Spelthorne Borough Council


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POLICIES RU11 & RU14 – Sites of Nature Conservation Importance
3.41	“In addition to the statutorily designated areas there is a wide range of sites providing different types of habitat throughout the Borough, the importance of which is significant at a more local level. Surrey Wildlife Trust has worked with the County Council and this Authority on a detailed and systematic survey of all potentially important sites which are identified as 'Sites of Nature Conservation Importance' (SNCIs). Sites have been selected by the Surrey Nature Conservation Liaison Group using criteria which have been applied across the County to ensure a consistent approach. The selected sites are shown on the Proposals Map and are listed in Appendix 2 with a brief description of the site and the reason for selection. The Council will keep under review the selected sites and the need to identify additional sites and will consult Surrey Wildlife Trust on any proposals affecting an SNCI.
3.42	The selection of a site as an SNCI will not affect the status of any extant planning permission relating to the site. However by virtue of Section 54A of the Act the existence of an SNCI will be a material factor in the consideration of any new planning application affecting the site, any renewal of a previous unimplemented permission, or for an application to vary conditions on a planning permission.

	POLICY RU11
	The Borough Council will safeguard Sites of Nature Conservation Importance as shown on the Proposals Map and will only permit development proposals within these sites, where there will be no adverse effect, either directly or indirectly on their ecological interest, or where the requirements of Policy RU14 are met. The Council, in consultation with the Surrey Wildlife Trust, will keep under review the Sites of Nature Conservation Importance and will seek to protect such sites following their selection on a County-wide basis by the Surrey Nature Conservation Liaison Group”.

3.45	“While the broad thrust of the Council's nature conservation policies is to protect and conserve existing wildlife habitats, there remain considerable opportunities to enhance existing sites and in some cases to create entirely new habitats especially on degraded land. Opportunities to create new habitats will often be linked with development proposals and the Council will, in appropriate cases seek such environmental improvements as part of the new development by way of a planning obligation to secure funding for long term management. However, the opportunities for environmental gains and the associated benefits for nature conservation can never justify a development that is otherwise unacceptable because of the adverse impact on an existing nature conservation resource. In cases when exceptional circumstances justify a development which would adversely affect a nature conservation site, it will be necessary to demonstrate that any harm has been kept to a minimum and that positive provision has been made to mitigate or compensate for any loss or damage, in nature conservation terms, by the creation or enhancement of alternative habitats and by the establishment of an appropriate monitoring scheme.

	POLICY RU14
	Where a development proposal would destroy or damage the nature conservation interest of a site, the applicant will be required to demonstrate that the benefits of the proposed development outweigh the decrease in the nature conservation value of the site, that any such decrease has been kept to a minimum, that mitigation or compensation to provide for species protection and/or habitat creation or enhancement has been made within the area, and that appropriate measures to monitor the effectiveness of the mitigation have been established”.


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