West Sussex Minerals Local Plan Habitats Regulations Assessment
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Submitted to Submitted by Client: West Sussex County AECOM Council Scott House Alençon Link Basingstoke Hampshire RG21 7PP United Kingdom West Sussex Joint Minerals Local Plan Habitats Regulations Assessment AECOM West Sussex Minerals Local Plan Habitats Regulations Page i Assessment Prepared by: Isla Hoffmann Heap Checked by: Dr James Riley Ecologist Associate Director Approved by: Dr James Riley Associate Director Rev No Comments Checked Approved Date by by 0 Draft for client review Isla James 28/05/15 Hoffmann Riley Heap 1 Final Isla James 08/06/15 Hoffmann Riley Heap 2 Additional site (Buncton Manor Farm) Isla James 11/01/16 Hoffmann Riley Heap Scott House, Alençon Link, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 7PP, United Kingdom Telephone: 01256 310 200 Website: http://www.aecom.com 47031273.APPA January 2016 West Sussex County Council January/ 2016 AECOM West Sussex Minerals Local Plan Habitats Regulations Page ii Assessment Limitations AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited (“AECOM”) has prepared this Report for the sole use of West Sussex County Council (“Client”) in accordance with the Agreement under which our services were performed. 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West Sussex County Council January/ 2016 AECOM West Sussex Minerals Local Plan Habitats Regulations Page iii Assessment Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Legislation ............................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Scope and objectives ............................................................................................................................................ 1 2 Methodology ................................................................................................................................................................ 4 2.1 Process ................................................................................................................................................................. 4 2.2 Likely Significant Effects (LSE) .............................................................................................................................. 4 2.3 Confirming other plans and projects that may act in combination ......................................................................... 5 2.4 Physical scope of the assessment ........................................................................................................................ 7 3 Pathways of impact ..................................................................................................................................................... 8 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 8 3.2 Atmospheric pollution ............................................................................................................................................ 8 3.3 Local Air Pollution ................................................................................................................................................ 10 3.4 Quarries and minerals sites ................................................................................................................................. 11 3.5 Diffuse air pollution .............................................................................................................................................. 11 3.6 Water quality and flows ....................................................................................................................................... 11 3.7 Disturbance ......................................................................................................................................................... 12 3.8 Coastal Squeeze ................................................................................................................................................. 14 3.9 Direct landtake .................................................................................................................................................... 14 3.10 Screening distance summary .............................................................................................................................. 15 4 Appropriate Assessment of Minerals Sites ............................................................................................................. 16 4.2 M/CH/1A - Woodmancote, M/CH/1B - Common Road West, M/CH/1C - Common Road East, M/CH/1D - Slades Field, and M/CH/1G - Funtington West................................................................................................................ 16 4.3 M/CH/7B - East of West Heath Common ............................................................................................................ 18 4.4 M/CH/8A - Minsted West ..................................................................................................................................... 19 4.5 M/CH/8D - Severals West ................................................................................................................................... 20 4.6 M/CH/11 – Horncroft ........................................................................................................................................... 21 4.7 M/HO/2 – Chantry Lane Extension ...................................................................................................................... 22 4.8 M/MS/1 – Land Adjacent to West Hoathly Brickworks ......................................................................................... 22 4.9 Recommendations .............................................................................................................................................. 23 Appendix A. Background on European sites screened in referenced in this document ..................................... A-1 Appendix B. Minerals Sites and Background on European Sites Screened Out ............................................... B-6 Appendix C. Figures ........................................................................................................................................ C-12 Appendix D. Summary Table ........................................................................................................................... D-13 West Sussex County Council January/ 2016 AECOM West Sussex Joint Mineral Local Plan Habitats Page 1 Regulations Assessment 1 Introduction 1.1 Legislation 1.1.1 The need for Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) is set out within Article 6 of the EC Habitats Directive 1992, and interpreted into British law by the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010. The ultimate aim of HRA is to “maintain or restore, at favourable conservation status, natural habitats and species of wild fauna and flora of Community interest” (Habitats Directive, Article 2(2)). This aim relates to habitats and species, not the European sites themselves, although the sites have a significant role in delivering favourable conservation status. 1.1.2 The Habitats Directive applies the