NORTHUMBERLAND LOCAL PLAN CORE STRATEGY DRAFT PLAN FEBRUARY 2017 HABITATS REGULATIONS ASSESSMENT Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 3 Purpose of the Habitats Regulations Assessment Report ............................................ 3 Format of the Habitats Regulations Assessment Report .............................................. 3 Habitats Regulation Assessment Consultation ............................................................. 4 2. Habitats Regulations Assessment Requirements and Process .............................. 5 Assessment Methodology to meet the requirements of the Habitats Directive ............. 7 3. Stage 1A: Identification of European sites ................................................................ 9 4. Stage 1B: Analysis of Trends ................................................................................... 31 Air Quality ................................................................................................................... 31 Water Quality .............................................................................................................. 36 Hydrology ................................................................................................................... 36 Tourism and Recreation ............................................................................................. 36 Large Scale Development .......................................................................................... 37 Climate Change .......................................................................................................... 38 Invasive Species ........................................................................................................ 39 5. Stage 1C: Analysis of proposals and polices in the Core Strategy - Identification of Likely Significant Effects ...................................................................................... 40 Strategic Objectives ................................................................................................... 40 Policies ....................................................................................................................... 41 Policies requiring appropriate assessment ................................................................. 49 6. Stage 1D: Consideration of Other Plans and Projects ........................................... 51 In-combination assessment - Policy 42 ...................................................................... 52 7. Stage 2. Appropriate Assessment ........................................................................... 54 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 54 8. Assessment of whether there will be an adverse effect on the integrity of any European Sites .......................................................................................................... 55 Policies 4 and 5 – Increased disturbance in the Blyth estuary sectors of the Northumbria Coast SPA and Northumberland Marine pSPA ...................................... 55 Policies 3, 9,15 and 16 - Increased disturbance in the North Pennine Moors SPA and increased trampling damage in the North Pennine Moors SAC ................................. 56 Policies 3, 9 and 15 - Increased trampling damage to sensitive vegetation in the North Pennines Dales Meadows SAC .................................................................................. 62 Policies 3, 9 and 15 - Increased trampling damage to sensitive vegetation in the Tyne and Allen River Gravels SAC ..................................................................................... 68 Northumberland Local Plan Core Strategy Draft Plan February 2017 Habitats Regulations Assessment 1 Policies 3, 9 and 15 - Increased disturbance to little tern breeding colonies (Northumbria Coast SPA and Ramsar Site and Lindisfarne SPA) and arctic tern breeding colony (Northumbria Coast pSPA)............................................................... 70 Policies 3, 9 and 15 - Increased disturbance affecting the Northumbria Coast SPA and Ramsar Site - Wintering Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone ......................................... 71 Policies 3, 9 and 15 - Increased disturbance affecting Northumberland Marine pSPA ................................................................................................................................... 80 Policies 3, 9 and 15 - Increased disturbance affecting Lindisfarne SPA and Ramsar Site – wintering and migratory waders and wildfowl ................................................... 81 Policies 3, 9 and 15 - Increased trampling damage to sensitive vegetation in the North Northumberland Dunes SAC ...................................................................................... 82 Policies 3, 9 and 15 - Eutrophication from increased sewage discharge affecting the River Tweed SAC and Tweed Estuary SAC ............................................................... 84 Policies 3, 9 and 15 - Increased trampling damage to sensitive vegetation in the Simonside Hills SAC .................................................................................................. 86 Policies 3, 9 and 15 - Increased trampling damage to sensitive vegetation in the Harbottle Moors SAC ................................................................................................. 86 Natural England's Formal Advice Concerning the Northumberland Core Strategy Habitats Regulations Assessment……………………………………………………………………………..87 9. Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 89 Issues to be addressed during the preparation of the Delivery Document ................. 90 10. Bibliography .............................................................................................................. 92 Appendix 1 - Natural England’s response to the Northumberland Local Plan Core Strategy Pre-submission Draft Habitats Regulations Assessment October 2015 ..... 97 Appendix 2 - Record of Screening of Modifications, June 2016 ................................ 104 Appendix 3 - Record of Screening of Further Modifications, November 2016……..122 Appendix 4 - Record of Screening of Additional Modifications, February 2017 ............................................................................................................................. ……….134 Appendix 5 - Stage 1C - Analysis of draft objectives and policies in the Core Strategy - Identification of Likely Significant Effects Matrix. ................................... 1566 Appendix 6 - Results of Questionnaire Survey of Coastal Dog Walkers………..…..223 Northumberland Local Plan Core Strategy Draft Plan February 2017 Habitats Regulations Assessment 2 1. Introduction Purpose of the Habitats Regulations Assessment Report 1.1 Northumberland County Council is preparing its Local Development Plan; with the Northumberland Core Strategy being the first development plan document to be prepared. Once adopted the Northumberland Core Strategy will be the overarching spatial plan for County, excluding the Northumberland National Park, guiding future development and land use planning decisions to 2031. 1.2 As the ‘competent authority’ under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010, Northumberland County Council is required to assess its Core Strategy through the HRA process. The purpose of a HRA is to assess possible effects of the Core Strategy on the nature conservation interests of sites designated under the Habitats and Wild Birds Directives. These sites consist of Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and also include Ramsar Sites. The integration of the HRA process as part of the preparation of the Core Strategy is fundamental to the plan making process as policies in the plan can potentially affect designated sites. 1.3 The HRA process is an iterative process. A scoping report was prepared and consulted upon alongside the Core Strategy Issues and Options consultation and this and the remaining stages have been and will continue to be completed alongside, and will inform the development of the Northumberland Core Strategy. Format of the Habitats Regulations Assessment Report 1.4 This HRA Report establishes the scope of and the process for completing the HRA of the Northumberland Core Strategy and undertakes an assessment of the Northumberland Local Plan Core Strategy Pre-Submission Draft and subsequent modifications. The HRA Report includes the following: 1. Scope of the HRA and work undertaken to date. 2. HRA requirements and process. 3. Stage 1A: Identifies the European sites. 4. Stage 1B: Identifies the Trend Analysis. 5. Stage 1C: Analysis of proposals and polices in the Core Strategy - Identification of Likely Significant Effects 6. Stage 1D: Consideration of other plans and projects 7. Stage 2A: Appropriate Assessment Introduction 8. Stage 2b: Assessment of whether there will be an adverse effect on the integrity of any European sites 9. Conclusion 10. Bibliography Appendices Northumberland Local Plan Core Strategy Draft Plan February 2017 Habitats Regulations Assessment 3 Habitats Regulations Assessment Consultation 1.5 It is a requirement of the Habitats Regulations to consult the appropriate nature conservation statutory body (Natural England). Consultations were undertaken on the HRA