Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)
As part of the evidence base to support the New Local Plan a ‘Habitats Regulations Assessment’ has been produced.
The Habitats Regulations Assessment looks at the impact of the Local Plan Review on the 20 European Habitats Sites within or nearby the South Downs National Park. These are:
- Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) – designated for habitat types and species considered to be most in need of conservation at a European level (excluding birds);
- Special Protection Areas (SPA) – classified for rare and vulnerable birds and for regularly occurring migratory species; and
- Ramsar Sites – wetlands which are of international significance.
The 20 sites are:
- Arun Valley SAC/SPA/Ramsar
- Ashdown Forest SAC and SPA
- Butser Hill SAC
- Castle Hill SAC
- Chichester and Langstone Harbours SPA/Ramsar
- Duncton to Bignor Escarpment SAC
- East Hampshire Hangers SAC
- Ebernoe Common SAC
- Kingley Vale SAC
- Lewes Downs SAC The Mens SAC
- Pagham Harbour SPA and Ramsar
- River Itchen SAC
- Rook Clift SAC
- Shortheath Common SAC
- Singleton and Cocking Tunnels SAC
- Solent and Dorset SPA
- Solent Maritime SAC
- Wealden Heaths Phase II SPA
- Woolmer Forest SAC
Impacts are assessed using ‘impact pathways’. There are seven potential impact pathways which could link to development within the South Downs National Park. These are recreational pressure, atmospheric pollution, water quality, nutrient neutrality, water quantity, loss of functionally linked habitat and urbanisation.
An initial screening process considers impacts without mitigation. If there is a ‘likely significant effect’ then an ‘appropriate assessment’ is carried out to determine whether the New Local Plan is likely to result in an adverse effect on the integrity of the protected sites alone or in combination with other plans and projects.
Associated documents
Nutrient Budget: High levels of phosphorous and nitrogen nutrients can have an adverse impact on the integrity of the Solent Coast Special Protection Areas and the River Itchen Special Area of Conservation Habitats Sites. This nutrient demand calculation looks at allocations proposed in the new Local Plan, estimated windfall and any neighbourhood plan allocations that have yet to come forward. This gives an overall picture of the potential nutrient demand related to housing development for the relevant catchments.
Wealden Heaths Strategic Access Management and Monitoring (SAMM) Strategy: A SAMM strategy is required to mitigate the impacts from recreation and urban effects on the Wealden Heaths Complex of Habitats Sites. Joint work on the strategy is being undertaken by South Downs National Park Authority, East Hampshire District Council, Waverley Borough Council, with advice from Natural England. An initial strategy has been produced (see below). This will be further developed to produce a finalised strategy.