Aldingbourne Neighbourhood Plan Habitats Regulations Assessment Aldingbourne Parish Council Project number: 60571087 October 2019 Portland Neighbourhood Plan Aldingbourne Parish Council Project number: 60571087 Quality information Prepared by Verified by Approved by Dr Damiano Weitowitz Dr James Riley Dr Max Wade Consultant Ecologist Technical Director (CEnv Technical Director (CEcol, MCIEEM) FCIEEM) Revision History Revision Revision date Details Authorized Name Position 0 14/10/19 Draft Report for JR James Riley Technical Director Client Review Distribution List # Hard Copies PDF Required Association / Company Name Prepared for: Aldingbourne Parish Council AECOM Portland Neighbourhood Plan Aldingbourne Parish Council Project number: 60571087 Prepared for: Aldingbourne Parish Council Prepared by: AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited Midpoint, Alencon Link Basingstoke Hampshire RG21 7PP United Kingdom T: +44(0)1256 310200 aecom.com © 2019 AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited. All Rights Reserved. This document has been prepared by AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited (“AECOM”) for sole use of our client (the “Client”) in accordance with generally accepted consultancy principles, the budget for fees and the terms of reference agreed between AECOM and the Client. Any information provided by third parties and referred to herein has not been checked or verified by AECOM, unless otherwise expressly stated in the document. No third party may rely upon this document without the prior and express written agreement of AECOM. Prepared for: Aldingbourne Parish Council AECOM Portland Neighbourhood Plan Aldingbourne Parish Council Project number: 60571087 Table of Contents 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 6 Background to the Project ....................................................................................................................................... 6 Legislation ............................................................................................................................................................... 6 Report Layout.......................................................................................................................................................... 8 2. Methodology .................................................................................................... 9 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 9 A Proportionate Assessment ................................................................................................................................... 9 The Process of HRA ............................................................................................................................................. 10 Task One: Test of Likely Significant Effect ............................................................................................................. 11 Task Two: Appropriate Assessment ....................................................................................................................... 11 The Geographic Scope ......................................................................................................................................... 12 The ‘In Combination’ Scope .................................................................................................................................. 12 3. Impact Pathways ........................................................................................... 14 Loss of Functionally Linked Land .......................................................................................................................... 14 Recreational Pressure ........................................................................................................................................... 15 Disturbance of non-breeding birds (September to March) .................................................................................... 15 Trampling / Mechanical Damage ........................................................................................................................... 18 Water Quantity, Level and Flow............................................................................................................................. 20 Water Quality ........................................................................................................................................................ 21 Atmospheric Pollution (Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition) .................................................................................... 22 Construction Related Activities (dust emissions, water run-off) ............................................................................. 24 4. Test of Likely Significant Effects (LSEs)......................................................... 26 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................... 26 Loss of Functionally Linked Land .......................................................................................................................... 26 Recreational Pressure ........................................................................................................................................... 28 Water Quality ........................................................................................................................................................ 30 Water Quantity, Level and Flow............................................................................................................................. 32 Atmospheric Pollution (Through Nitrogen Deposition) .......................................................................................... 32 5. Appropriate Assessment ................................................................................ 34 Loss of Functionally Linked Land .......................................................................................................................... 34 Singleton and Cocking Tunnels SAC .................................................................................................................... 34 Water quantity, level and flow ................................................................................................................................ 37 Arun Valley SPA / Ramsar ..................................................................................................................................... 37 Atmospheric Pollution ........................................................................................................................................... 38 Duncton to Bignor Escarpment SAC ..................................................................................................................... 38 6. Conclusions & Recommendations ................................................................. 41 Singleton and Cocking Tunnels SAC .................................................................................................................... 41 Arun Valley SPA / Ramsar ..................................................................................................................................... 41 Duncton to Bignor Escarpment SAC ..................................................................................................................... 42 Appendix A Map of European Sites .......................................................................... 43 Appendix B Background to European Sites ............................................................. 44 Singleton and Cocking Tunnels SAC .................................................................................................................... 44 Duncton to Bignor Escarpment SAC ..................................................................................................................... 45 Arun Valley SPA .................................................................................................................................................... 45 Arun Valley SAC .................................................................................................................................................... 47 Pagham Harbour SPA / Ramsar ............................................................................................................................ 47 Chichester and Langstone Harbours SPA / Ramsar ............................................................................................. 49 Solent Maritime SAC ............................................................................................................................................. 52 Prepared for: Aldingbourne Parish Council AECOM Portland Neighbourhood Plan Aldingbourne Parish Council Project number: 60571087 Appendix C Policy Screening ................................................................................... 55 Figures Figure 1: The legislative basis for Appropriate Assessment. ................................................................................... 7 Figure 2: Tiering in HRA of Land Use Plans. ......................................................................................................... 10 Figure 3: Four-Stage Approach to Habitats Regulations Assessment