Habitats Regulations Assessment Hartlepool Local Plan Preferred Options Consultation Document August 2017 1 Prepared by Graham Megson MSc, Hartlepool BC Revision history Revision Date Details Prepared by Approved by 1 20/05/2016 First draft Graham Megson Sarah Scarr 2 10/11/2016 First revision Graham Megson Matthew King 3 18/08/2017 Final revision Graham Megson Matthew King 1. Summary .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8 2. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 10 3. Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) ............................................................................................................................................................... 11 3.1 Legislation .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 3.2 HRA - the four stages .................................................................................................................................................................................. 13 4. The Hartlepool Local Plan - HRA Stage 1 Screening ........................................................................................................................................... 14 4.1 European Sites considered ......................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Table 1. European Sites considered in the screening process ....................................................................................................................... 14 4.2 Underlying SSSIs and condition status of units .......................................................................................................................................... 16 4.3 HRA – Stage 1 European Sites – interest features, vulnerabilities & potential for adverse effects from Hartlepool Local Plan policies . 17 Table 2. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 17 Table 3. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 19 Table 2a. Further detail of the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast SPA and Ramsar, SSSI units. ................................................................... 20 Table 4. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 20 2 Table 5. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 22 Table 6. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 23 Table 7. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 25 Table 8. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 26 Table 9. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 26 Table 10. ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 27 Table 11. ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 29 Table 12. ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 29 5. HRA stage 1 screening ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 31 5.1 HRA stage 1 screening – Part A: initial analysis of the Hartlepool Local Plan policies for Likely Significant Effects (LSE) on European Sites. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 31 Table 13. Screening Analysis of Local Plan policies for potential adverse effects on the integrity of internationally designated sites. See also Appendix 2. ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 32 5.2 HRA stage 1 screening – Part B: Further analysis of the Hartlepool Local Plan policies for LSE on European Sites.............................. 48 4.3 HRA Stage 1 - findings ................................................................................................................................................................................ 72 6. HRA Stage 2 - Appropriate Assessment of Policies HSG1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 ................................................................................................ 73 6.1 Bird and recreation studies .............................................................................................................................................................................. 73 Table 14. Studies used to inform the HRA. ...................................................................................................................................................... 73 6.2 Bird populations – at designation (1995) ......................................................................................................................................................... 74 Table 15. T&CC SPA/ Ramsar Conservation Objectives ................................................................................................................................. 74 6.3 Direct LSE ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 74 6.3.1 Direct LSE on European Sites – habitat loss ........................................................................................................................................... 74 6.4 Indirect LSE ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 76 6.4.1 Indirect LSE on European Sites - Issue - Atmospheric pollution ............................................................................................................. 76 3 6.4.2 Indirect LSE on European Sites – Issue – nutrient enrichment via dog faeces. ..................................................................................... 77 6.4.3 Indirect LSE on European Sites - Issue – Recreational disturbance....................................................................................................... 78 Table 17. Beach visiting behaviour ................................................................................................................................................................... 84 Table 18. Popular beaches ................................................................................................................................................................................ 84 Table 19. Frequency of greenspace visits. ....................................................................................................................................................... 85 Table 20. Preference for types of greenspace. ................................................................................................................................................. 86 Table 21. Preference of sites visited. ................................................................................................................................................................ 87 Table 22. Means of travel. ................................................................................................................................................................................. 87 Table 23. Table of reports available which