Thames Basin Heaths:  Balancing housing needs with the protection of Natura 2000 sites

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...