Habitats Regulations Assessment (draft) of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework Consultation Report – Thematic Policies and Strategic Sites December 2018 3 Prepared by The Greater Manchester Ecology Unit Clarence Arcade Stamford Street Clarence Arcade Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6DL
[email protected] For: GM Combined Authority December 2018 4 [Type text] TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Introduction 2 Brief Description of the Plan 3 Identification of European designated sites concerned 4 The Nature Conservation Interests of the “Screened In” European Sites 5 Initial Screening Opinion – Policies and Strategic Sites 6 Assessment of Impacts and Available Mitigation – Policies 7 Assessment of Impacts and Available Mitigation – Strategic Sites 8 Consideration of ‘In Combination’ Effects with Other Plans and Proposals 9 Overall Conclusions and Recommendations For Further Screening / Appropriate Assessment References APPENDIX 1: Other Plans considered in this Assessment as part of in-combination Assessment HABITATS REGULATIONS ASSESSMENT OF THE GREATER MANCHESTER SPATIAL FRAMEWORK – THEMATIC POLICIES AND STRATEGIC SITES 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Paragraph 6(3) of the European Habitats Directive dealing with the conservation of European protected sites states that: 6(3).—(1) A competent authority, before deciding to undertake, or give any consent, permission or other authorisation for, a plan or project which— (a) is likely to have a significant effect on a European site or a European offshore marine site (either alone or in combination with other plans or projects), and (b) is not directly connected with or necessary to the management of that site, must make an appropriate assessment of the implications of the plan or project for that site in view of that site’s conservation objectives.