Draft Topic Paper 5: Natural Environment/Biodiversity
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Wiltshire Local Development Framework Working towards a Core Strategy for Wiltshire Draft topic paper 5: Natural environment/biodiversity Wiltshire Core Strategy Consultation June 2011 Wiltshire Council Information about Wiltshire Council services can be made available on request in other languages including BSL and formats such as large print and audio. Please contact the council on 0300 456 0100, by textphone on 01225 712500 or by email on [email protected]. Wiltshire Core Strategy Natural Environment Topic Paper 1 This paper is one of 18 topic papers, listed below, which form part of the evidence base in support of the emerging Wiltshire Core Strategy. These topic papers have been produced in order to present a coordinated view of some of the main evidence that has been considered in drafting the emerging Core Strategy. It is hoped that this will make it easier to understand how we had reached our conclusions. The papers are all available from the council website: Topic Paper TP1: Climate Change TP2: Housing TP3: Settlement Strategy TP4: Rural Issues (signposting paper) TP5: Natural Environment/Biodiversity TP6: Water Management/Flooding TP7: Retail TP8: Economy TP9: Planning Obligations TP10: Built and Historic Environment TP11:Transport TP12: Infrastructure TP13: Green Infrastructure TP14:Site Selection Process TP15:Military Issues TP16:Building Resilient Communities TP17: Housing Requirement Technical Paper TP18: Gypsy and Travellers 2 Table of Contents Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................5 1 INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................7 1.1 Background .....................................................................................................................7 1.2 Aims and Objectives........................................................................................................8 2 INTERNATIONAL, NATIONAL AND REGIONAL REGULATIONS AND POLICY..................9 2.1 European / International..................................................................................................9 2.2 National .........................................................................................................................10 2.3 Local Policy Framework ................................................................................................12 3 COLLATION OF EVIDENCE ................................................................................................13 3.1 Natura 2000 Network ....................................................................................................13 3.2 Sites of Special Scientific Interest .................................................................................14 3.3 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty............................................................................14 3.4 Nature Map....................................................................................................................18 3.5 County Wildlife Sites .....................................................................................................19 3.6 Landscape Character Assessment ...............................................................................21 3.7 Special Landscape Areas..............................................................................................23 3.8 Green Belt and Rural Buffers ........................................................................................26 3.9 Local Geological Sites...................................................................................................28 3.10 Wiltshire Biodiversity Action Plan ..................................................................................29 3.11 Best and Most Versatile Agricultural Land ....................................................................31 3.12 Natural Processes.........................................................................................................32 3.13 Tranquillity.....................................................................................................................35 3.14 Sustainable Design .......................................................................................................37 3.15 Disturbance ...................................................................................................................38 4 COLLABORATIVE WORKING..............................................................................................40 4.1 Internal Consultation .....................................................................................................40 4.2 External Consultation ....................................................................................................40 5 LINKS TO OTHER STRATEGIES ........................................................................................41 5.1 Wiltshire Green Infrastructure Strategy .........................................................................41 5.2 Energy, Change and Opportunities Strategy (2011-2020) ............................................41 5.3 Cotswold Water Park Master Plan ................................................................................41 5.4 South West River Basin Management Plan ..................................................................42 5.5 North Wessex Downs AONB Management Plan ..........................................................42 5.6 Cranbourne Chase AONB Management Plan...............................................................43 5.7 Cotswolds AONB Management Plan ............................................................................43 5.8 UK / Wiltshire BAP ........................................................................................................44 5.9 Wessex Stone Curlew Project.......................................................................................45 5.10 Interaction with Other Policy Areas within the LDF .......................................................45 6 IDENTIFYING PRIORITIES AT A COMMUNITY LEVEL......................................................46 6.1 Public Consultation........................................................................................................46 6.2 Community Plans / Strategies.......................................................................................47 7 WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE EVIDENCE HIGHLIGHTS ................................................................................................................................48 7.1 Wiltshire Wide Issues....................................................................................................48 7.2 Issues Relating to a Discreet Place...............................................................................51 8 LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE AND BEST PRACTICE..................................................53 8.1 Adopted Core Strategies...............................................................................................53 8.2 Stakeholder Consultation ..............................................................................................54 8.3 Best Practice Guidance.................................................................................................56 8.4 Identifying and Testing Options for Addressing the Challenges....................................57 9 CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................66 9.1 Policy Text.....................................................................................................................66 3 9.2 Supporting Text.............................................................................................................68 10 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES .............................................................................71 11 GLOSSARY ......................................................................................................................71 4 Executive Summary The aim of this topic paper is to gather evidence to inform the preparation of the Wiltshire Local Development Framework, particularly Core Strategy policies in respect of the natural environment. These policies are required in order to achieve the relevant strategic objective ‘To protect and enhance the natural environment’. A wide range of source material has been reviewed including research, best practice, and legislation. The current policy framework has been analysed, key stakeholders have been consulted and community concerns and aspirations have been identified as part of this process. The information gathered as a result of this investigation has identified a wide range of potential threats to Wiltshire’s natural environment which could be exacerbated by planned development over the plan period. However it also identifies opportunities to guide development in a sustainable manner that not only protects our natural environment, but also provides opportunities to enhance it for future generations. Key themes which run throughout the paper and will need to be addressed in the Local Development Framework include: Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – nationally significant landscapes; Wiltshire holds a large proportion of the national resource; and national policies may not fully protect the setting of the AONBs. Strategic Nature Areas – regionally