If you want to take up an Option on land within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Conservation or Natura ( SAC or SPA), you must apply to Scottish Natural Heritage or a relevant regulatory authority for any consents that you are required for specific activities before you apply to us. You must also continue to meet the conditions set out in any management agreement that you may have with Scottish Natural Heritage. For Natura sites ( SAC or SPA), you must apply to Scottish Natural Heritage or a relevant regulatory authority for any consents that are required for specific activities. You must also continue to meet the conditions set out in any existing agreements.
Scheduled monuments are protected by law. If you plan to carry out any works on or near a scheduled monument, you must obtain Scheduled Monument Consent (SMC). Contact Historic Scotland for advice. Not all options under Rural Priorities are suitable for scheduled monuments, so it is important that you contact Historic Scotland for advice at an early stage of your Rural Priorities planning. Applications to Historic Scotland for SMC are normally dealt with within nine weeks.
You can get advice and SMC from:
If you are carrying out any agri-environment Options, you may be penalised if inspections show that you have knowingly damaged or destroyed features of historic or archaeological interest on any part of your land. It is therefore important that you are aware of the location, nature and extent of any such features recorded on your land. It is advisable to mark these clearly and accurately on any farm plans, particularly on any information that you provide to a contractor or other third party working on the land. This is particularly important if you are planning a change in land use.
There are a number of sources that can help you to identify historic or archaeological features on your land:
- Your local authority archaeological officer may be able to provide advice on the management and protection of unscheduled archaeological sites. However, not all local authority areas offer advisory services in relation to the SRDP. If you had an archaeological audit of your land for a previous agri-environment scheme, you can refer to this.
- You can consult Pastmap. Pastmap is a free online resource. It will provide the location and full extent of a scheduled monument and Inventory garden and designed landscape, and a central point for a listed building and its curtilage. It will also provide an approximate or central point for recorded unscheduled sites. The written descriptions of unscheduled sites in the National Monuments Record and Scottish Sites and Monuments Record data will help you to define on the ground the minimum extent of visible remains.
Sources of further information, if needed
- http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/gardens is a source of additional information about Inventory gardens and designed landscapes. Paper copies of the Inventory can be obtained from Historic Scotland (contact 0131 668 8940).
- Local Authorities are your initial contact point for advice on listed buildings, including Listed Building Consent.
- Historic Scotland can provide advice on scheduled monuments, including Scheduled Monument Consent (SMC), and Inventory gardens and designed landscapes. Contact details as above.