Essex Coast Recreational Disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy
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Essex Coast Recreational disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) You Said We Did - Consultation Report April 2020 Contents 1. About the RAMS .................................................................................................. 1 Background context ................................................................................................ 1 Development of the strategy ................................................................................... 1 A flexible approach to mitigation ............................................................................. 2 Monitoring and review process ............................................................................... 2 2. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 3 3. Consultation ......................................................................................................... 3 Who was consulted? ............................................................................................... 4 How did we consult? ............................................................................................... 4 4. Consultation comments ....................................................................................... 5 5. The main issues raised ........................................................................................ 5 6. Proposed amendments to the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) .......... 8 7. Detailed summaries of the comments received ................................................... 9 Appendix One - Strategic Mitigation ....................................................................... 102 Appendix Two - Essex Coast RAMS Guidelines for proposals for student accommodation ...................................................................................................... 110 Tables Table 1 – Main issues raised ...................................................................................... 6 Table 2 – Schedule of amendments to the SPD ........................................................ 8 Table 3 – Section One: Summary of consultation responses and actions ................ 11 Table 4 – Section Two: Summary of consultation responses and actions ................ 24 Table 5 – Section Three: Summary of consultation responses and actions ............. 36 Table 6 – Section Four: Summary of consultation responses and actions ............... 47 Table 7 – Section Five: Summary of consultation responses and actions ................ 66 Table 8 – Section Six: Summary of consultation responses and actions ................. 75 Table 9 – Section Seven: Summary of consultation responses and actions ............ 85 Table 10 – Section Eight: Summary of consultation responses and actions ............ 91 Table 11 – Section Nine: Summary of consultation responses and actions ............. 95 Table 12 – Section Ten: Summary of consultation responses and actions .............. 99 Table 13 – Appendix One: Summary of consultation responses and actions ......... 102 Table 14 – Appendix Two: Summary of consultation responses and actions ......... 110 Table 15 – Other Comments: Summary of consultation responses and actions .... 114 Glossary Appropriate Assessment Forms part of the Habitats Regulations Assessment Annual Monitoring Provides information on all aspects of a planning Report department's performance. Community A charge which can be levied by local authorities on Infrastructure Levy new development in their area to help them deliver the infrastructure needed to support development. Competent Authority Has the invested or delegated authority to perform a designated function. England Coast Path Natural England are implementing the Government scheme to create a new national route around the coast of England General Permitted The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development Order Development) (England) Order 2015 is a statutory instrument that grants planning permission for certain types of development (such development is then referred to as permitted development). House in Multiple A property rented out by at least 3 people who are not Occupation from 1 ‘household’ (for example a family) but share facilities like the bathroom and kitchen. Habitats sites Includes SPA, SAC & Ramsar sites as defined by NPPF (2018). Includes SPAs and SACs which are designated under European laws (the 'Habitats Directive' and 'Birds Directive' respectively) to protect Europe's rich variety of wildlife and habitats. Together, SPAs and SACs make up a series of sites across Europe, referred to collectively as Natura 2000 sites. In the UK they are commonly known as European sites; the National Planning Policy Framework also applies the same protection measures for Ramsar sites (Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention) as those in place for European sites. Habitats Regulations Considers the impacts of plans and proposed Assessment developments on Natura 2000 sites. Impact Risk Zone Developed by Natural England to make a rapid initial assessment of the potential risks posed by development proposals. They cover areas such as SSSIs, SACs, SPAs and Ramsar sites. Local Planning Authority The public authority whose duty it is to carry out specific planning functions for a particular area. Natural England Natural England - the statutory adviser to government on the natural environment in England. National Planning Policy Sets out government's planning policies for England Framework and how these are expected to be applied. Recreational A strategic approach to mitigating the ‘in-combination’ disturbance Avoidance recreational effects of housing development on and Mitigation Strategy Habitats sites. Ramsar site Wetland of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention 1979. Section 106 (S106) A mechanism which make a development proposal acceptable in planning terms, that would not otherwise be acceptable. They are focused on site specific mitigation of the impact of development. S106 agreements are often referred to as 'developer contributions' along with highway contributions and the Community Infrastructure Levy. Section 278 (S278) Allows developers to enter into a legal agreement with the council to make alterations or improvements to a public highway, as part of planning approval. Special Area of Land designated under Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora. Special Protection Area Land classified under Directive 79/409 on the Conservation of Wild Birds. Supplementary Planning Documents that provide further detail to the Local Plan. Document Capable of being a material consideration but are not part of the development plan. Site or Specific Scientific A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is a formal Interest conservation designation. Usually, it describes an area that is of particular interest to science due to the rare species of fauna or flora it contains. Unilateral undertaking A legal document made pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, setting out that if planning permission is granted and a decision is made to implement the development, the developer must make certain payments to the local authority in the form of planning contributions. Zone of Influence The ZoI identifies the distance within which new residents are likely to travel to the Essex coast Habitats sites for recreation. Acronyms AA Appropriate Assessment AMR Annual Monitoring Report CIL Community Infrastructure Levy EA Environment Agency EC European Commission EEC European Economic Community EWT Essex Wildlife Trust FAQ Frequently Asked Questions GPDO General Permitted Development Order HMO House in Multiple Occupation HRA Habitat Regulations Assessment LPA Local Planning Authority NE Natural England NPPF National Planning Policy Framework RAMS Recreational disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy RSPB Royal Society for the Protection of Birds SAC Special Area of Conservation SIP Site Improvement Plan SMART Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant & Timely SPA Special Protection Area SPD Supplementary Planning Document SSSI Site or Specific Scientific Interest UK United Kingdom UU Unilateral undertaking ZoI Zone of Influence 1. About the RAMS Background context 1.1 The Essex Coast RAMS was initiated by Natural England, the government’s adviser for the natural environment in England, in 2017. Natural England identified the Habitats sites and local planning authorities that should be involved in the Essex Coast RAMS based on existing evidence of visitor pressure. Essex County Council provides an advisory role but are not one of the RAMS local authority partners. 1.2 The Essex Coast is rich and diverse and has many protected habitats sites (also referred to as European sites and Natura 2000 sites). These sites are protected by the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (2017). Joint working offers the opportunity to protect the Essex Coast from increased recreational disturbance as a result of new housing across Essex. Likely significant effects to habitats sites from non-residential development will be considered, through Habitat Regulations Assessments, on a case by case basis by the relevant local planning authority in consultation with Natural England. A Habitat Regulations Assessment has been/ will be completed for each of the projects that form part of the England Coast Path. 1.3 There