Local Plan Issues and Options - Habitat Regulations Assessment

Closed 16 Mar 2020

Opened 13 Jan 2020

Results updated 20 Oct 2020

The consultation on the Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) for the Local Plan Issues and Options document ran from 13 January to 16 March 2020.

An analysis of responses received to the consultation are included as part of the Issues and Options Consultation Report.

Further information on the Local Plan Review 2040 and the current timetable can be found here.

The full responses made by individuals and organisations specifically to the HRA consultation can be found below. We have noted that further comments on the HRA have been included in general responses to the Issues and Options consultation and these can be viewed here.

 

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Overview

We are now consulting on the Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) for the Local Plan Issues and Options document. The consultation will take place from Monday 13 January to Monday 16 March 2020.

The HRA assesses the Local Plan policies and proposals in terms of their impact on Special Protection Areas (SPA), Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Ramsar sites, ensuring any significant impact is avoided or identifying how and where mitigation can be employed. The HRA is evidence that supports the Local Plan and helps inform the Council's decisions on where to locate development.

This is the first stage in the HRA process. The purpose is to record the features for which the designation has been selected and the conservation objectives for the designation. In all cases the following need to be recorded:

  • What are the SAC/SPA/Ramsar’s qualifying interest features?
  • What are the sensitivities of the SAC/ SPA/Ramsar’s qualifying interest features?
  • What is the geographic extent over which the SAC/ SPA/Ramsar’s qualifying interest features could be affected, for example in ‘Functionally Linked Land’?

The HRA conducts a high level assessment of the Local Plan on these designations.

Why your views matter

The formal requirement to carry out a HRA is set out within Article 6 of the EC Habitats Directive 1992, and transposed into British law by the Conservation of Habitats & Species Regulations 2010.

Areas

  • All Areas

Audiences

  • Anyone from any background

Interests

  • carbon neutrality
  • renewable energy
  • recycling
  • settlement tiers
  • garden town
  • rural centre
  • distribution of housing
  • site selection
  • new homes
  • affordable housing
  • gypsies, travellers and travelling showpeople
  • accessible housing
  • lifetime homes
  • self-build
  • economic growth
  • economic development
  • employment land
  • town centre vitality
  • retail
  • health
  • social interaction
  • lifestyle
  • leisure
  • natural environment
  • built environment
  • deprivation
  • somerset west and taunton council
  • aims and objectives
  • natural environment
  • built environment
  • public realm
  • protected areas
  • waterways
  • air quality
  • rural
  • coastal
  • urban
  • new development
  • community infrastructure levy (CIL)
  • telecommunications
  • water and sewerage
  • transport