Special Protection Area Current Position
Update on the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA): January 2009
The following provides a brief summary of the current position within Bracknell Forest in relation to the Thames Basin Heaths SPA. More detailed information on these issues can be found through the ‘Related Areas’ on the right-hand side of this page.
Bracknell Forest Borough Council’s Core Strategy DPD (one document in the Council’s Local Development Framework) has been found sound by an independent inspector. This includes Policy CS14, which relates specifically to the SPA. The Council formally adopted the Core Strategy DPD in February 2008.
The SPA Technical Background Document to the Core Strategy DPD sets out the avoidance and mitigation measures, which are necessary to remove the adverse effects which may arise from the policies within the Core Strategy DPD.
An SPA Implementation Strategy was approved by the Executive on 5 June 2007 and again ratified as chapter 11 within the Limiting the Impact of Development Supplementary Planning Document (LID). This provides the mechanism to implement the measures set out within the SPA Technical Background Document through the collection of financial contributions.
The Council has subsequently produced Open Space Management Plans in consultation with Natural England. These set out the precise works to areas of open space and the priority order for these enhancements. Four of these plans have now been finalised, Horseshoe Lakes, Englemere Pond, The Cut Countryside Corridor and Longhill Park cluster, and the remaining four will be produced over the coming months.
Natural England has now agreed that the Council's SPA Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy is sufficient to protect the SPA from harm caused by new development. If the plans are implemented as stated, with certain monitoring requirements, Natural England “will stop objecting to consultations on housing applications in those areas of the Borough which have mitigation in line with the avoidance strategy.” The financial contributions are set out in the SPA Implementation Strategy.
This position may be reviewed in the light of emerging guidance and changes to regional or local policy.
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