Decision details

Solent Disturbance Mitigation

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport seeking to adopt the Solent Disturbance Mitigation Project.

The adoption of the Solent Disturbance Mitigation Project (SDMP) is sought to enact the requirements of the Conservation of Habitats and Specific Regulations (2010) on all new residential development and to ensure that planning permissions are protected from challenge.  The SDMP will mitigate the impacts of new residential development on the Solent Special Protection Areas, alongside all other Partnership Urban South Hampshire Authorities.

 

 

Decision:

 

(i)

To note the context of this report;

 

(ii)

To approve the adoption of the Solent Disturbance Mitigation project  so that all new residential development is required to mitigate against the harm caused, in line with policy CS22 of the Core Strategy (2010), by either the submission of site specific schemes of work or payment of a £172 contribution per residential unit, prior to implementation of the development; and

 

(iii)

Delegate the detailed mechanism for securing the planning obligations to the Head of Culture and Planning, as it evolves.

 

Reasons for the decision:

1.

In line with all other PUSH Authorities, the Council has a duty as a competent authority to ensure that new development does not cause an unacceptable impact to protected species.  Developers also need to ensure that their developments mitigate any potential impact and this will also protect new residential planning applications from challenge by third parties, including Natural England. A copy of the relevant minutes from the PUSH Joint Committee held on the 25th March 2014, which sets out more of the background, are appended to this report.

2.

To ensure that appropriate mechanisms are in place to mitigate against the potential harm on Solent Special Protection Areas, that otherwise would be caused by the increased recreational disturbance from new residential development within the surrounding Solent area.

 

Alternative options considered:

1.

Failure to mitigate would lead to breach of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010.

2.

Doing nothing would lead to possible legal challenge by third parties, including Natural England on new residential planning permissions issued.

 

Other Relevant Matters Concerning the Decision:

None

Report author: Stephen Harrison (Development)

Publication date: 19/08/2014

Date of decision: 19/08/2014

Decided at meeting: 19/08/2014 - Cabinet

Effective from: 28/08/2014

Accompanying Documents: