Village Housing Options and Settlement Boundaries

Object

Representation ID: 61293

Received: 17/01/2014

Respondent: Natural England

-This site would isolate Smith's Covert, an area of Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland.

-Encircling woodland with development could also increase pressures from recreation and anti-social behaviour.

-The NPPF promotes the protection and re-establishment of ecological networks as does the Lawton Review, Making Space for Nature: A review of England's Wildlife Sites and Ecological Network (2010).

-If development does go ahead for this site it should include measures to reduce the effects of the isolation of Smith's Covert. This could be done by providing green links through the development into the countryside and utilising the landscape and soft SuDS.

Object

Representation ID: 61603

Received: 17/01/2014

Respondent: Natural England

-Preferred site 1 in Hatton could include an area of Priority Habitat. We recommend you undertake investigations about what area of Priority habitat Hatton is. If Priority habitat is confirmed on this site then you should take steps to secure its protection and enhancement as a part of this site's green infrastructure.

-This would be in accordance with paragraphs 109 and 117 of the National Planning Policy Framework and with the biodiversity duty on public bodies, set out in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act.

Object

Representation ID: 61604

Received: 17/01/2014

Respondent: Natural England

Preferred sites are located within an area of wood pasture and parkland, which is a Priority Habitat. Sites 3 and 4 are brownfield sites, sites 1 and 2 are not, and development here has the potential in losses of Priority Habitat. Sites 1 and 4 are adjacent to The Lunch local site.
The local authority should take the potential ecological implications of these site allocations into account, considering paragraphs of the NPPF and the biodiversity duty established under the NERC Act 2006. We recommend requiring site master planning and specifying the need to design-in habitat retention and enhancement.

Object

Representation ID: 61605

Received: 17/01/2014

Respondent: Natural England

We note that the preferred site abuts the Railway Cutting local site. The local authority should satisfy itself that the allocation would not impact on this local site.

Object

Representation ID: 61606

Received: 17/01/2014

Respondent: Natural England

We note that the preferred site abuts the Railway Cutting local site. The local authority should satisfy itself that the allocation would not impact on this local site.

Object

Representation ID: 61609

Received: 17/01/2014

Respondent: Natural England

-Housing Allocations should avoid adverse impacts on National Trails and networks of public rights of way and links should be added and enhanced to existing networks.

-Accessible natural green space should be provided as an integral part of development.

-Green infrastructure maintains critical ecological links between town and country.
The SHLAA should consider the availability of GI and opportunities to enhance GI networks when considering sites for development.

-Land quality varies place to place. Not all land has been surveyed in detail and more detailed field survey may be required to inform decisions about specific sites.