Thames Basin Heaths: Balancing housing needs with the protection of Natura 2000 sites
Jan 03, 2016
Thames Basin Heaths: Balancing housing needs with the protection of Natura 2000
sites
• Defra Government department responsible for policy and regulations
on food, the environment and rural affairs
• Natural England Government’s advisor on natural environment Key role in designation of Natura 2000 sites Advisory/regulatory role in protection and management of
Natura 2000 sites.
Disturbance to Annex I birds
• Nightjars have lower density and poorer breeding success on urban, compared with rural heathlands.
• Woodlark nests are at a lower density and subject to a higher level of predation on disturbed sites.
• Less research on Dartford warblers, but some evidence suggests occupation of fewer territories in areas of urban development.
Thames Basin Heaths Visitor Survey
Dog-walking (59%)
Walking (32%)
Jogging (4%)
Cycling (6%)
Horse Riding (2%)
Picnic (4%)
Other (10%)
Car (81%)
Van (2%)
bicycle (4%)
horse (1%)
foot (13%)
other (0%)
Figure 1 Reason for visiting the sites
Figure 2 Mode of transport
Draft Delivery Plan
• Managing access on the Natura 2000 site– Provision of wardens, local education initiatives
• Providing alternative open space within new developments– Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG)
• Funded by housing developers
Greenspace Quality Guidance
New greenspace must:– Be more than 2ha
– Safe, accessible parking
– Circular route of at least 2.3km
– A variety of semi-natural habitats
– Allow dogs off leads
Zoned approach
• 3 zones:
• 0-400 metres: exclusion zone
• 400m-2km: Green space provision @ 16ha per 1000 new residents
• 2km – 5km: Green space provision @ 8ha per 1000 new residents
Local authority partnership
• Produced joint advice that local authorities in the partnership have to apply
• Requires 8 ha green space per 1000 new residents within affected zone
• Standards for quality of green space in developments
• Measures for managing access on Natura 2000 site
• Identifies measures for monitoring and review
TBH Planning Zones
Summary
• Developed solution that allows more housing within area while protecting Thames Basin Heaths
• Secured future monitoring and review
• Similar approach being used for other Natura 2000 sites in the UK– But not applicable to every situation...