3.3.1 Natural Environment
Policy CP 10
Natural Environment
Enhancement of Biodiversity and Geodiversity
Through the promotion of positive action and the development control process, the enhancement of biodiversity and geodiversity in the district will be sought. There is an expectation that development will incorporate biodiversity or geological features where opportunities exist. Development that fails to exploit opportunities to incorporate available biodiversity or geological features will not be considered appropriate.
Ecological Network
Open spaces and areas of biodiversity interest will be protected from harm and the restoration, enhancement, expansion and linking of these areas to create ecological networks will be encouraged by:
- minimising the fragmentation of habitats, creation of new habitats and connection of existing areas to create an ecological network as identified in the Norfolk and Breckland District Ecological Network Mapping Report.
- appropriate management of valuable areas, such as County Wildlife Sites (CWSs);
- the designation of Local Nature Reserves and CWSs;
- creating green networks to link urban areas to the countryside; and
- maximising opportunities for creation of new green infrastructure and networks in sites allocated for development.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
Development that may affect an SSSI that is not also subject to an international designation will be subject to the follow requirements:
Development that may have an adverse impact upon an SSSI, either directly or indirectly, will need to be accompanied by a suitable environmental assessment which identifies the impact of the development on the SSSI and potential mitigation measures that may be incorporated to assuage any impact. Only in exceptional circumstances will development be permitted if it is shown to have a detrimental effect on a SSSI. For the purposes of this requirement exceptional circumstances will be only where the benefits are of national or regional importance and clearly outweigh the need for the protection of the site.
Regional and Local Sites
A full environmental appraisal will be required for development that may have a direct or indirect impact upon any site of regional or local biodiversity, or geological interest identified on the proposals map. These will include: County Wildlife Sites (CWS), Ancient Woodland, Local Nature Reserves, Habitats identified in the UK and Norfolk Biodiversity Action Plan and local sites of geodiversity. Only in exceptional circumstances will development be permitted that would have an adverse effect upon a site of regional or local biodiversity or geological interest. When considering exceptional circumstances regard will be had to:
- The regional and local importance of the site in terms of its contribution to biodiversity, scientific and educational interest, geodiversity, visual amenity and recreational value.
- The benefit that will be provided by the development in relation to the public interest.
Protection of Species
Development that may affect a species protected by legislation will be subject to the requirements set out in the relevant legislation. New built development will be restricted within 1,500m of the Breckland Farmland and Heath SPAs to ensure there are no significant effects on the qualifying features. Development will be restricted to the re-use of existing buildings or where existing development completely masks the new proposal from Breckland SPA. Beyond the SPA, a 1,500m buffer will be applied to areas where the qualifying features are known to exist, or where nesting attempts have been made. In this area, development may be acceptable where suitable alternative habitat (outside the SPA) can be secured.
Where development is likely to have an impact upon a species that is not protected by other legislation, and in particular where that species is identified in the Norfolk and UK Biodiversity Action Plan, there will be an expectation that the development proposal will be accompanied by an impact study commensurate with the scale of the impact and the importance of the species.
Wherever a proposed development may have a detrimental impact upon a designated site or protected species, conditions and/or planning obligations will be used to ensure that appropriate mitigation measures are utilised, where appropriate.
Reasoned Justification
- Add Comments
- View Comments (0)
From the Brecks to the Norfolk Valley Fens, Breckland has a diverse landscape, significant areas of which have particular conservation or environmental interest. The range and quality of these sites is crucial not only for wildlife, the environment, as an educational resource and more widely the biodiversity of the District as a whole, but are also beneficial to the overall quality of life in Breckland and the development of the area as an attractive place to live and work. As such, these areas are key components of the aspiration of achieving successful and sustainable development in Breckland.
- Add Comments
- View Comments (0)
There are a number of habitats within Breckland that cannot be recreated easily, if at all, and which are high priorities for action in terms of restoration of existing sites or buffering from external impacts or linking habitats.
- Add Comments
- View Comments (0)
The key ecological characteristics of the District can be summarised as
- The Brecks, comprising an extensive area of largely conifer plantation and arable farmland but with extensive areas of heathland within the forest and arable landscape. Other habitats within the Brecks include fen, grazing marsh and naturally fluctuating water bodies (meres and pingoes). A significant proportion of the Brecks, including arable farmland, is designated as European protected sites, forming the largest terrestrial protected area in Norfolk. These are designated for their suitability to support internationally important bird species, particularly Stone Curlews, Woodlark and Nightjar.
- A number of river valleys, including the Wensum, Waveney, Yare/Blackwarter, Nar, Whitewater, Tud, Wissey, Little Ouse and Thet. These have extensive areas of wetland habitats, comprised mainly of grazing marsh with areas of fen and reedbed; many of the rivers are recognised as chalk streams. Some of these habitats are European protected sites.
- Relatively extensive areas of woodland and shelterbelts, often associated with large estates. There is also a number of ancient woodlands and individual Veteran Trees scattered through the District.
- Arable landscape features, comprising Scots pine shelterbelts, hedgerows, mature trees, copses, ponds and field margins. These features are key components of the ecological network at a local scale; collectively, they amount to a significant biodiversity resource.
- The urban area of Thetford and other market towns, such as Attleborough and Swaffham.
- It is important to recognise that the Brecks and other habitats cross the County boundaries and that the ecological network should be consistent across this.
Some of these areas, such as the Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Ramsar sites are protected by International conventions or European Directives and these areas will be identified on the proposals map. In order to ensure that there are no significant effects on European habitats and species, the Appropriate Assessment requires that no new built development shall be located within 1,500m from SPA that are suitable for Stone Curlew. Within this area, development will be limited to green infrastructure providing that it can be determined that there will be no adverse impact on the qualifying features. Beyond the SPA boundary, other land identified as being suitable for Stone Curlew, or where these are present will be subject to a 1,500m development restriction buffer to ensure that there are no significant effects on the qualifying features. The areas beyond the SPA will be identified where there have been nesting attempts and where other conditions are suitable, such as soil type. In these areas, other forms of development may be acceptable providing other alternative land outside the SPA can be secured to mitigate any potential effects.
- Add Comments
- View Comments (0)
The Habitats Regulation Assessment identifies that development in Breckland will generate a recreational and visitor impact which has the potential to effect European sites beyond the boundary of the District. The North Norfolk Coast is less than 20km from the north of the District . Breckland Council is committed to working in partnership with adjoining Districts whose growth will also increase recreational and visitor pressure on the North Norfolk coast to consider necessary measures to manage visitor pressure.
- Add Comments
- View Comments (0)
Other habitats and species do not enjoy the benefit of legislative protection. In reflection of this lack of external protection and in recognition of their contribution to Breckland, the nationally, regionally or locally important areas of conservation or environmental interest which are not otherwise protected will be comprehensively protected through the planning process. To achieve this, allocations for development in subsequent DPDs will avoid the designated areas identified in the above policy. Designated sites in the above policy will also be protected through the development control process.
Much of Norfolk has suffered a dramatic reduction in biodiversity. A significant cause of this has been the rise of intensive agriculture over the past 60 years alongside the development of housing and infrastructure. Once extensive areas of habitats now comprise small remnants isolated from each other. With so much of the region’s wildlife fragmented in small and isolated habitats, there are significant consequences for its long-term survival. One approach to safeguarding wildlife in the long term is that of the Ecological Network – comprising of:
- Core areas – clusters of high value wildlife sites
- Buffer areas – surrounding the core areas to reduce the adverse impacts from adjacent land-uses
- Enhancement areas – focus on habitat creation
- Corridors and stepping stones – promote connectivity between sites and through wider landscape
- Add Comments
- View Comments (0)
The planning process, through allocations in subsequent DPDs and development controloffers the opportunity to integrate the concept of an Ecological Network into local planning and seek to conserve, restore and re-establish habitats and create linking corridors. The following map shows the Ecological Network in Breckland and the surrounding Districts.
- Add Comments
- View Comments (0)
- Add Comments
- View Comments (0)
New development also provides the opportunity to improve and enhance the biodiversity of the area, either by incorporating areas of biodiversity value into new development or by creating new areas as part of the design process. Failure to enhance these opportunities will significantly diminish the potential for the district to be enhanced as it develops.
- Add Comments
- View Comments (0)
The Breckland Environment Strategy commits Breckland to promote good ecological and sensitive management practice on Council owned and private land to ensure that the integrity of the valuable areas that make up the Ecological Network is maintained.
In addition to Breckland's ecological assets, Breckland contains some unique geodiversity. There are a number of SSSIs designated for geological interest and one Regionally Important Geological Site at Newton and Castle Acre Chalk Pit. Geodiversity can be lost through landfill, new development and aggregates extraction. However development can also provide the opportunity to improve and enhance the geodiversity of the area by retaining small sections as part of the design process and/or by rescue sediment logging.