Local Plan Supporting Documents - HRA and SA

Support

Representation ID: 6757

Received: 03/01/2024

Respondent: Natural England

Natural England welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Habitats Regulations Assessment of the Rutland Local Plan, as a statutory consultee and specialist adviser on the application of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.

We are satisfied that the Screening Report follows accepted methodology and is in line with appropriate legislation and guidance. We also acknowledge that policies that may have a Likely Significant Effect on a European Site have been identified and further considered through an Appropriate Assessment.

Natural England agrees with the conclusion of the HRA that the Preferred Options Local Plan will have no adverse effects on the integrity of Rutland Water SPA, Rutland Water Ramsar, or Baston Fen SAC, alone or in combination.

Support

Representation ID: 6758

Received: 03/01/2024

Respondent: Natural England

Natural England has reviewed the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and considers that it provides a comprehensive assessment of this stage of the Local Plan. We note that Alternatives have been assessed and cumulative impacts have been adequately addressed.
From the SA report we particularly highlight the following points where there is some uncertainty and may require further consideration in the next stage of the SA process:
• The section on Biodiversity & Geodiversity has identified development allocations which are in proximity to designated conservation sites and that some of these may require further consultation with Natural England as they have the potential to lead to significant negative
effects on biodiversity and geodiversity. This uncertainty has been acknowledged and we recognise that the SA shows that the policy framework would provide appropriate protection to designated sites and protected species. In addition policies on Green Infrastructure and
BNG would support and enhance ecological connectivity but would depend to an extent on the design and layout of development.
• On the section on Landscape we note that the SA finds the extent to which negative effects on landscape will be mitigated is uncertain and will depend on the adequacy of the design and layout of development.
We presume that the next stage of the SA for the Regulation 19 of the Local Plan will set out a monitoring programme to evaluate the ongoing effects of the plan.