Guidance

Site of special scientific interest (SSSI) privacy notice

Updated 13 November 2024

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2024

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/natural-england-privacy-notices/site-of-special-scientific-interest-notification-privacy-notice

Who collects your personal data

The data controller is Natural England at:

Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green, York, Y01 7PX

Send questions about how Natural England uses your personal data and your associated rights to the Data Protection Manager at foi@naturalengland.org.uk or:

Natural England, County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester, WR5 2NP

The Data Protection Officer for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) group is responsible for checking that Natural England complies with legislation. You can contact them at DefraGroupDataProtectionOfficer@defra.gov.uk or:

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, SW Quarter, 2nd floor, Seacole Block, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF

What personal data’s collected and how it’s used

Natural England stores the following details about owners and occupiers of land within sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs):

  • names and postal addresses - usually from a search of HM Land Registry records
  • telephone numbers and email addresses - when provided by owners and occupiers

Natural England uses the data to:

  • seek permission to access land to determine whether it should notify it as a SSSI
  • liaise with land owners and occupiers about its proposals before formal SSSI notification
  • serve formal notification and confirmation of a new or amended SSSI under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
  • serve formal notification and confirmation of management schemes and notices under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
  • liaise with owners and occupiers about the management, monitoring and protection of SSSIs
  • work with SSSI owners and occupiers on applications for SSSI consent
  • liaise with SSSI owners and occupiers on compliance and enforcement issues
  • process appeals against conditioned, refused, withdrawn or changed consents

Processing your data is necessary for the:

  • performance of a task carried out in the public interest
  • exercise of official authority vested in the data controller - to allow Natural England to discharge its statutory duties and powers relating to SSSIs

The processing of your data is not based on consent. You cannot withdraw it.

Who Natural England shares your personal data with

There is significant public interest in knowing who owns or occupies protected sites. Natural England is subject to transparency obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. Natural England:

  • must make your name and information about your land publicly available during the notification process and on consenting, enforcement and agreement documents
  • only shares information when necessary to meet statutory requirements
  • respects your personal privacy when responding to access to information requests
  • shares information with Defra and the Planning Inspectorate to process appeals against conditioned, refused, withdrawn or changed consents
  • shares your name with interested parties involved in your appeal against a conditioned, refused, withdrawn or changed consent

How long Natural England holds personal data

Natural England will keep your personal data forever.

What happens if you do not provide the data

Natural England may be less able to help you meet your obligation to manage and protect a SSSI if you do not provide the data.

Natural England will use data it already holds, such as that obtained from HM Land Registry. This may be out of date and may not include telephone numbers or email addresses.

You must notify Natural England of a change of ownership or occupancy of land in a SSSI within 28 days, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Use of automated decision-making or profiling

The information you provide is not used for:

  • automated decision making (making a decision by automated means without any human involvement)
  • profiling (automated processing of personal data to evaluate certain things about an individual)

Transfer of data outside the European Economic Area (EEA)

Natural England will not transfer your data outside the EEA.

Your rights

Find out about your individual rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018.

Complaints

You have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office at any time.

Natural England’s personal information charter

Natural England’s personal information charter explains more about your rights over your personal data.

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