Habitats Regulation Assessment East Cambridgeshire Local Plan June 2018 (Supersedes the November 2017 Screening Report) Contents Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................... 1 Non-Technical Summary .................................................................................................................. 1 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 1 Background to the East Cambridgeshire Local Plan ..................................................................... 1 Key Components of the Emerging East Cambridgeshire Local Plan ............................................. 2 Potential Impacts Arising from the Local Plan ............................................................................... 5 Report Purpose and Overview ...................................................................................................... 6 2. Habitats Regulation Assessment - Legislation and Requirements ................................................ 8 HRA Guidance and Best Practice ................................................................................................. 8 Main Stages of HRA ..................................................................................................................... 9 Consultation with Natural England .............................................................................................. 10 3. HRA Stage 1 Screening Methodology ........................................................................................ 12 Stages in HRA Screening Process.............................................................................................. 12 Screening Methodology .............................................................................................................. 12 Identification of Natura 2000 Sites to be Considered in the HRA ................................................ 12 Screening Categories ................................................................................................................. 19 Screening Assumptions Applied Regarding Likely Significant Effects ......................................... 20 Identification of Other Plans or Projects That May Act In-Combination ....................................... 25 4. HRA Screening Assessment of the Local Plan ........................................................................... 26 5. HRA Stage 2 Appropriate Assessment of the Local Plan ............................................................ 31 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 31 Ouse Washes Ramsar / SPA/ SAC ............................................................................................ 33 Physical Damage or Loss of Habitat (offsite) .............................................................................. 33 Disturbance from Increased Recreational Pressure .................................................................... 43 Breckland SAC/SPA .................................................................................................................. 48 Physical Damage or Loss of Habitat (offsite) .............................................................................. 48 Disturbance from Increased Recreational Pressure .................................................................... 53 Devil’s Dyke SAC ....................................................................................................................... 57 Disturbance from Increased Recreational Pressure .................................................................... 57 Reduced Air Quality .................................................................................................................... 60 Fenland SAC (including Wicken Fen and Chippenham Fen Ramsars) ...................................... 65 Disturbance from Increased Recreational Pressure .................................................................... 65 Disturbance from Urbanisation Effects ........................................................................................ 70 Ouse Washes SPA/ SAC/Ramsar and Fenland SAC (Wicken Fen and Chippenham Fen) – Changes in Water Quality and Quantity ..................................................................................... 72 6. Conclusions and Recommendations .......................................................................................... 84 7. Future Stages ............................................................................................................................. 85 Appendix 1: Key Stages of the Habitats Regulation Assessment Process for Plans ....................... 86 2 Appendix 2: Details of the Designated Natura 2000 sites ............................................................... 87 Devil’s Dyke SAC ....................................................................................................................... 87 Wicken Fen Ramsar .................................................................................................................. 91 Chippenham Fen Ramsar .......................................................................................................... 93 Ouse Washes SAC, SPA, Ramsar ............................................................................................. 97 Breckland SPA, SAC ............................................................................................................... 101 Appendix 3: Review of Potential In-Combination Effects with Plans or Projects ........................... 105 Review of Potential In-Combination Effects with Local Development Plans of Local Authorities surrounding East Cambridgeshire ................................................................................................ 105 Appendix 4: HRA Stage 1 Screening Assessment ........................................................................ 114 Appendix 5: Core Areas of Sensitive Bird Populations ................................................................. 171 Appendix 6. Natural England’s Response to the HRA Screening Report of the Further Draft East Cambridgeshire Local Plan .......................................................................................................... 173 Appendix 7. Natural England’s Response to the HRA Screening Report of the Proposed Submission East Cambridgeshire Local Plan ............................................................................... 176 Appendix 8. Correspondence from Environment Agency and Anglian Water Regarding Adverse Water Abstractions from Aquifers Connected to Natura 2000 Sites .............................................. 179 Table 1: Summary of Strategic and Development Management Policies in the Local Plan (Proposed Submission Stage, November 2017) ............................................................................... 2 Table 2: Local Plan Development Summary of Potential Effects and Impacts .................................. 5 Table 3: HRA Stage 1 Screening Key Stages ................................................................................ 12 Table 4: Natura 2000 Sites ............................................................................................................ 13 Table 5: Natura 2000 Sites: Vulnerability, Pressures and Threats (Summarised from Natural England's Site Improvement Plans and Advice to the Council) ....................................................... 16 Table 6: Categories for HRA Screening ......................................................................................... 19 Table 7: Summary of Findings for Natura 2000 Sites Screening, Based on Impact Type ............... 28 Table 8: HRA Stage 2 Appropriate Assessment Key Stages ......................................................... 32 Table 9: Data on the Presence of Berwick's Swan and Whooper Swan at Ouse Washes .............. 34 Table 10: Assessment of the Potential for Site Allocations in the Local Plan to Contain Functionally Connected Land to the Ouse Washes SPA/ Ramsar ...................................................................... 36 Table 11: Newly Arising Population Within 8km of the Ouse Washes SAC / SPA / Ramsar ........... 44 Table 12: Estimate of Newly Arising Households with Dogs within 8km of Ouse Washes SAC/ SPA/Ramsar .................................................................................................................................. 44 Table 13: Site Allocations in the Local Plan that fall within a Breckland SSSI IRZ .......................... 49 Table 14: Newly Arising Population Within 8km of Breckland SPA / SAC ...................................... 54 Table 15: Estimate of newly Arising Households with Dogs within 8km of Breckland SPA/SAC ..... 54 Table 16: Newly Arising Population Within 8km of Devil's Dyke SAC ............................................. 58 Table 17: Estimate of Newly Arising Households with Dogs Within 8km of Devil's Dyke SAC ........ 58 Table 18: Site Allocations Screened in for Potential Likely Significant Effects on Devil's Dyke SAC in Relation to Reduced Air Quality .................................................................................................. 61 Table 19: Newly Arising Population Within 8km of Wicken Fen SAC ............................................