Appropriate Assessment
This page is for people wishing to know about Habitats Regulations Assessment and the Appropriate Assessment of the Core Strategy.
Habitats Regulations Assessment
The European Directive (92/43/EEC) of May 1992, on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and Wild Flora and Fauna (the Habitats Directive) sets out the means to protect exceptional rare, endangered or vulnerable natural habitats and species, within the European Community. The Directive requires EU Member States to create a network of protected wildlife areas, known as Natura 2000 sites. This network consists of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs), the latter established to protect wild birds under the Birds Directive (Council Directive 79/409/EEC).
A Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) is required of land use plans under this Directive, as transposed into UK Law by the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (The Habitats Regulations) 2010.
Impacts of a Land Use Plan
The purpose of the HRA is to assess the implications of a land-use plan, individually or in combination with other plans or projects, on these Natura 2000 sites. In normal circumstances, a land-use plan can be brought into effect only after having ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of a Natura 2000 site in terms of its nature conservation objectives. This may well mean taking measures to avoid adverse impacts, including finding alternative options, as part of the plan-making process.
HRA is a staged process involving first, a ‘screening stage’, to determine whether the plan in itself, or ‘in combination’ with others, would be likely to have a significant effect on a European Site. If the answer is ‘yes,’ then the adverse effects on the integrity of each European site must be considered via an ‘Appropriate Assessment’ (AA) stage.
Local Natura 2000 Sites
Part of one Natura 2000 site, the Mole Gap to Reigate Escarpment SAC, lies within the borough, with the majority of the area being located in the adjacent Mole Valley District Council. A further five Natura 2000 sites are located within 15 Km of the borough boundary.
The HRA Report of the Core Strategy
Our approach to the HRA was developed in cooperation with Mole Valley District Council, Tandridge District Council and Surrey County Council . The scope of the assessment was prepared with regard to advice received from Natural England.
An HRA was undertaken to assess whether Reigate & Banstead’s Core Strategy is likely, in combination with other plans and projects, to have an adverse effect on the integrity of these Natura 2000 sites. This assessment also informed Reigate & Banstead’s Sustainability Appraisal (SA) forming part of the Local Development Framework.
An Appropriate Assessment was prepared for the Core Strategy: Proposed Submission Document (March 2012).
Previous Core Strategy Appropriate Assessment
An AA of the previous Core Strategy was originally prepared in November 2008. However, as a result of the Exploratory Meeting a revised AA was prepared in August 2009. This document incorporates the assessment of the Council's Core Strategy suggested modifications (for the Planning Inspector).
Contact
For further information please contact the Policy Team on 01737 276000 or email LDF@reigate-banstead.gov.uk.
Last updated : 02/03/2012
