INDIVIDUAL EXECUTIVE DECISION
SITES OF NATURE CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE
EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR ENVIRONMENT – BOB KERR
EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR ECONOMIC REGENERATION AND
CULTURE – DAVID BUDD
DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT – IAN PARKER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF REGENERATION – TIM WHITE
6 NOVEMBER 2006
PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
1.
To approve 17 identified Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI) for
consultation with the Tees Valley Biodiversity Action Plan Partnership (TVBAPP).
BACKGROUND AND EXTERNAL CONSULTATION
Sites of Nature Conservation Importance
2.
SNCIs are non-statutory designations for sites that are of value in the local area in
terms of habitat types, floral and faunal variety. This value is established from
surveys. SNCIs are also referred to as Local Sites.
3.
A Local Sites Review Group was set up by the Department of the Environment,
Transport and the Regions (April 2000) and defined the overall objective of an
SNCI system as follows:
“The series of non-statutory local sites seek to ensure in the public interest the
conservation, maintenance and enhancement of species, habitats, geological and
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geomorphological features of substantive nature conservation value. Local site
systems should select all areas of substantive value including both the most
important and the most distinctive species, habitats, geological and
geomorphological features within a national, regional and local context. Sites
within the series may also have an important role in contributing to the public
enjoyment of nature conservation.”
4.
The importance of SNCIs is recognised in national planning guidance. Planning
Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation (PPS 9), advises
that SNCIs have a fundamental role to play in helping meet overall national
biodiversity targets, contributing to the quality of life and well being and in
supporting research and education. It advises that Local Development
Frameworks (LDFs) should identify local nature conservation areas on the
proposals map.
5.
Planning Policy Guidance 17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation
(PPG17) requires that audits of open space are carried out to ensure that high
quality open space of particular value to the community is identified and
protected. The PPG recognises that areas of high quality open space may include
areas that benefit wildlife and biodiversity. In Middlesbrough audits were carried
out in 2004/2005 and have informed the development of the consultation draft
Green Spaces Strategy.
6.
In 2004 the TVBAPP identified a series of targets and actions for the maintenance
and enhancement of 12 locally important species and 23 locally important habitat
types across the Tees Valley. For Middlesbrough this has been distilled down into
an Action Plan for Habitats and Species that identifies four locally important
species and 14 locally important habitat types. The Action Plan was approved by
the Local Strategic Partnership Environment Theme Group on the 1 November
2005. The designation of SNCIs through the LDF is an important component of
achieving the actions and targets set out in the Action Plan.
Current Situation
7.
Within Middlesbrough there are currently three types of nature conservation
designation, as follows:
i.
ii.
iii.
22 SNCIs;
10 Local Nature Spaces; and
3 Local Nature Reserves.
8.
The SNCIs and Local Nature Spaces were designated in Spaces for Nature, A
Nature Conservation Plan for Middlesbrough (1993), following botanical surveys
by Cleveland Wildlife Trust. The sites are also identified in the adopted Local
Plan (1999). A list of the sites is provided at Appendix A. Local Nature Spaces
was a non-statutory local designation, specific to Middlesbrough for sites that had
some wildlife or community interest but that did not merit SNCI designation.
9.
The three Local Nature Reserves - Stainton Quarry, Linthorpe Cemetery and
Berwick Hills Allotments – are statutory declarations, under the National Parks
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and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. These sites were designated, through
English Nature’s Wildspace! Grant Scheme (2001-2005) because of the
opportunities they provide for environmental education and access to local wildlife
for residents.
10.
In order to ensure a consistent Tees Valley approach to the designation of SNCI
sites, Tees Valley Wildlife Trust developed criteria for the identification of the
sites, on behalf of the TVBAPP. The criteria were based on the Department for
the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) publication, Local Sites –
Guidance on their Identification, Selection and Management. The Tees Valley
criteria were approved by the TVBAPP in June 2005, and a copy is available in
the Members’ Resource Library. The TVBAPP also agreed that the hierarchy of
nature conservation sites should be simplified and, therefore, non-statutory sites
(local nature spaces) will not be designated through the LDF.
11.
In 2004, the Council commissioned the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust to carry out a
comprehensive ecological survey of the 22 SNCIs, the 10 Local Nature Space
sites and other potential sites of nature conservation interest. 17 of the sites met
the Tees Valley criteria for designation as SNCIs. A list of the sites and plans
showing their boundaries is attached at Appendices B and C respectively. A more
detailed list of the habitats and species present on each site is available in the
Members Resource Library.
12.
In comparison to the 1993 designations there are a number of proposed changes.
Five sites that did not qualify for SNCI status in 1993 now meet the criteria, being
Berwick Hills and Ormesby Beck Complex, the section of Marton West Beck
adjacent to the golf course, Maze Park, Middlebeck, and the Old River Tees.
Twelve of the sites that qualified for SNCI status in 1992 no longer qualify, being
Acklam Whin, Stainton Vale Farm Hedge, Coulby Newham Pond, seven South
Middlesbrough Woodland sites, Nunthorpe Hall Grounds and Low Gill.
Next Steps
13.
The DEFRA guidance on SNCIs recommends a local sites partnership approach
to the identification, management, monitoring and enhancement of sites.
Established partnerships should be used where they exist. The list of sites and
survey data will therefore be presented to the TVBAPP for its ratification.
14.
The sites will then be taken forward for wider consultation through the LDF
process in the Environment Development Plan Document (DPD). The first stage
will be their inclusion in the Issues and Options report in September 2007. The
site boundaries will be identified in the submission draft Environment DPD and
accompanied by an appropriate planning policy. It is envisaged that this would be
similar to existing Local Plan policy E16, which seeks to protect SNCIs for their
nature conservation value unless the development is of overriding national,
regional or local importance and no alternative site is available. In such
circumstances mitigation or replacement habitat would be required. As with all
LDF policies and designations, they will be subject to independent examination
prior to adoption. The ratification of the sites by the TVBAPP will increase the
robustness of the evidence when it is considered at the examination.
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15.
Two of the proposed SNCIs are in locations that may be subject to future
development during the lifetime of the LDF, which covers the period to 2021. The
Berwick Hills/Ormesby Beck site lies within the Middlesbrough Local Plan’s
protected route for the East Middlesbrough Transport Corridor. The Maze Park
site is within the South Riverside Zone of the Stockton Middlesbrough Initiative,
which includes the proposals for the Green Blue Heart.
16.
Both sites are subject to a number of constraints on any future development. The
Berwick Hills/Ormesby Beck site is identified as a proposed SNCI due to the
presence of water vole and reed bed. Water voles are included on DEFRA’s list of
species of principal importance for the conservation of biological diversity. PPS9
advises that development that would harm the species or their habitat should only
be granted where the benefits of the development clearly outweigh the harm.
Reedbeds are a priority habitat under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and are a
nationally and regionally scarce resource. The site was also designated as a
Local Nature Reserve by the Council in 2003. The Maze Park site is owned by the
Wildlife Trust and subject to a restrictive covenant.
17.
At this stage the proposals for the Green Blue Heart and the East Middlesbrough
Transport Corridor are not sufficiently detailed to identify precise land
requirements and to assess the impact on the proposed SNCIs. It may, therefore,
be appropriate to have a dual designation on these two sites covering the
proposed future use and the SNCI. This would ensure that the wildlife and habitat
interest is fully considered and mitigation measures or compensatory provision of
habitat created if development were to proceed. This dual designation approach
has been adopted in the Local Plan for the Berwick Hills/Ormesby Beck site,
where the land is designated as green wedge, primary open space and Tees
Forest and for future development (proposed transport corridor). All LDF land use
and conservation designations will be the subject of future Executive reports at
appropriate stages during the document’s preparation.
OPTION APPRAISAL/RISK ASSESSMENT
18.
The main option relates to the number of sites proposed for SNCI designation
through the LDF. The 17 identified sites comply with the approved TVBAPP
criteria for identification of SNCIs. If other sites were included, or sites excluded,
the designation process would not be consistent with the established criteria. As
such, there are no other viable options.
FINANCIAL, LEGAL AND WARD IMPLICATIONS
19.
Financial – The proposed consultation with TVBAPP does not have any financial
implications. However, an amphibian survey is required for two sites to assess the
population size (see Appendix B). It is estimated that this will cost approximately
£2,000 and will be funded through the Countryside, Parks and Open Spaces
budget. The proposed SNCIs will be taken forward through the LDF process. The
costs of producing the LDF are being reviewed to reflect changes in costs and
profiling of expenditure over the years and it is expected that costs can be
contained in the Local Plans budget from 2007/8 onwards.
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20.
Legal Implications – Some of the species and their habitats identified in the
Action Plan are protected by law.
21.
Ward Implications - The proposed SNCIs are located in the wards of Acklam,
Ayresome, Beckfields, Beechwood, Brookfield, Coulby Newham, Kader, Ladgate,
Marton West, Middlehaven, Nunthorpe, Pallister, Stainton and Thornton, and
Thorntree. The enhancement of the natural environment will make Middlesbrough
a more desirable place for people to live and visit and for future generations’
enjoyment.
RECOMMENDATIONS
22.
It is recommended that the Executive Members approve the list of 17 SNCIs for
consultation with TVBAPP. The designations will then subsequently be taken
forward for consideration through the LDF process.
REASONS
23.
The recommendation is supported by the following reasons:
i.
to maintain and enhance priority habitats and locally important species; and,
ii.
to implement the Action Plan for Habitats and Species in Middlesbrough.
BACKGROUND PAPERS
24.
The following background papers were used in the preparation of this report:
i.
guidelines for the selection of Sites of Nature Conservation
Importance in the Tees Valley;
ii.
list and location of Sites of Nature Conservation Importance in
Middlesbrough; and,
iii.
Local Sites: Guidance
Management (Defra).
on
their
Identification,
Selection
and
AUTHORS: Sue Antrobus/Martin Coleclough
TEL NO: 01642 515610 / 728069
______________________________________________________
Website: http://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk
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