Local District Council Report on the Sherwood Forest Area March 2010
Newark and Sherwood Publication Core Strategy - Assessment under the Habitats Regulations1.2 BACKGROUND
(PPS12) highlights the need for Core Strategies to handle contingencies. It was therefore felt appropriate to look at the risks to the Core Strategy of a new European site being identified in the District over the course of the lifetime of the Core Strategy. Appendix C does that.
1.2.1 Natura 2000 is the European Union-wide network of protected areas, recognised as ‘sites of Community importance’ under the EC Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora). These sites, which are also referred to as European sites, consist of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Offshore Marine Site (OMS).
1.2.2 In addition to the above, sites designated under the Ramsar Convention (known as Ramsar sites) also
receive the same degree of protection under Planning Policy Statement 9 (PPS9) (ODPM, 2005) as a matter of planning policy. SPAs and SACs are known as European sites and are part of the Natura 2000 network and all three types of site are also referred to as International sites.
1.2.3 The purpose of Appropriate Assessment (AA) of land use plans is to ensure that protection of the integrity of European sites is a part of the planning process at a regional and local level.
1.2.4 AA of plans and projects is required by Articles 6(3) and 6(4) of the European Habitats Directive:
“6(3) Any plan or project not directly connected with or necessary to the management of the site but likely to
have a significant effect thereon, either individually or in combination with other plans or projects, shall be
subject to appropriate assessment of its implications for the site in view of the site’s conservation objectives.
In the light of the conclusions of the assessment of the implications for the site and subject to the provisions
of paragraph 4, the competent national authorities shall agree to the plan or project only after having
ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of the site concerned and, if appropriate, after having
obtained the opinion of the general public”
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