Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2014-2019 Screening for Appropriate Assessment - Baseline Report Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2014 - 2019 Screening for Appropriate Assessment – Baseline Report April 2014 The Chilterns Conservation Board The Lodge 90 Station Road Chinnor Oxfordshire OX39 4HA 1 Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2014-2019 Screening for Appropriate Assessment - Baseline Report Contents Page 1. Executive Summary 4 2. Introduction 5 3. Sites under consideration 6 3.1 Summary 6 3.2 Site Characteristics 12 3.3 Aston Rowant 12 3.4 Burnham Beeches 13 3.5 Chilterns Beechwoods 14 3.6 Hartslock 17 3.7 Little Wittenham 19 4. Trends and other plans 20 4.2 National Planning Policy Framework 20 4.3 Local Plans, other Local Development Documents and 20 Neighbourhood Plans 4.4 Transport Plans 21 4.5 Population 21 5. Analysis of the Management Plan 22 5.2 General Issues 22 5.3 Site Specific Issues 22 6. Conclusion 24 Annexes 1. Natural England comments on Screening Report 25 Figures 1. Sites considered as part of the screening 6 2. Aston Rowant and Chilterns Beechwoods (i) (Aston Rowant 12 Woods) 3. Burnham Beeches 13 4. Chilterns Beechwoods (ii) (Hollowhill and Pullingshill Woods, 14 and Bisham Woods) 5. Chilterns Beechwoods (iii) (Ellesborough and Kimble 15 Warrens, and Windsor Hill) 6. Chilterns Beechwoods (iv) (Bradenham Woods, Park Wood 16 and the Coppice, and Naphill Common) 7. Chilterns Beechwoods (v) (Tring Woodlands and Ashridge 17 Commons and Woods) 8. Hartslock 18 9. Little Wittenham 19 2 Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2014-2019 Screening for Appropriate Assessment - Baseline Report Tables 1. Special Areas of Conservation that were assessed for 7 significant adverse effects of the Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2. Composite sites within the Chilterns Beechwoods SAC 14 3 Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2014-2019 Screening for Appropriate Assessment - Baseline Report Screening of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2014-2019 for Appropriate Assessment – Baseline Report 1. Executive Summary 1.1 The purpose of this report is to determine whether there is a need to carry out a full Appropriate Assessment of the Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2014-19. 1.2 This report considers potential impacts arising from the AONB Management Plan alone and in combination with other plans, and with respect to the European sites’ conservation objectives. The sites in question are all, in this case, Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). 1.3 Production of the AONB Management Plan is a statutory duty of the Conservation Board under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. The plan outlines the Board’s policies for the management of the AONB and fulfilment of its statutory purposes which are: a. To conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the AONB; and b. to increase the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the AONB. 1.4 The SACs potentially affected by the AONB Management Plan are as follows: Aston Rowant Chilterns Beechwoods (a composite of 9 sites) Hartslock Wood Burnham Beeches (outside the AONB) Little Wittenham (outside the AONB) 1.5 All policies and proposals in the AONB Management Plan have been screened and it is considered that there are no significant environmental effects on the SACs within or in close proximity to the AONB. Consequently, a full appropriate assessment of the plan is not required. 4 Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2014-2019 Screening for Appropriate Assessment - Baseline Report 2. Introduction 2.1 The Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended by The Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) (Amendment) Regulations 2007) require (Regulation 48) that a competent authority shall make an appropriate assessment of the implications for European sites in view of the sites’ conservation objectives. The purpose of this Baseline Report is to ensure that the Management Plan 2014-19 and its policies have no significant environmental impact on sites of European Interest. 2.2 The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 places a duty on Conservation Boards to produce a plan which outlines their policies for the management of the AONB and how they will carry out their functions in relation to it. Management plans must be reviewed at least every five years. 2.3 The previous management plan for the Chilterns AONB, 2008 – 2013 has now been reviewed, forming the basis for the draft Management Plan 2014 – 2019. 2.4 The Plan sets out broad aims for the management of the AONB. Policies and actions within the Plan outline how these aims will be achieved by the Board and other parties with an interest in the AONB. In formulating the policies and actions within the Plan the Board seeks to fulfil its two statutory purposes which are: a. to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the AONB; and b. to increase the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the AONB. 2.5 This screening report is intended to determine whether there is a need to carry out a full appropriate assessment of the Chilterns AONB Management Plan (2014 -2019) and its polices in relation to sites of European Interest. 2.6 The Conservation Board, as the ‘competent authority' has to satisfy itself that, in adopting the plan, there will be no significant effect on European sites. 2.7 The Board has liaised with Natural England at an early stage regarding which sites to consider, conservation objectives and key environmental conditions for the sites concerned. 2.8 The Board recognises that the AONB management plan will be implemented in the context of changing spatial patterns and housing growth, as directed by the National Planning Policy Framework and Local Plans. The latter are themselves subject to Appropriate Assessment. The AONB Management Plan does not propose any growth or development, and its policies promote conservation of the natural environment and sustainable use of it. 5 Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2014-2019 Screening for Appropriate Assessment - Baseline Report 3. Sites under consideration 3.1 Summary 3.1.1 There are 3 SACs within the AONB – Aston Rowant, Hartslock Wood and Chilterns Beechwoods. Chilterns Beechwoods comprises of 9 separate sites, of which 8 are within the AONB. 3.1.3 In addition, Burnham Beeches SAC and Little Wittenham SAC have been considered as they are within 10 - 12 km of the AONB boundary and could theoretically be affected indirectly by the Management Plan. Figure 1: Sites considered as part of the screening 6 Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2014-2019 Screening for Appropriate Assessment - Baseline Report Table 1: Special Areas of Conservation that were assessed for significant adverse effects of the Chilterns AONB Management Plan Name Location Area (ha) Qualifying Comments on Nature Key Environmental Possible Impacts Arising From Plan Risk of Other Plans To Be Risk of Significant Features1 Conservation Conditions to Support Significant Considered in Effect In Importance Site Integrity Effect? Combination Combination? Aston Rowant Buckinghamshire; 127.75 Juniper on One of the best Regular management No negative impacts. The plan actively No Local Plans No Oxfordshire heaths or remaining examples to keep vegetation promotes management of sites to meet calcareous in UK of lowland open and allow conservation objectives. grasslands juniper scrub seedlings to establish. Beech forests on (between 1,000 and neutral to rich 2,000 individuals of Prevention of rabbit No negative impacts. The plan actively No Local Plans No soils varying age classes). grazing of seedlings. promotes management of sites to meet conservation objectives Minimal air pollution. Although the plan encourages No Local Plans. No. Although local countryside recreation, the policies plans propose specifically encourage environmentally housing growth, they sustainable access including minimising will be subject to car use and visiting countryside close to Appropriate home. Assessment themselves, and the Management Plan policies specifically encourage environmentally sustainable access. 1 Terminology is the lay or English name as used by JNCC 7 Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2014-2019 Screening for Appropriate Assessment - Baseline Report Burnham Beeches Buckinghamshire 382.76 Beech forests on Wood-pasture, with Minimal atmospheric No negative impacts. There are no No Local Plans No acid soils veteran trees. pollution - may policies within the AONB Management One of the richest increase the Plan to increase visits to Burnham sites for saproxylic susceptibility of beech Beeches. invertebrates in the trees to disease and UK, including 14 Red alter epiphytic Data Book species. communities. Nationally important epiphytic Restricted public No negative impacts. There are no No Local Plans No communities. access (extensive policies within the AONB Management public access may Plan that would impact on Burnham compromise ability to Beeches retain falling timber associated with old trees). No negative impacts. There are no policies within the AONB Management Maintenance of an Plan that would impact on Burnham No Local Plans No adequate and stable Beeches hydrological system 8 Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2014-2019 Screening for Appropriate Assessment - Baseline Report Chilterns Buckinghamshire; 1276.48 Beech forests on A distinctive feature in Minimal atmospheric No negative impacts - policies No Local Plans No. Although Local Beechwoods Hertfordshire; neutral to rich the woodland flora is pollution - may specifically encourage