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Stage A Evidence Base
Interim Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)
Representation ID: 16422
Received: 22/03/2018
Respondent: Natural England
Annex 3: Natural England's comments on The Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP) Habitats Regulations Assessment of GNLP Issues and Options Stage, dated December 2017
Natural England welcomes the production of the interim Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) for the GNLP Issues and Options stage, which provides a detailed and comprehensive assessment of the likely significant effects of the Local Plan on European sites. The designated sites have been identified correctly and the major issues arising from the Plan's allocations and policies identified and discussed in detail. We welcome that the assessment has considered the potential for impacts to European sites beyond the GNLP boundary, in accordance with the requirements of the Habitats Regulations.
We re-iterate below our response to Q22 in the Growth Options consultation (see Annex 1) concerning the two most significant and pressing issues that will need to be addressed and resolved:
"Recreational disturbance effects from new housing on designated sites is recognised as a major issue in many places including Norfolk. Sites affected range from County Wildlife Sites (CWS), to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) to European and International sites such as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Special Areas of Protection (SPA) and Ramsar sites. Recreational disturbance may affect wildlife sites located close to development and existing settlements as well as sites located some distance away. New development will need to provide a range of avoidance and mitigation measures to address this impact. These include the provision of new well designed GI either on-site and/or off-site, with suitable and accessible green space for recreational activities, including dog walking, together with good connectivity to the surrounding PROW network, and costs towards the mitigation of impacts on designated sites.
There are significant water issues in terms of water abstraction, with increasing demand from residential and commercial development, and waste water discharges affecting water quality. Water-dependent designated sites, including the River Wensum, those in The Broads, the Norfolk Valley Fens and the Waveney Valley Fens, are affected by these issues which can arise from a single development or in combination with other developments. A detailed water cycle study will
need to be undertaken to determine where allocations should be located and what measures will be required to address water quantity and quality issues identified, which should then need to be addressed through policies and allocations in the Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP)."
We welcome the recognition given in the HRA to the importance of undertaking a Water Cycle Study to inform the future location of allocations and plan policies.
With regard to recreational disturbance under 4.7 Potential Mitigation of the HRA, we advise that mitigation may involve providing or contributing towards a combination of the following measures:
i. Access and visitor management measures within the SAC/SPA;
ii. Improvement of existing greenspace and recreational routes;
iii. Provision of alternative natural greenspace and recreational routes;
iv. Monitoring of the impacts of new development on European designated sites to inform the necessary mitigation requirements and future refinement of any mitigation measures.
v. Other potential mitigation measures to address air pollution impacts e.g. emission reduction measures, on site management measures.'
Reference should also be made to the provision of new on-site GI and biodiversity enhancements within development sites.
Recent research, commissioned by a group of Suffolk coastal local authorities, on the impacts of
recreational disturbance on designated sites, from residential development in their Local Plans suggests that the Zone of Influence (ZoI) for those travelling by car for regular routine greenspace use should be 13 km. The findings, by Footprint Ecology, will be published later this year in support of the local authorities consult in their Local Plans. In view of this information, we advise that the Zol for the GNLP HRA should be increased from 8 km to 13 km, unless there are valid reasons for retaining it. We recognise that the increased distance may affect the future findings and conclusions of a revised HRA.
As the HRA progresses and more information becomes available (particularly the findings of the Water Cycle Study), we look forward to commenting in further detail.
Annex 3: Natural England's comments on The Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP) Habitats Regulations Assessment of GNLP Issues and Options Stage, dated December 2017
Natural England welcomes the production of the interim Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) for the GNLP Issues and Options stage, which provides a detailed and comprehensive assessment of the likely significant effects of the Local Plan on European sites. The designated sites have been identified correctly and the major issues arising from the Plan's allocations and policies identified and discussed in detail. We welcome that the assessment has considered the potential for impacts to European sites beyond the GNLP boundary, in accordance with the requirements of the Habitats Regulations.
We re-iterate below our response to Q22 in the Growth Options consultation (see Annex 1) concerning the two most significant and pressing issues that will need to be addressed and resolved:
"Recreational disturbance effects from new housing on designated sites is recognised as a major issue in many places including Norfolk. Sites affected range from County Wildlife Sites (CWS), to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) to European and International sites such as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Special Areas of Protection (SPA) and Ramsar sites. Recreational disturbance may affect wildlife sites located close to development and existing settlements as well as sites located some distance away. New development will need to provide a range of avoidance and mitigation measures to address this impact. These include the provision of new well designed GI either on-site and/or off-site, with suitable and accessible green space for recreational activities, including dog walking, together with good connectivity to the surrounding PROW network, and costs towards the mitigation of impacts on designated sites.
There are significant water issues in terms of water abstraction, with increasing demand from residential and commercial development, and waste water discharges affecting water quality. Water-dependent designated sites, including the River Wensum, those in The Broads, the Norfolk Valley Fens and the Waveney Valley Fens, are affected by these issues which can arise from a single development or in combination with other developments. A detailed water cycle study will
need to be undertaken to determine where allocations should be located and what measures will be required to address water quantity and quality issues identified, which should then need to be addressed through policies and allocations in the Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP)."
We welcome the recognition given in the HRA to the importance of undertaking a Water Cycle Study to inform the future location of allocations and plan policies.
With regard to recreational disturbance under 4.7 Potential Mitigation of the HRA, we advise that mitigation may involve providing or contributing towards a combination of the following measures:
i. Access and visitor management measures within the SAC/SPA;
ii. Improvement of existing greenspace and recreational routes;
iii. Provision of alternative natural greenspace and recreational routes;
iv. Monitoring of the impacts of new development on European designated sites to inform the necessary mitigation requirements and future refinement of any mitigation measures.
v. Other potential mitigation measures to address air pollution impacts e.g. emission reduction measures, on site management measures.'
Reference should also be made to the provision of new on-site GI and biodiversity enhancements within development sites.
Recent research, commissioned by a group of Suffolk coastal local authorities, on the impacts of
recreational disturbance on designated sites, from residential development in their Local Plans suggests that the Zone of Influence (ZoI) for those travelling by car for regular routine greenspace use should be 13 km. The findings, by Footprint Ecology, will be published later this year in support of the local authorities consult in their Local Plans. In view of this information, we advise that the Zol for the GNLP HRA should be increased from 8 km to 13 km, unless there are valid reasons for retaining it. We recognise that the increased distance may affect the future findings and conclusions of a revised HRA.
As the HRA progresses and more information becomes available (particularly the findings of the Water Cycle Study), we look forward to commenting in further detail.
