Nature Conservation

Eastleigh Borough Local Plan 2016-2036 Eastleigh Borough Local Plan 2016-2036 the Water Framework Directive. PUSH Source Reference/ title are working closely with Natural England and the Environment Agency on the PUSH Green Infrastructure emerging IWMS to ensure that it meets Strategy the requirements for the Local Plan Solent Disturbance and (‘programme level’) habitats regulations Mitigation Project assessment and to continue research where needed to ensure that longer term Solent Waders and development remains compliant. Until Brent Goose Strategy the IWMS is adopted, proposals will be 2010 (and emerging considered against policies DM2 and DM3 updates) and relevant site specific policies. Hampshire Biodiversity Hampshire Biodiversity 5.55 The Council will work with Southern Water Partnership/ Action Plan Hampshire Biodiversity to ensure that any constraints at waste Biodiversity Information Centre water treatment works can be addressed, Opportunity Areas there is sufcient capacity to ensure Environment Agency River Basin water supply and to improve utilities Management Plan infrastructure to meet the needs of existing JNCC and Defra A Green Future: Our communities. Developers should contact 25 Year Environment utilities providers to establish requirements Plan to Improve the in respect of all the proposed site Environment allocations. Development should include SUDS to reduce surface water entering UK Post 2010 the sewage system (see policy DM6 Biodiversity Framework Sustainable surface water management Defra Biodiversity 2020: A and watercourse management). Strategy for England’s Wildlife and ecosystem services 2011 Nature conservation NPPF Paragraphs 17, 117-119 Relevant issues and objectives 5.56 The Borough contains areas of Issues (Chapter 2): G2, G3, G4 international, European and national conservation interest, focused mainly Objectives (Chapter 3): II, iv, vii on the rivers and coast. A network of locally designated sites contains ancient Related local and national strategies/policies and wet woodlands, wetland, species- (see Appendix B) rich meadows and remaining or former heathland. Development in the Borough Source Reference/ title could have efects on these and other Economic Development sites beyond its boundaries, for example Strategy 2010 through recreational pressures, surface Eastleigh Borough water run- of and trafc emissions. The Council Integrated Water Management Strategy potential impact of the Local Plan and 89 Eastleigh Borough Local Plan 2016-2036 June 2018 its policies on European sites is assessed and Priority Biodiversity Links. Priority in the Local Plan’s Habitats Regulations biodiversity areas include the Biodiversity Assessment (HRA). Developments may Opportunity Areas in the Borough also require bespoke HRAs to address identified by the South East Biodiversity their specific impacts. Areas of particular Forum and other areas, including some sensitivity outside but within reach of that are subject to various forms of nature the Borough include other parts of the conservation designation. They cover areas Solent coastline and the New Forest. In which hold the greatest concentrations of relation to development proposals in south priority habitats, species and land where Hampshire, there are concerns about the there is potential to enhance or restore impact on migrating and over-wintering priority habitats. Priority biodiversity links birds on the Solent shores and the New include land where there is an opportunity Forest due to increases in recreational to enhance, restore or create areas, pressure from new development. PUSH has corridors or stepping stones of habitat to worked with Natural England and others facilitate the movement of priority species. as part of the ‘Solent Recreation Mitigation They can join or link priority biodiversity Partnership’ which has developed a areas. The importance of connecting sites definitive strategy to implement mitigation is also recognised in the Local Nature measures to address this impact jointly Partnership’s work on a strategic approach across south Hampshire. The Council to the delivery and enhancement of a Local will contribute as required to the Ecological Network (LEN) for the county. implementation of the SRMP’s proposals, and will also implement any measures 5.59 All the sites subject to nature conservation identified as part of its own interim project designations are identified at in Policy proposals which are not incorporated into DM11 and shown on the policies maps. the wider SRMP scheme. The Council will The priority biodiversity areas and links also continue to work with partners on are shown in the Eastleigh Borough the forthcoming Solent Waders and Brent Biodiversity Action Plan 2012 - 2022. Goose Strategy. Policy DM11, Nature 5.57 In respect of the New Forest, the Council will conservation continue to work together with partners to assess the impact of development proposals The Borough Council will work with on protected areas and measures to mitigate statutory and voluntary agencies and any impacts as necessary. Eastleigh will also developers to: continue to work in partnership with New Forest District Council to help to deliver the i. Protect, conserve and enhance Green Halo. areas subject to international, national and local nature 5.58 The Borough Council has produced a conservation designations; Biodiversity Supplementary Planning Document which explains the nature ii. Assist in achieving national, county conservation interest and site designations and local biodiversity targets as in the Borough and the ways in which the set out in Biodiversity Action Plans Council will protect and enhance them. The (BAPs); Council has also produced a Biodiversity iii. Protect, conserve and enhance Action Plan (BAP), revised in 2012, networks of natural habitats and which defines Priority Biodiversity Areas 90 Eastleigh Borough Local Plan 2016-2036 Eastleigh Borough Local Plan 2016-2036 features, including the Priority d. contributing to major elements Biodiversity Areas and Priority of the PUSH Green Infrastructure Biodiversity Links identified in the Strategy and other strategies for Eastleigh Borough Biodiversity Action the provision and enhancement Plan 2012-2022, and watercourses of multifunctional green and wetland complexes, woodland infrastructure including green trees and hedgerows important to routes, ecological networks and biodiversity and local character; and biodiversity enhancements(see policy S10). iv. On new development sites seek enhancement of biodiversity Development which is likely to through the protection and adversely afect the integrity of an connection of existing and international or European nature provision of new habitats and conservation site will not be permitted. features compatible with the native Development which is likely to have biodiversity characteristics of the a direct or indirect adverse efect on Borough. a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) will not be permitted, unless the The Council will work with PUSH, Borough Council is satisfied that there Natural England, the Environment are no alternative solutions and the Agency and other wildlife reasons for the development clearly organisations to develop and outweigh the harm to the nature implement a strategic approach to conservation value of the site. the protection of European sites from the direct and indirect efects of Development will not be permitted if development including recreational it is likely to have a direct or indirect disturbance. Within Eastleigh Borough adverse efect on a Site of Importance this will include: for Nature Conservation (SINC) or Local Nature Reserve as shown on the a. implementing the Solent policies map (or on a more recent plan Recreation Mitigation Strategy provided by the Hampshire Biodiversity and contributions to recreation Information Centre), unless it can be mitigation for the New Forest or demonstrated to the satisfaction of the alternative agreed approaches if Borough Council that: required; i. the benefits of the development b. preserving the water quality clearly outweigh the adverse efects and flows within the Itchen and on the nature conservation value of Hamble; the site; c. protection of the River Itchen ii. the adverse impacts are SAC including water quality and unavoidable; the southern damselfly from the impacts of nitrogen deposition; and iii. measures are taken to mitigate or, if this is not possible, compensate for the adverse efects, such that 91 Eastleigh Borough Local Plan 2016-2036 June 2018 the development will result in at b. have regard to the need to protect, least no net loss of biodiversity; and opportunities to enhance the and Priority Biodiversity Areas and the Priority Biodiversity Links set out iv. bufers free from development are in the Council’s Biodiversity Action provided to Locally designated sites Plan45; and within or adjacent to developments to alleviate recreational impact and c. for residential developments impacts on edge habitats and to within 5.6 km of the Solent Special maintain dark skies. Protection Areas (SPAs), require contributions to the Solent Impacts on priority habitats and Recreation Mitigation Strategy or protected and priority species will not site specific measures to address be permitted unless the applicant can recreational disturbance as evidence that; agreed by the Council and Natural England. • there has been thorough habitat and species surveys; International and National nature conservation designation • there is an overall biodiversity gain; and 5.60 Where

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