Habitats Regulations Assessment

Habitats RegulaƟ ons

Assessment

Vowchurch & District Group

Neighbourhood Area

February 2016

Habitat Regulation Assessment Screening

Contents

1 Introduction

Figure 1: Vowchurch and District Group Neighbourhood Area

2 The requirement to undertake Habitats Regulations Assessment of

neighbourhood development plans

3 Methodology

4 Results of the Vowchurch and District Initial Screening Report

Figure 2: Vowchurch and District Group Neighbourhood Area and

European sites.

5 Conclusion

Appendix 1 – Initial Screening Report (August 2013)

1 Introduction

1.1 Vowchurch and District Group Parish Council is producing a Neighbourhood

Development Plan for the parish administrative area, in order to set out the

vision, objectives and policies for the development of the parish up to 2031.

1.2 The Vowchurch and District Group Neighbourhood Area was designated on

the 30

September 2013 and the map below (Fig1) demonstrates the extent

of the area.

Figure1 – Vowchurch and District Group Neighbourhood Area

2 The requirement to undertake Habitats Regulations Assessment

of neighbourhood development plans

2.1 The requirement to undertake HRA of neighbourhood plans was confirmed by

the amendments to the “Habitats Regulations” published for England and

Wales in July 2007 and updated in 2013. Therefore, when preparing its NDP,

Herefordshire Council together with Vowchurch and District Group Parish

Council is required by law to carry out an assessment known as “Habitats

Regulations Assessment”. It is also confirmed within Regulation 32 schedule

2 of the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012.

2.2 Article 6(3) of the EU Habitats Directive provides that:

Any plan or project not directly connected with or necessary to the

management of the [European] 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.

2.3 HRA is an impact-led assessment and refers to the assessment of the

potential effects of a neighbourhood development plan on one or more

European sites, including Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas

of Conservation (SACs):

• SPAs are classified under the European Council Directive ‘on the

conservation of wild birds’ (79/409/EEC; ‘Birds Directive’) for the

protection of wild birds and their habitats (including particularly

rare and vulnerable species listed in Annex 1 of the Birds

Directive, and migratory species).

• SACs are designated under the Habitats Directive and target

particular habitats (Annex 1) and/or species (Annex II) identified

as being of European importance.

• Ramsar sites support internationally important wetlands habitats

2.4 For ease of reference during HRA, general practice has been that these three

designations are collectively referred to as either Natura 2000 or European

sites. This means that a Screening Assessment is carried out with regard to

the Conservation Objectives of the European Sites and with reference to

other plans or projects to identify if any significant effect is likely for any

European Site.

3 Methodology

3.1 The HRA of neighbourhood development plans is undertaken in stages and

should conclude whether or not a proposal or policy in a neighbourhood

development plan would adversely affect the integrity of any European site.

This is judged in terms of the implications of the plan for a site’s ‘qualifying

features’ (i.e. those Annex I habitats, Annex II species, and Annex I bird

populations for which it has been designated) and are measured with

reference to the conservation objectives for those qualifying features as

defined by Natural England.

3.2 The first process is to undertake an initial screening report to determine the

need to undertake the requirement for a HRA, this initial screening identifies

whether the Plan could impact upon any European site that could be within

the Neighbourhood Area or nearby.

3.3 If a European Site is within the Neighbourhood Area or the Neighbourhood

Area could impact upon a European site then this will need to be taken into

account and a full screening assessment will need to be undertaken.

3.4 The full screening stage consists of a description of the plan, identification of

potential effects on European Sites, assessing the effects on European Sites

(taking into account potential mitigation provided by other policies in the plan).

For neighbourhood development plans the outcome should demonstrate

there are no likely significant effects upon the European sites. If any likely

significant effects occur then there will need to be amendments to the NDP

made and be re-screened until all likely significant effects have been

mitigated.

4 Results of the Initial Screening Report

4.1 The initial Vowchurch and District Group Screening Report was undertaken in

August 2013 and found that the neighbourhood area did not contain any

European sites or their proximity would not be affected by policies and

proposals within the proposed Vowchurch and District Group Neighbourhood

Plan

4.2 The map below shows Vowchurch and District Group Neighbourhood Area

and demonstrates that there are no European sites within the parish or in

close proximity. The initial Vowchurch and District Group Screening Report in

attached in appendix 1.

Figure 2 –Vowchurch and District Group Neighbourhood Area and European

sites.

5 Conclusions

5.1 It is therefore concluded that a full Habitat Regulation Assessment will not be

required for the Vowchurch and District Group Neighbourhood Plan.

Appendix 1

Neighbourhood Area:

Vowchurch & District Group

Neighbourhood Area

Parish Council:

Vowchurch & District Group Parish Council

Neighbourhood Area Designation Date:

30/09/2013

This document is copyright of Herefordshire Council, please contact the Neighbourhood Planning

team if you wish to reuse it in whole or part

Initial Habitat Regulations Assessment and Strategic Environmental

Assessment Screening Notification

The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulation 2012 (Reg. 32)

Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (d)

Introduction

This Initial Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) and Strategic Environmental

Assessment (SEA) Screening has been undertaken to assess whether any European

Sites exist within or in proximity to the Neighbourhood Area which could be affected by

any future proposals or policies.

Through continual engagement the outcomes of any required assessments will help to

ensure that proposed developments will not lead to Likely Significant Effects upon a

European Site or cause adverse impacts upon other environmental assets, such as the

built historic or local natural environment.

Initial HRA Screening

River Wye (including the River Lugg) SAC:

Does the Neighbourhood Area have the River

Wye (including the River Lugg) in or next to its

boundary?

The River Wye is 4.11km away from the

Group Parish

Is the Neighbourhood Area in the hydrological

catchment of the River Wye (including the River

Lugg) SAC?

The Parish is not within the hydrological

catchment of the River Wye

If yes above, does the Neighbourhood Area have

mains drainage to deal with foul sewage?

Not Applicable

Downton Gorge SAC:

Is the Neighbourhood Area within 10km of

Downton Gorge SAC?

Downton Gorge is 34.9km away from the

Group Parish

HRA Initial Screening: Map showing relationship of Neighbourhood Area with European Sites

(not to scale)

River Clun SAC:

Does the Neighbourhood Area include: Border

Group Parish Council or Leintwardine Group

Parish Council?

River Clun does not border the Group

Parish

Usk Bat Sites SAC:

Is the Neighbourhood Area within 10km of the

SAC boundary?

Usk Bat Sites are 20.2km away from the

Group Parish

Wye Valley & Forest of Dean Bat Sites SAC:

Is the Neighbourhood Area within 10km of any of

the individual sites that make up the Wye Valley &

Forest of Dean Bat Sites?

The Group Parish is 29.3km away from

Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Bat Sites

Wye Valley Woodlands SAC:

Is the Neighbourhood Area within 10km of any of

the individual sites that make up the Wye Valley

Woodlands Site?

The Group Parish is 26.02km away from

the Wye Valley Woodlands

HRA Conclusion:

The assessment above highlights that no European Sites will need to be taken into account in the

future Neighbourhood Development Plan for the Vowchurch & District Group Neighbourhood Area

and a Full HRA Screening will not be required.

The following environmental features are within or in general proximity to the Vowchurch & District

Group Neighbourhood Area and would need to be taken into account within a Strategic Environmental

Assessment. In addition, the NDP will also need to consider the other SEA topics set out in Guidance

Note 9a to ensure that the plan does not cause adverse impacts.

SEA features

Total

Explanation

SEA

required

Strategic Environmental Assessment Initial Screening for nature conservation landscape and

heritage features

Air Quality Management Areas

There are no AQMA’s within the Group

Parish

Ancient Woodland

Wallstone Wood; Greens Wood; Ton

Wood (border); Lower Park Wood;

Birchy Park Wood; Kiln Wood; Rushden

Wood; Barretts Hill Wood; Lady Coppice

and The Birches; Brampton Hill Wood 2

(border); Eaton Hill Wood; Ravenshoot

and Dunsall Woods (border); Tan House

and Hay Brooks Woods; Chanstone

Wood; Cae-Gwyn Wood; Park Wood;

Lawn Wood; Lan Awr Wood; Holly

Wood; Gigfran Wood; Cefn-Cist Wood;

Ruinsford Wood (border); Wern Fawr;

Glibes Wood

Areas of Archaeological

Interest

There are no AAIs within the Group

Parish

Areas of Outstanding Natural

Beauty

There are no AONBs within the Group

Parish

Conservation Areas

There are no Conservation Areas within

the Group Parish

European Sites

There are no SACs within the Group

Parish

Flood Areas

Flood Zones 2 and 3 follow the River

Dore through Vowchurch and

Turnastone Parishes. There are also

Flood Zones running along Escley Brook

through Michaelchurch Escley Parish

Listed Buildings

Numerous

There are numerous Listed Buildings

scattered throughout the Group Parish

Local Sites (SWS/SINCs/RIGS)

32 (SWS)

Greens & Wallstone Woods, Whitehall

Coppice; Vowchurch Common;

Timberline Wood and adjoining

Woodlands; Brampton Hill Wood

(border); Newbarns, Dunsall,

Ravenshoot, WDS and Pontapina Break

(border); Eaton Hill Wood; River Dore;

Chanstone Wood and adjoining

Woodland; Bacton Woods; Russells

Coppice and adjoining grassland

(border); St Margarets Churchyard;

Lower House Common; Crow Wood and

Meadow and adjoining Woodland;

Canon Tump Common; Meadow near

Upper Crossway; Meadow near Graig

Farm; Upper Court Meadow; Woodland

at The Folly; Wayne Herbert Quarry;

Roadside bank opposite Llanafon Farm;

Wern Ifor Wood; Ashen Coppice, Holly

and Court Woods; Escley Brook;

Rockyfold Farm (border); Glibes Wood;

Wern Fawr; Pikes Farm Meadows; Cefn

Hill Common; Caeiron Meadow and

adjoining Meadows; Vagar Hill

Common; Field near Myndd Brith

(border); Dulas Brook

Long distance footpaths/trails

(e.g. Herefordshire Trail)

Herefordshire Trail; Three Rivers Ride

Mineral Reserves

There are no Minerals Reserves Sites

within the Group Parish

National Nature Reserve

There are no NNRs within the Group

Parish

Registered & Unregistered

parks and gardens

Unregistered

Michaelchurch Court; Bacton Manor

(border); Morehampton (border);

Tyberton Court (border)

Scheduled Ancient Monuments

Lower Park Wood Camp; Monnington

Straddle Motte; Cothill Tump, a Motte

Castle 500m north west of Cothill Farm;

Motte Castle with associated courtyard

and mill leat, 130m north west of

Chanstone Mill; Moated Site, fishponds

and associated buildings platforms

117m west of Chanstone Mill; Motte

Castle, Chapel, Post-Medieval House

and Garden remains east of Urishay

Castle Farm (border); Motte and Bailey

Castle 200yds (180m) south west of

Newcourt Farm (border); Earthwork on

western border of Michaelchurch Escley

Parish, west of Holt Farm House

Sites of Special Scientific

Interest

Caeiron Meadow (Favourable); Pikes

Farm Meadows (Favourable); Wayne

Herbert Quarry (Favourable); Chanstone

Wood (Favourable)

Decision Notification:

The initial screening highlights that the Neighbourhood Development Plan for the Vowchurch &

District Group Neighbourhood Area:

a) Will require further environmental assessment for Strategic Environmental Assessment.

Assessment date: 13/08/2013

Assessed by: James Latham

Appendix 1: European Sites

The table below provides the name of each European Site, which has been screened in for the purposes of neighbourhood planning in Herefordshire; includes

their site features of integrity; and vulnerability data. This is based on the sites individual features of integrity and their vulnerabilities, which could include

distance criteria. This has been used in identifying which parishes are likely to require a full HRA Screening of their future Neighbourhood Development Plan, to

establish if their plan might have Likely Significant Effects on a European Site.

Downton Gorge

Site Features: Tilio-Acerion forests of slopes, screes and ravines

Vulnerability data: 10km for air quality associated with poultry units or other intensive agricultural practices.

River Clun

Site Features: Freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera

Vulnerability data: Water quality is important to maintain the site feature. Parishes either side of the River Clun will be affected.

River Wye

Site Features: Water courses of plain to montane levels with the Ranunculion fluitantis and Callitricho-Batrachion vegetation. Transition mires and quaking

bogs. White-clawed (or Atlantic Stream) crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes. Sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus. Brook lamprey Lampetra planeri. River

lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis. Twaite shad Alosa fallax. Atlantic salmon Salmo salar. Bullhead Cottus gobio. Otter Lutra lutra. Allis shad Alosa alosa

Vulnerability data: Proximity: Developments should not be within 100m of the designated bank. Some developments beyond 100m may also have impacts

based on proximity and these issues should be addressed where possible when developing NDP policy and choosing site allocations.

Water Quality: Within the whole catchment of the River Wye, which includes the River Lugg, mains drainage issues with regards to water quality are being

resolved through the Core Strategy / Local Plan and development of a Nutrient Management Plan. Welsh Water should be consulted to ensure that the

proposed growth will be within the limit of their consents.

Otters: “An otter will occupy a ‘home range’, which on fresh waters usually includes a stretch of river as well as associated tributary streams, ditches, ponds,

lakes and woodland. The size of a home range depends largely on the availability of food and shelter, and the presence of neighbouring otters. On rivers, a

male’s home range may be up to 40km or more of watercourse and associated areas; females have smaller ranges (roughly half the size) and favour quieter

locations for breeding, such as tributary streams.

Otters without an established home range are known as ‘transients’. They are mostly juveniles looking for a territory of their own, or adults that have been

pushed out of their territories. Transient otters may use an area for a short while, but they will move on if conditions are not suitable or if they are driven away

by resident otters. Transients will have been important in extending the range of otters, but they are very difficult to identify from field signs.

Within a home range an otter may use many resting sites. These include above-ground shelters, such as stands of scrub or areas of rank grass, and

underground ‘holts’ – for example, cavities under tree roots and dry drainage pipes.”

(Source: EA website: http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/static/documents/Business/Otters_the_facts.pdf

accessed 09/04/2013)

Usk Bat Site

Site Features: Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection: European dry heaths, Degraded raised bogs still

capable of natural regeneration, Blanket bogs, Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation, Caves not open to the public, Tilio-Acerion forests of

slopes, screes and ravines. Annex II species of primary reason for site selection: Lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros, UK population 5%,

although it is suggested this is an underestimate.

Vulnerability data: Lesser Horseshoe bats are known to migrate between 5km and 10km between their summer and winter roosts. The Lesser Horseshoe

Bat is vulnerable to disturbance; light pollution; and habitat loss. Check with the planning ecologist for other issues.

Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Bat Sites

Site Features: Annex II species that are a primary reason for site selection: Lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros. Greater horseshoe bat

Rhinolophus ferrumequinum

Vulnerability data: Lesser Horseshoe bats are known to migrate between 5km and 10km between their summer and winter roosts. The Lesser Horseshoe

Bat is vulnerable to disturbance; light pollution; and habitat loss. Check with the planning ecologist for other issues.

Greater Horseshoe bats are known to migrate between 20-30km between their summer and winter roosts.

NDPs closest to the European Site will need to consider:

Woodland habitat buffer.

Lesser Horseshoe Bat: Old buildings; woodland locations; sheltered valleys, extensive deciduous woods or dense scrub, close to roost sites. In areas of

fragmented habitats, linear habitats such as hedgerows are important corridors. Vulnerable to loss or disturbance of both summer and winter roosts and

removal of linear habitat.

Greater Horseshoe Bat: Large buildings, pasture, edge of mixed deciduous woodland and hedgerows. Mixed land-use especially south-facing slopes, favours

beetles, moths and insects they feed on. During the winter they depend on caves, abandoned mines and other underground sites for undisturbed hibernation.

A system/series of sites required. Vulnerable to loss of insect food supply, due to insecticide use, changing farming practices and loss of broad-leaved tree-

cover and loss / disturbance of underground roosts sites.

Wye Valley Woodlands

Site Features: Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for site selection: Beech forests Asperulo-Fagetum, Tilio-Acerion forests of slopes, screes and

ravines, Taxus baccata woods of the British Isles. Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection: Lesser

horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros, 51-100 residents

Vulnerability data: Lesser Horseshoe bats are known to migrate between 5km and 10km between their summer and winter roosts. The Lesser Horseshoe

Bat is vulnerable to disturbance; light pollution; and habitat loss. Check with the planning ecologist for other issues. NDPs closest to the European Site will

need to consider: Woodland habitat buffer. Lesser Horseshoe Bat: Old buildings; woodland locations; sheltered valleys, extensive deciduous woods or dense

scrub, close to roost sites. In areas of fragmented habitats, linear habitats such as hedgerows are important corridors. Vulnerable to loss or disturbance of

both summer and winter roosts and removal of linear habitat.

Appendix 2: Wye Catchment Map