Habitats Regulations Assessment of the Broxbourne Emerging Local Plan
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Habitats Regulations Assessment of the Broxbourne Emerging Local Plan Appropriate Assessment March 2018 Habitat Regulations Assessment of the Broxbourne Local Plan HRA Appropriate Assessment Final LC-311 Document Control Box Client Broxbourne Borough Council Report Title Habitats Regulations Assessment of the Broxbourne Local Plan Status Final Filename LC-311_Broxbourne_AA_12_120318JE.docx Date March, 2018 Author JE Reviewed JAC Approved NJD Photo: Northern Shoveler by Horoumono About this report & notes for the reader Lepus Consulting Ltd (Lepus) has prepared this report for the Every attempt has been made to predict effects as accurately as use of Broxbourne Borough Council. There are a number of possible using the available information. Many effects will limitations which should be borne in mind when considering the depend on the size and location of development, building results and conclusions of this report. No party should alter or design, construction, proximity to sensitive receptors and the change this report without written permission from Lepus. range of uses that takes place. The report was prepared ©Lepus Consulting Ltd between May 2017 and March 2018 and is subject to, and limited by, the information available during this time. HRA is a tool for predicting potential significant effects. The actual effects may be different from those identified. Prediction The report is not intended to be a substitute for Environmental of effects if made using an evidence based approach and Impact Assessment or Strategic Environmental Assessment. incorporates a judgement. The assessments are based on the best available information, Lepus Consulting Ltd, 1 Bath Street, Cheltenham, including that provided to Lepus by the Council and information Gloucestershire, GL50 1YE, (01242) 525 222, that is publicly available. No attempt to verify secondary data [email protected], www.lepusconsulting.com sources have been made and they are assumed to be accurate as published. HRA Appropriate Assessment of the Broxbourne Local Plan March, 2018 LC-311_Broxbourne_AA_12_120318JE.docx Contents 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 2 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................................................. 2 1.2 Appropriate Assessment Outputs .................................................................................................. 4 1.3 Regulations, Guidance and Methodology ................................................................................... 4 1.4 About the Local Plan ........................................................................................................................... 5 2 Methodology .................................................................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Habitats Regulations Assessment Methodology ...................................................................... 6 2.2 Dealing With Uncertainty ................................................................................................................... 7 2.3 Precautionary Principle ....................................................................................................................... 7 2.4 Likely Significant Effect ...................................................................................................................... 7 2.5 Limitations ............................................................................................................................................... 8 3 European sites ............................................................................................................................................... 10 3.1 About European sites ........................................................................................................................ 10 3.2 Identification of relevant European sites ................................................................................... 10 4 Lee Valley SPA & Ramsar .......................................................................................................................... 13 4.1 Background ........................................................................................................................................... 13 4.2 Qualifying features ............................................................................................................................. 15 4.3 Conservation of Lee Valley SPA ................................................................................................... 18 4.4 Management Regimes ....................................................................................................................... 19 4.5 Impact Pathways ................................................................................................................................. 22 4.6 Public Access and associated disturbances caused by the Local Plan ........................ 25 4.7 Pet cats (Felis catus) ........................................................................................................................ 26 4.8 Pet dogs (Canis familiaris) .............................................................................................................. 30 4.9 Effects of the Local Plan in-combination .................................................................................. 39 4.10 Lee Valley SPA & Ramsar: Conclusion ........................................................................................ 41 4.11 Lee Valley SPA & Ramsar: Recommendations ....................................................................... 43 5 Epping Forest SAC ..................................................................................................................................... 48 5.1 Background .......................................................................................................................................... 48 5.2 Public access associated disturbances ...................................................................................... 48 5.3 Advice from Natural England on Air Pollution ....................................................................... 50 5.4 Local Plan induced traffic increases ............................................................................................ 51 5.5 Current situation ................................................................................................................................. 56 5.6 Memorandum of Understanding .................................................................................................. 59 5.7 Potential mitigation measures for Epping Forest SAC ....................................................... 60 Lepus Consulting for Broxbourne Borough Council 1 HRA Appropriate Assessment of the Broxbourne Local Plan March, 2018 LC-311_Broxbourne_AA_12_120318JE.docx 5.8 Trip Reduction ...................................................................................................................................... 61 5.9 Nitrogen management ..................................................................................................................... 64 5.10 Epping Forest SAC: Conclusions ................................................................................................. 65 6 Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC .............................................................................................. 67 6.1 Background .......................................................................................................................................... 67 6.2 Advice from Natural England on In-Combination Effects ................................................. 67 6.3 Vulnerabilities of Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC ................................................. 68 6.4 Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC: Public access and associated disturbances (including illicit vehicles) ............................................................................................................................ 74 6.5 Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC: Conclusion ............................................................ 77 6.6 Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC: Recommendations ............................................ 77 7 Conclusions and Recommendations ................................................................................................... 78 7.1 Assessment findings ......................................................................................................................... 78 7.2 Response to statutory consultees ............................................................................................... 80 Lepus Consulting for Broxbourne Borough Council 2 HRA Appropriate Assessment of the Broxbourne Local Plan March, 2018 LC-311_Broxbourne_AA_12_120318JE.docx Appendices Appendix A Conservation objectives of European Sites Appendix B European sites and current threats and pressures Appendix C Comments from Natural England and response Appendix D Roads within 200m of Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC Appendix E Photos taken during site visit to Lee Valley SPA Figures Figure 2.1 Summary flow chart of HRA process Figure 3.1 Map of European sites within 15km of Broxbourne Figure 4.1 Lee Valley SPA & Ramsar and Rye Meads Figure 4.2