Planning for the Protection of European Sites: Habitat Regulations Assessment/Appraisal (HRA) Evidence Gathering / Baseline Report for the Gloucestershire Minerals Local Plan Update 4 June 2014 HRA Baseline / Evidence Report for Minerals Local Plan Page 1 Contents European Sites in and within 15km of Gloucestershire’s boundary ................................................. 3 Section 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................... 4 International / European Sites - An Introduction ........................................................................ 4 Update 4 for the Minerals Local Plan (MLP) ............................................................................. 5 Background to Evidence Gathering for HRA ............................................................................. 5 Updated List of Consultees ....................................................................................................... 6 Other Plans & Projects ............................................................................................................. 7 HRA Reporting: Methodology ................................................................................................. 10 Section 2: European Sites in Gloucestershire & within 15km of its administrative boundary ........ 11 Rodborough Common ............................................................................................................ 11 Dixton Wood ........................................................................................................................... 14 Wye Valley & Forest of Dean Bat Sites ................................................................................... 17 River Wye ............................................................................................................................... 20 Wye Valley Woodlands ........................................................................................................... 23 North Meadow & Clattinger Farm ........................................................................................... 26 Cotswold Beechwoods ........................................................................................................... 29 Bredon Hill .............................................................................................................................. 32 Walmore Common .................................................................................................................. 35 Severn Estuary ....................................................................................................................... 38 Avon Gorge Woodlands.......................................................................................................... 48 Section 3: Conclusion and Contact Details .................................................................................. 51 Appendix 1 List of Consultees and Responses on the MLP HRA Update ............................... 52 Appendix 2 Spatial Distribution of Active* Mineral Sites in Gloucestershire. ........................... 54 HRA Baseline / Evidence Report for Minerals Local Plan Page 2 European Sites in and within 15km of Gloucestershire’s boundary HRA Baseline / Evidence Report for MCS Page 3 Section 1: Introduction International / European Sites - An Introduction The EU Natura 2000 network provides ecological infrastructure for the protection of sites which are of exceptional importance in respect of rare, endangered or vulnerable natural habitats and species within the European Union. These sites, which are also referred to as ‘European Sites’ consist of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Offshore Marine Sites (OMSs). Ramsar sites (Internationally Important Wetlands) are treated as it they were European Sites in accordance with the Government’s policy statement of November 2000, the DEFRA Circular 01/2005 (paragraph 5) and the National Planning Policy Framework 2012 (paragraph 118). The European Sites in Gloucestershire or within 15km of its administrative boundary are: Rodborough Common SAC – (Stroud) Dixton Wood SAC – (Tewkesbury) Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Bat Sites SAC – (Forest of Dean, Monmouthshire) River Wye SAC – (Forest of Dean, Monmouthshire, Herefordshire, Powys) Wye Valley Woodlands SAC – (Forest of Dean, Monmouthshire, Herefordshire) North Meadow and Clattinger Farm SAC – (Wiltshire) Cotswold Beechwoods SAC – (Stroud, Cotswold, Tewkesbury) Bredon Hill SAC – (Worcestershire) Walmore Common SPA, Ramsar – (Forest of Dean) Severn Estuary SPA, SAC, Ramsar – (Stroud, Forest of Dean, South Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire, Bristol City, North Somerset, Newport, Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan) Avon Gorge Woodlands SAC – (City of Bristol) The requirements for Habitats Regulation Assessment/Appraisal (HRA) of plans or projects is outlined in Article 6(3) and (4) of the European Communities (1992) Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (‘Habitats Directive’). Gloucestershire County Council acting as Mineral Planning Authority is a ‘competent authority’ under the ‘Habitats Directive’. The Directive applies a precautionary principle, and plans can only be permitted once it has been shown that there will be no adverse effect on the integrity of the European Sites in question. It is possible that plans may still be permitted if there is a lack of viable alternatives and there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest as to why they should go ahead. Previous rulings show that these cases are rare and in this scenario compensatory measures will need to be implemented to ensure the overall integrity of the site network. The requirements of the Habitats Directive are enshrined in national law by The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (as amended) which is sometimes referred to as the ‘Habitats Regulations’. The HRA process for land use plans is specifically covered by Regulation 102 of the legislation with Regulation 61 applying to all plans and projects where HRA may be required. The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 which is sometimes referred to as the ‘Habitats Regulations’states at 102: “Where a land use plan – (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 the site, the plan-making authority for that plan must, before the plan is given effect, make an appropriate assessment of the implications for the site in view of that site’s conservation objectives.” HRA Baseline / Evidence Report for Minerals Local Plan Page 4 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF, 2012) highlights European Sites at paragraphs 118, 119, 166, 167 and 192. Draft guidance by Defra (December 2012) to be confirmed in 2013 also provides assistance on HRA requirements. The purpose of HRA of land use plans is to ensure that the protection of the integrity of European Sites is a part of the planning process at a national and local level. Please note that Appropriate Assessment (AA) is a specific stage within the HRA process which may be required once the first stage of screening has been carried out. Update 4 for the Minerals Local Plan (MLP) This HRA Update Report has been produced for the emerging MLP which is being progressed now that the Waste Core Strategy has been adopted (2012). It is an update of the HRA Evidence Gathering / Baseline Report (Updates 2 & 3) which reflected the comments of consultees, in particular those of Natural England. This latest report as well as other HRA documents related to the Minerals Local Plan that may be produced can be viewed on-line at: www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/extra/article/107942 This updated report is relevant to the Gloucestershire Minerals Core Strategy Preferred Options Paper (January 2008) and the Gloucestershire Minerals Site Options and Draft Policy Framework document which is due to be consulted on in early 2014. Background to Evidence Gathering for HRA The Gloucestershire MWDF Sustainability Appraisal (SA) Framework (comprising the SA Context Report and the SA Scoping Report)* contains a large volume of environmental data and specifically details the sites and species protected under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC). Thus the evidence gathering process for HRA started with, and is linked to the SA Framework process. *All original and subsequently updated SA Reports are available at the following website address: www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/extra/article/108058 The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Draft Guidance on HRA/AA (August 2006) states at paragraph 2.3 that: “The comprehensiveness of the assessment work undertaken should be proportionate to the geographical scope of the option and the nature and extent of any effects identified. It would be inappropriate and impracticable to assess the effects in the degree of detail that would normally be required for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of a project.” At paragraph 4.1 the guidance says that it would be best practice to collect information especially in relation to: 1. European Sites within and outside the plan area potentially affected; 2. The characteristics of these European Sites; 3. Their conservation objectives; and HRA Baseline