumptions
  123. 110BDirection that assumptions are not to apply
  124. 110CRegulations 110A and 110B: interpretation
  125. 111Interpretation of Chapter 8
  126. Chapter 9: MARINE POLICY STATEMENTS AND MARINE PLANS
  127. 112Marine policy statement
  128. Wildlife inspectors
  129. 114Wildlife inspectors
  130. Powers of entry
  131. 115Powers of entry: constables
  132. 116Powers of entry: wildlife inspectors
  133. 117Powers of entry: other authorised persons
  134. Powers of search etc.
  135. 118Constables' powers of search, etc.
  136. Powers in relation to specimens and samples
  137. 119Powers in relation to samples: constables
  138. 120Powers in relation to specimens and samples: wildlife inspectors
  139. 121Restrictions on taking samples from live specimens
  140. Offences
  141. 122Attempts and possession of means of committing offence
  142. 123Obstruction of persons exercising powers of entry under regulation 117
  143. 124Obstruction in connection with constables' powers to take samples
  144. 125Offences in connection with wildlife inspectors' enforcement powers
  145. Codes of practice
  146. 126Codes of practice
  147. Miscellaneous
  148. 127Advice and assistance from nature conservation bodies
  149. 128Forfeiture
  150. 129Proceedings for offences: venue and time limits
  151. 130Offences by bodies corporate etc.
  152. 131Application of criminal offences to the Crown
  153. Interpretation of Part 7
  154. 132Interpretation of Part 7
  155. Part 8: Final Provisions
  156. 134Advisory role of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee
  157. 135Advisory role of Natural England, the Natural Resources Body for Wales and Scottish Natural Heritage
  158. 138Notices
  159. 139Consequential Amendments
  160. Signature
  161. 1Coming into operation
  162. 2Publicity for orders
  163. 3Unopposed orders
  164. 4Opposed orders
  165. 5Restriction on power to amend orders or confirm them with modifications
  166. 6Notice of final decision on order
  167. 7Proceedings for questioning validity of orders
  168. 8Interpretation
  169. 1Paragraph 1
  170. 2Paragraph 2
  171. 3Paragraph 3
  172. Schedule 6: Consequential Amendments
  173. Part 1: Primary Legislation
  174. 8Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009
  175. 9Public Gas Transporter Pipe-Line Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 1999
  176. 10Environmental Impact Assessment (Land Drainage Improvement Works) Regulations 1999
  177. 11Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999
  178. 12Pipe-line Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2000
  179. 13Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001
  180. 14Water Resources (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2003
  181. 15Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2006
  182. 16Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (Wales) Regulations 2009
  183. 17Marine Management Organisation (Prescription of Powers to Fix Fees and Charges) Order 2010
  184. 19Marine Strategy Regulations 2010
  185. 20Port of Bristol (Deep Sea Container Terminal) Harbour Revision Order 2010
  186. 21Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) Order 2011
  187. 22Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) (Wales) Order 2011
  188. 23Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (Transitional and Savings Provisions) Order 2011
  189. 24Associated British Ports (Grimsby Riverside Ro-Ro Terminal) Harbour Revision Order 2011
  190. 25The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011
  191. 26Localism Act 2011 (Infrastructure Planning) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2012
  192. 27Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012
  193. 28Hinkley Point Harbour Empowerment Order 2012
  194. 29Brechfa Forest West Wind Farm Order 2013
  195. 30Lancashire County Council (Torrisholme to the M6 Link (A683 Completion of Heysham to M6 Link Road)) Order 2013
  196. 31The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013
  197. 32Galloper Wind Farm Order 2013
  198. 33Nitrate Pollution Prevention (Wales) Regulations 2013
  199. 34Marine Licensing (Application Fees) Regulations 2014
  200. 35Petroleum Licensing (Exploration and Production) (Landward Areas) Regulations 2014
  201. 36Rampion Offshore Wind Farm Order 2014
  202. 37A556 (Knutsford to Bowdon Improvement) Development Consent Order 2014
  203. 38Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm Order 2014
  204. 39Central Bedfordshire Council (Woodside Link Houghton Regis) Development Consent Order 2014
  205. 40Associated British Ports (Fisher Fleet Quay) Harbour Revision Order 2014
  206. 41Able Marine Energy Park Development Consent Order 2014
  207. 42Walney Extension Offshore Wind Farm Order 2014
  208. 43Keeping and Introduction of Fish (Wales) Regulations 2014
  209. 44Willington C Gas Pipeline Order 2014
  210. 45Keeping and Introduction of Fish (England and River Esk Catchment Area) Regulations 2015
  211. 46A160/A180 (Port of Immingham Improvement) Development Consent Order 2015
  212. 47Cornwall Council (A30 Temple to Higher Carblake Improvement) Order 2015
  213. 48Dogger Bank Creyke Beck Offshore Wind Farm Order 2015
  214. 49Infrastructure Act 2015 (Strategic Highways Companies) (Consequential, Transitional and Savings Provisions) Regulations 2015
  215. 50Infrastructure Planning (Interested Parties and Miscellaneous Prescribed Provisions) Regulations 2015
  216. 51Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015
  217. 52Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015
  218. 53Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015
  219. 54Knottingley Power Plant Order 2015
  220. 55Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (England) Regulations 2015
  221. 56White Moss Landfill Order 2015
  222. 57Norfolk County Council (Norwich Northern Distributor Road (A1067 to A47(T))) Order 2015
  223. 58Poole Harbour (Works) Revision Order 2015
  224. 59Preesall Underground Gas Storage Facility Order 2015
  225. 60Progress Power (Gas Fired Power Station) Order 2015
  226. 61Dogger Bank Teeside A and B Offshore Wind Farm Order 2015
  227. 62Ferrybridge Multifuel 2 Power Station Order 2015
  228. 63Nitrate Pollution Prevention (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2015
  229. 64A19/A1058 Coast Road (Junction Improvement) Development Consent Order 2016
  230. 65Palm Paper Mill Generating Station Order 2016
  231. 66Thorpe Marsh Gas Pipeline Order 2016
  232. 67A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme Development Consent Order 2016
  233. 68Fal Fishery Order 2016
  234. 69York Potash Harbour Facilities Order 2016
  235. 70River Humber Gas Pipeline Replacement Order 2016
  236. 71Triton Knoll Electrical System Order 2016
  237. 72M4 Motorway (Junctions 3 to 12) (Smart Motorway) Development Consent Order 2016
  238. 73Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016
  239. 74Economic Growth (Regulatory Functions) Order 2017
  240. 75Town and Country Planning (Brownfield Land Register) Regulations 2017
  241. 76Keuper Underground Gas Storage Facility Order 2017
  242. 77Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Wales) Regulations 2017
  243. 78Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Wales) Regulations 2017
  244. 79Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017
  245. 80Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017
  246. 81Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017
  247. Explanatory note