|
|
In March 2005 the Government designated areas of heathland within the Thames Basin as the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area under the EC Birds Directive. It has been identified as an internationally important habitat for three rare species of ground nesting birds - the Dartford Warbler, Nightjar and Woodlark - and covers areas of heathland across 11 local authority areas in Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire. Within Elmbridge the area covers Chatley Heath Site of Special Scientific Interest, part of the Ockham and Wisley Commons Special Protection Area. This heathland lies to the south of the Borough, in an area located between the M25, the A3 and the Borough boundary.
Natural England, who is the Government's adviser on issues concerning England's natural environment, consider that the intensification of residential development up to a distance of 5km away from the Special Protection Area (SPA) would result in a range of pressures with adverse effects on the protected habitat. As a consequence Natural England, as statutory consultee on planning applications within 5km of an SPA, had previously been objecting to all planning applications within that part of the 5km zone that falls within Elmbridge.
Natural England have drafted a Delivery Plan to establish a new strategic approach to the planning of housing developments near SPAs, which they proposed would be adopted by each affected authority as a Supplementary Planning Document. However, in view of the issues and timescale involved, Natural England and Government have commended a 'mini-plan' approach whereby affected local authorities, such as Elmbridge, can prepare an interim strategy to provide mitigation. This would free Natural England from the need to object to additional housing within the zones, provided they were satisfied that a proper arrangement had been put in place to ensure delivery of the additional mitigating open space. A Supplementary Planning Document would then be prepared as part of the Elmbridge Borough Local Development Framework in due course.
Following consideration of the Draft Interim Mitigation Strategy for Elmbridge by the Council's Planning Committee in November 2006, the Strategy was made available for public comment for a four week period (November/December 2006). An analysis of the responses received, and amendments to the |Interim Mitigation Strategy consequent upon the consultation responses, were considered by the Councils Planning Committee at its meeting on 20 February 2007, when it was recommended that, inter alia, the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area Interim Mitigation Strategy for Elmbridge be approved by Council.
The Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area Interim Mitigation Strategy for Elmbridge was adopted by Council on 11 April 2007.
As part of the South East Plan Examination in Public, an Assessor was appointed for the South East Regional Spatial Strategy to consider the implications of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA) and English Nature's (now Natural England) Draft Delivery Plan (DDP) for future housing development in the London Fringe and Western Corridor and Blackwater Valley sub-regions. The Assessor was required to report to the Panel for the Draft South East Plan Examination in Public on his findings. This Report has now been published (19 February 2007) and can be viewed or downloaded from the South East EiP website (www.eipsoutheast.co.uk), together with the Clarification Report (19 March 2007) and Addendum Report (13 April 2007).
Whilst noting the Assessor's comments, it remains the responsibility of Elmbridge Council as the competent authority, with advice from Natural England as statutory consultee, to ensure that no likely significant adverse effect should arise from new development. As such, the Council will implement the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area Interim Mitigation Strategy for Elmbridge until the regional position is clarified with the publication of the South East Plan, at which time the Interim Strategy will be reviewed.