Keele neighbourhood plan proposal documents

European sites within a 15km radius

Midland Meres and Mosses phase 1 Ramsar site (Betley Mere)

Distance from NP boundary

4.9 km SW

Site information and qualifying Ramsar feature

Midland Meres and Mosses (phase 1). Comprises a series of lowland open water and peatland sites set in depressions in glacial drift left by receding ice sheets. The 16 component sites include nutrient-rich water bodies (meres), associated fringing habitats of reed swamps, fen, carr and damp pasture, and floating quaking bog (schwingmoor). The wide range of resulting habitats supports numerous rare species of plants and invertebrates. Human activities include recreation, fishing, livestock grazing, and haymaking.

Betley Mere comprises a diverse range of habitats from open water to raised bog.

Supports a number of rare species of plants associated with wetlands including five nationally scarce species together with an assemblage of rare wetland invertebrates (three endangered insects and five other British Red Data Book species of invertebrates).

Impact risks

The neighbourhood area does not fall within the SSSI impact risk zone.

Midland Meres and Mosses phase 2 Ramsar site (Black Firs and Cranberry Bog)

Distance from NP boundary

5.6 km SW

Site information and qualifying Ramsar feature

Midland Meres and Mosses (phase 2) comprises a series of 18 sites made up of nutrient-rich open water bodies (meres) with fringing habitats of reed swamp, fen, carr and damp pasture, and peatlands. The landscape features developed in depressions in the glacial drift left by receding ice sheets. The wide range of habitats supports nationally important flora and fauna. Human activities include hunting, fishing, and research activities.

Black Firs and Cranberry Bog comprises a diverse range of habitats from open water to raised bog and supports a number of rare species of plants associated with wetlands, including the nationally scarce cowbane Cicuta virosa and, elongated sedge Carex elongata. Also present are the nationally scarce bryophytes Dicranum affine and Sphagnum pulchrum.

Also supports an assemblage of invertebrates including several rare species. There are 16 species of British Red Data Book insect listed for this site including the following endangered species: the moth Glyphipteryx lathamella, the caddisfly Hagenella clathrate and the sawfly Trichiosoma vitellinae.

Impact risks

The neighbourhood area does not fall within the SSSI impact risk zone.

West Midlands Mosses Ramsar/SAC (Wybunbury Moss)

Distance from NP boundary

9.9 km SW

Qualifying feature

Natural dystrophic lakes and ponds (Annex I habitat).

Transition mires and quaking bogs (Annex I habitat).

Conservation objectives

Ensure that the integrity of the site is maintained or restored as appropriate, and ensure that the site contributes to achieving the favourable conservation status of its qualifying features, by maintaining or restoring:

• the extent and distribution of qualifying natural habitats

• the structure and function (including typical species) of qualifying natural habitats, and

• the supporting processes on which qualifying natural habitats rely

Requirements to maintain favourable condition status of site

Dystrophic Pools (Schwingmoor)

Maintain present distribution of species representative of community.

Maintain present pH range and water levels.

Maintain sediment quality and quantity.

Filamentous algae should be absent or at very low levels.

Basin mire with a quaking surface (Schwingmoor): NVC types M2 and M18

Water level and degree of fluctuation capable of sustaining the floating raft composed of NVC type appropriate to longstanding water chemistry and fertility; Maintain raft characteristics, exclude surface and drainage water likely to increase fertility; Stable groundwater, not fluctuating more than 30cm annually; Maintain type and extent of site specific NVC communities; Scrub or woodland limited to margins, or no more than scattered over open NVC communities; Maintain NVC communities: M2 Sphagnum recurvum bog pool community and M18 Erica tetralix-Sphagnum papillosum mire. Scrub not to be more than occasional; Maintain or enhance populations of special or rare plant (and animal) species.

Impact risks

The neighbourhood area does not fall within the SSSI impact risk zone.

West Midlands Meres and Mosses phase 2 Ramsar site (Oakhanger Moss)

Distance from NP boundary

8.3 km S

Site information and qualifying Ramsar feature

Midland Meres and Mosses (Phase 2) comprises a series of 18 sites made up of nutrient-rich open water bodies (meres) with fringing habitats of reed swamp, fen, carr and damp pasture, and peatlands. The landscape features developed in depressions in the glacial drift left by receding ice sheets. The wide range of habitats supports nationally important flora and fauna. Human activities include hunting, fishing, and research activities.

Oakhanger Moss is one of the shallowest of a cluster of depressions in glacial sands lying to the west of Alsager. It is of greatest importance for the range of mire vegetation communities it supports and the way they, together with the sediment and peat deposit record, so clearly demonstrate the vegetation succession stages from open water to raised bog. The site was known to be a mere at least until the 1600s, sustained by a flow of water from Alsager Mere to the east. Since that time the basin has become completely infilled, firstly with sedge and reedswamp peat, and latterly with peat derived from Sphagnum mosses.

The site supports four different mire communities, each of which has a well-developed shrub cover giving the site a wooded appearance. Over much of the site, in the wettest, low-lying areas associated with the few drains which cross the site, there is  swamp vegetation dominated by lesser pond-sedge Carex acutiformis, over which willow carr, with goat willow Salix caprea, sallow S. cinerea and downy birch Betula pubescens, has developed. In the south-west, where inundation from the drains has less effect on water level and nutrient supply, sedges give way to purple moor-grass Molinea caerulea with broad buckler-fern Dryopteris dilatata locally, and birch displacing willow from the shrub layer. More diverse are the areas of fen which have developed along the site’s eastern edge, where surface water enters the basin, and nutrient levels are at their highest. Here alder Alnus glutinosa and willows dominate above mature greater tussock-sedge Carer paniculata, with cyperus sedge C. seudocyperus, marsh pennywort Hydrocotyle vulgaris, marsh violet Viola palustris, purple-loosestrife Lythrum salicaria and marsh cinquefoil Potentilla palustris, all uncommon plants in Cheshire. Similarly diverse botanically are the two distinct areas of vegetation dominated by bog moss Sphagnum recurvum in the centre of the site. The moss 'lawns' are noticeably higher than the surrounding communities and at times of high groundwater continue to remain free of its nutrient influence because of the buoyant properties of Sphagnum. This incipient raised bog community includes common cotton-grass Eriophorum angustifolium, cross-leaved heath Erica tetralix, and cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos. Birch dominates the canopy which is comparatively open in character, and around the edges of the Sphagnum areas, in the transition to more nutrient-rich fen, alder buckthorn Frangula alnus becomes a common shrub with white sedge Carex curta and narrow buckler-fern Dryopteris carthusiana growing amongst the mosses. Drier perimeters of the site support a few pedunculate oaks Quercus robur over a bracken Pteridium aquilinum ground layer. The vegetation communities represented at this site, their development as recorded in the sediments and peats, and the site’s comparison with nearby peatlands renders it a particularly important link in the Midlands Meres and Mosses series of glacial wetlands.

Adders Vipera berus, a protected species, are found here and at only one other known site in Cheshire.

Impact risks

The neighbourhood area does not fall within the SSSI impact risk zone.

Letter from Emma Millband, Planning Officer, Environment Agency

Dear Sir/Madam

Keele Neighbourhood Development Plan – Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) Screening Report Consultation Draft

Strategic environmental assessment

The European Union directive 200142/EC requires a SEA to be undertaken for certain types of plans and programmes that would have ‘significant’ environmental effect(s).

Paragraph: 046 in the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Sustainability Appraisal Guidance (Reference ID: 11-046-20150209) states “a strategic environmental assessment may be required, for example, where:

• a neighbourhood plan allocates sites for development

• the neighbourhood area contains sensitive natural or heritage assets that may be affected by the proposals in the plan

• the neighbourhood plan is likely to have significant environmental effects that have not already been considered and dealt with through a sustainability appraisal of the Local Plan or other strategic policies for the area”

Having reviewed the Screening Report submitted, and in consideration of the matters within our remit, given the lack of specific site allocations within the Neighbourhood Plan, we concur with the conclusion that the Keele Neighbourhood Plan is unlikely to have significant environmental impacts and a Strategic Environmental Assessment is not therefore required.

Habitats regulation assessment

Article 6(3) of the European Habitats Directive (1992) requires that any plan (or project), which is not directly connected with or necessary to the management of a European site (also known as a “Natura 2000” site), but would be likely to have a significant effect on such a site, either individually or in combination with other plans or projects, shall be subject to an ‘appropriate assessment’ of its implications for the European site in view of the site’s conservation objectives.

Having reviewed the HRA Screening report, and in consideration of the matters within our remit, we concur the Keele Neighbourhood Plan is considered unlikely to have significant effects on the European designated sites.

We note that no European or Ramsar Sites have been identified within the plan area and there does not appear to be any obvious pathways to sites in neighbouring plan areas.

I trust that the above is of assistance.

Yours faithfully

Emma Millband

Planning Officer

Direct e-mail emma.millband@environment-agency.gov.uk

Neighbourhood planning - Environment Agency consultation guide/pro-forma

Version 7, Oct 2023

The Environment Agency aim to reduce and protect against flood risk, whilst protecting and enhancing the water environment, land, and biodiversity. To assist us in the West Midlands area in providing the most focused and accurate consultation responses through the neighbourhood planning process we have produced the below guidance and pro-forma for you to consider, complete and return to Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council.

You may wish to also refer to the neighbourhood planning guidance to assist you in the preparation of your plan.

The Environment Agency along with Natural England, Historic England, and the Forestry Commission have also produced some national guidance which offers further environmentally specific information in the context of neighbourhood planning and gives ideas on incorporating the environment into plans.

In the context of climate change, there is further information on writing a low-carbon neighbourhood plan available.

To complement the above, we have produced the following guidance to assist you in the West Midlands area specifically. This takes you through some of the relevant environmental issues your community should consider when producing a neighbourhood plan. We recommend completing the pro-forma to check the environmental constraints specific to your plan area, which should help identify challenges, inform evidence and policy, and assist delivery of sustainable solutions. This approach will help ensure you have a robust plan.

Flood risk

Your plan should conform to national and local policies on flood risk. National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) – Paragraph 159 states that ‘Inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk (whether existing or future). Where development is necessary in such areas, the development should be made safe for its lifetime without increasing flood risk elsewhere’.

It is important that your plan is in accordance with the current local plan (Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent Core Spatial Strategy 2006-2026), specifically Policy CSP3 – Sustainability and Climate Change (and the associated text).

If your plan is proposing sites for development, you should check whether any of the proposed allocations are at risk of river or tidal flooding based on our flood map (of modelled flood risk). For example, are there any areas of flood zone 3 or 2 (high and medium risk)? In line with National Planning Policy and, specifically, the Sequential Test, you should aim to locate built development within flood zone 1, the low-risk zone. See our flood map.

In addition to the above you should also check with the council Neighbourhood Planning/Planning Policy Team with regards to other sources of flooding (such as surface water, groundwater, sewers, and historic flooding) as detailed in their strategic flood risk assessment (SFRA). Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, as the lead local flood authority (LLFA), has responsibility for local flood risk management and may hold flooding information that is not identified on our Flood Map.

Specifically, some watercourses have not been modelled on our flood maps. (Our flood maps primarily show flooding from main rivers, not ordinary watercourses, or un-modelled rivers, with a catchment of less than 3km squared).

Any allocations in areas of flood risk should include a consideration of climate change (see below). In the absence of up-to-date modelled flood risk information, or a site-specific FRA, to confirm an appropriate allowance you may wish to utilise the current flood zone 2 extent (where available) to indicate the likely, nominal, Flood Zone 3 with climate change extent. Where no modelling or flood map outline is available you will need to consider an alternative approach. Where an un-modelled watercourse is present, or adjacent to a site, then it may be prudent to incorporate a buffer zone, relative to topography, in consideration of flood risk not shown on the flood map.

Some assessment is necessary in your plan, to confirm that the site is developable. This includes safe occupation and that there will be no impact on third parties. You might seek opportunities for flood risk reduction.

All 'major development' sites with flood risk issues, especially those with ordinary watercourses or un-modelled rivers within/adjacent or near to sites, are likely to need detailed modelling at the planning application stage to verify the design flood extents, developable areas and that the development will be sustainable.

Climate change

Your local authority's SFRA should indicate the extent of flood zones with likely climate change. The NPPG refers to Environment Agency guidance on considering climate change in planning decisions  (new allowances were published on 27 July 2021).

Please refer to our separate ‘area Climate change guidance’ (March 2023) for more information on how to consider and incorporate allowances in development proposals. This advises that an allowance should be added to ‘peak river flows’ to account for ‘climate change’ which should be specific to a river ‘management catchment’.

You may wish to see the climate change allowances page on the DEFRA website in conjunction with our area specific climate change guidance to ascertain the correct climate change peak flow allowances in your area.

Surface water (peak rainfall intensity) climate change allowances should be discussed with the LLFA.

Flood defences

Areas of your parish, or proposed sites, may be afforded protection by a flood defence/alleviation scheme. Where this is the case, your plan should acknowledge this and identify the level of protection provided (including any climate change allowance). It should be noted that flood defences are intended to protect existing properties and are not to facilitate new development in areas that would otherwise be impacted by flooding. Any assessment of development behind flood defences should consider the impacts of a breach or overtopping. Where it is determined that new development should be behind a flood defence, financial contributions may be sought to maintain or improve the structure.

Waste water infrastructure

Waste water infrastructure is also of importance in your plan. Where housing is proposed you should use the pro-forma to identify the receiving treatment works and whether the housing and/or any employment growth can be accommodated without impacting the received treatment works. You should look at physical capacity issues (e.g. network pipes) and environmental capacity (quality of treated effluent) issues.

The Environment Agency has offered advice to Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, as part of their local plan review, to help ensure that their strategic housing growth can be accommodated in consideration of waste water infrastructure. Information on local treatment works and their ability to accommodate housing and employment growth can be found in the Water Cycle Study (WCS). In addition, you should contact the Water Company for further advice.

Where there is an identified constraint (amber or red) you should demonstrate that there is a solution (it may be already programmed or could be a possible future infrastructure upgrade) to help improve the capacity issue and enable the development to go ahead. This will require consultation with the Water Company, and we have developed some general questions to assist this process. The outcome of this may inform a ‘phasing’ policy within your plan where appropriate. It may also be necessary to produce an ‘Infrastructure Delivery Plan’ to set out any key milestones for wastewater infrastructure upgrades and improvements. The evidence you produce should give a reasonable degree of certainty to all parties, helping demonstrate development is deliverable, and importantly ensure that your plan is ‘sound’.

Note: government guidance states that sufficient detail should be provided to give clarity to all parties on when infrastructure upgrades will be provided, looking at the needs and costs (what and how much). The NPPG refers to “ensuring viability and deliverability - pursuing sustainable development requires careful attention to viability and costs in plan making and decision making”. Plans should be “deliverable”.

We would recommend discussions with the Utility Company to ascertain how you can progress with your plan without impact on the works. The below may assist:

• What solutions are programmed within Asset Management Plans (AMP)? When will these solutions be delivered? Are there any options for accelerating these schemes via developer contributions?

• In the absence of an improvement schemes what could alternative solutions be (type and location of) for short/medium/long term growth. Are these solutions cost prohibitive?

• Are there any short-term options to facilitate growth? Some options to consider could be SUDS retrofitting or removing surface water from sewer systems.

• Utility companies could be asked about what WFD work they already have programmed in to their AMP Schemes for Phosphate stripping or other sanitaries (e.g. ammonia/Biological Oxygen Demand).

• With reference to the NMP, and Phosphate specific issues, are there any stringent measures factored in to ensure no environmental deterioration? What improvement scheme is, or could be, in place to bring forward development?

Water management and groundwater protection

In February 2011, the government signalled its belief that more locally focussed decision making, and action should sit at the heart of improvements to the water environment. This is widely known as the catchment-based approach and has been adopted to deliver requirements under the Water Framework Directive (WFD). It seeks to:

• deliver positive and sustained outcomes for the water environment by promoting a better understanding of the environment at a local level and

• encourage local collaboration and more transparent decision-making when both planning and delivering activities to improve the water environment

Neighbourhood plans provide an opportunity to deliver multi-functional benefits through linking development with enhancements to the water environment. Local WFD catchment data can be obtained from the River Basin Catchment Data Explorer.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough (Lyme Brook catchment) falls within the Humber, river basin management plan area and the document highlights key issues and actions for the catchments that should be of use in developing your neighbourhood plan. The Severn and North West River Basin District management plans also partially cover the borough.

Aquifers and source protection zones

Some of your local area, and specific potential site allocations, may be located upon or within aquifers and source protection zones (SPZ). SPZ 1 is especially sensitive. You might consider these within your plan and when allocating sites. The relevance of the designation and the potential implication upon development proposals should be seen with reference to our groundwater protection position statements.

Development and surface water drainage will need to be carefully located and designed to avoid pollution risks to waters and address potential environmental impact associated with low flows. For example SuDS may need to provide multiple levels of treatment. To address any quantitative issues with the waterbodies, SuDS should be designed so to maximise recharge to the aquifer and support water levels in receiving rivers.

Water efficiency at neighbourhood plan Level

Local water efficiency targets may be secured in a neighbourhood plan or higher-level local plan policy. The draft technical standards – housing standards review (paragraph 14) provided advice on more stringent ('optional') water efficiency targets/measures, which go beyond the minimum building regulations standard. Paragraph 14 states that..."neighbourhood planning bodies will only be able to apply the space standard and not optional requirements”.

These standards have since been enshrined into the Building Regulations (part G) “The optional requirement only applies where a condition that the dwelling should meet the optional requirement is imposed as part of the process of granting planning permission. Where it applies, the estimated consumption of wholesome water calculated in accordance with the methodology in the water efficiency calculator, should not exceed 110 litres/person/day”. However, there is no direct responsibility for neighbourhood plans to incorporate these water efficiency measures.

Cemetery allocations

Allocations for cemeteries brought forwards within neighbourhood plans must consider their location in relation to flood zones, source protection zones (any borehole – including private – for potable supply should be considered) and type of aquifer. We would offer comments primarily in relation to the protection of controlled waters. Matters relating to human health should be directed to the local authority. If steps are not taken to reduce the risks, burials can present a risk to the water environment. The proposed burial ground will need to meet our minimum groundwater protection requirements as set out on Gov.UK.

Biodiversity net gain

Development of allocated sites offers the opportunity for biodiversity net gain (BNG) as referenced in paragraph 174 of the NPPF ‘Conserving and enhancing the natural environment’. Specifically, any ponds and flood storage areas if designed correctly could also provide opportunity for blue and green infrastructure, such as wetland habitat throughout the year as well as providing a recreation amenity.

Whilst we would not necessarily expect to see specific BNG details for allocations within the plan, there may be an opportunity to promote ‘net gains’ within your policies.

For further information, please see:

• Biodiversity net gain on Gov.UK

• Biodiversity net bain for local authorities on the Local Government Association website

Neighbourhood plan environment agency pro-forma

*Note to above: Flood zone 3 is the high-risk zone and is defined for mapping purposes by the Environment Agency's flood zone map. Flood zone 3 refers to land where the indicative annual probability of flooding is 1 in 100 years or less from river sources (i.e. it has a 1% or greater chance of flooding in any given year). Flood zone 2 is land where the indicative annual probability of flooding is between 1 in 100 and 1 in 1000 years. Flood zone 1 is the low-risk Zone with a flood risk in excess of 1 in 1000 years.

When considering ‘other sources of flooding’ you should refer to the SFRA and contact Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council to ascertain whether the Parish, or specific allocated site, is impacted by surface water, groundwater, or sewer flooding etc. The team and/or the LLFA may also have historic flooding information to help inform your plan. More information on sewer flooding, or plans to remedy such, may be available from the Water Company.

Letter from P. Boland, Historic England

Date: 5 January 2024

Dear Sir/Madam Team

Keele neighbourhood plan - SEA/HRA screening

Thank you for your consultation and the invitation to comment on the SEA screening document for the above neighbourhood plan.

For the purposes of consultations on SEA screening opinions, Historic England confines its advice to the question, “Is it likely to have a significant effect on the environment?” in respect of our area of concern, cultural heritage.

Our comments are based on the information supplied with the screening request. On the basis of the information supplied and in the context of the criteria set out in Schedule 1 of the Environmental Assessment Regulations [Annex II of the ‘SEA’ Directive], Historic England concurs with your view that the preparation of a Strategic Environmental Assessment is not required.

Regarding HRA, Historic England does not disagree with your conclusions but would defer to the opinions of the other statutory consultees.

The views of the other statutory consultation bodies should be taken into account before the overall decision on the need for a SEA is made. If a decision is made to undertake a SEA, please note that Historic England has published guidance on sustainability appraisal/strategic environmental assessment and the historic environment that is relevant to both local and neighbourhood planning

I trust the above comments will be of help in taking forward the neighbourhood plan.

Yours sincerely,

P. Boland

Historic Places Advisor

peter.boland@HistoricEngland.org.uk

Letter from Sally McLaughlin, Natural England

Date: 5 January 2024

Dear Planning Policy Team

Keele neighbourhood plan - SEA and HRA screening consultation

Thank you for your consultation on the above dated 6 December 2023.

Natural England is a non-departmental public body. Our statutory purpose is to ensure that the natural environment is conserved, enhanced, and managed for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development.

Natural England is a statutory consultee in neighbourhood planning and must be consulted on draft neighbourhood development plans by the Parish/Town Councils or Neighbourhood Forums where they consider our interests would be affected by the proposals made.

Habitats regulations assessment (HRA) report

Natural England notes that your authority, as competent authority under the provisions of the habitats regulations, has screened the proposal to check for the likelihood of significant effects.

Your assessment concludes that the proposal can be screened out from further stages of assessment because significant effects are unlikely to occur, either alone or in combination. On the basis of the information provided, Natural England concurs with this view.

If the plan changes, in further stages of the process, it may be necessary to re-screen the plan and Natural England should be consulted at that stage.

Strategic environmental assessment screening report

It is Natural England’s advice, on the basis of the material supplied with the consultation, that significant effects on statutorily designated nature conservation sites or landscapes are unlikely.

The proposed neighbourhood plan is unlikely to significantly affect any site of special scientific interest (SSSI), marine conservation zone (MCZ), special areas of conservation (SAC), special protection area (SPA), Ramsar wetland or sites in the process of becoming SACs or SPAs (‘candidate SACs’, ‘possible SACs’, ‘potential SPAs’) or a Ramsar wetland. The plan area is unlikely to have a significant effect on a national park, area of outstanding natural beauty or heritage coast, and is unlikely to impact upon the purposes for which these areas are designated or defined.

Guidance on the assessment of neighbourhood plans, in line with the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 is contained within the planning practice guidance. This identifies three triggers that may require the production of an SEA:

• a neighbourhood plan allocates sites for development

• the neighbourhood area contains sensitive natural or heritage assets that may be affected by the proposals in the plan

• the neighbourhood plan may have significant environmental effects that have not already been considered and dealt with through a sustainability appraisal of the local plan. 

Natural England does not hold information on the location of significant populations of protected species, so is unable to advise whether this plan is likely to affect protected species to such an extent as to require an SEA. Further information is included in Natural England’s standing advice on protected species.

Furthermore, Natural England does not routinely maintain locally specific data on all environmental assets. The plan may have environmental impacts on priority species and/or habitats, local wildlife sites, soils and best and most versatile agricultural land, or on local landscape character that may be sufficient to warrant an SEA. Information on ancient woodland, ancient and veteran trees is set out in Natural England/Forestry Commission standing advice.

We therefore recommend that advice is sought from your ecological, landscape and soils advisers, local record centre, recording society or wildlife body on the local soils, best and most versatile agricultural land, landscape, geodiversity and biodiversity receptors that may be affected by the plan before determining whether a SEA is necessary.

Natural England reserves the right to provide further advice on the environmental assessment of the plan. This includes any third party appeal against any screening decision you may make. If a SEA is required, Natural England must be consulted at the scoping and environmental report stages.

Other advice

We refer you to the attached annex which covers the issues and opportunities that should be considered when preparing a neighbourhood plan.

For any further consultations on your plan, please contact: consultations@naturalengland.org.uk.

Yours sincerely

Sally McLaughlin

Lead Adviser

Land use planning - West Midlands Area Team

Annex 1 - Neighbourhood planning and the natural environment: information, issues and opportunities

Natural environment information sources

The Magic website will provide you with much of the nationally held natural environment data for your plan area. The most relevant layers for you to consider are: Agricultural Land Classification, Ancient Woodland, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Local Nature Reserves, National Parks (England), National Trails, Priority Habitat Inventory, public rights of way (on the Ordnance Survey base map) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (including their impact risk zones). Local environmental record centres may hold a range of additional information on the natural environment.

Priority Habitat Inventory, public rights of way (on the Ordnance Survey base map) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (including their impact risk zones). Local environmental record centres may hold a range of additional information on the natural environment.

Priority habitats are those habitats of particular importance for nature conservation, and the list of them can be found on the UK government web archive. Most of these will be mapped either as sites of special scientific interest, on the Magic website or as local wildlife sites. Your local planning authority should be able to supply you with the locations of local wildlife sites.

National character areas (NCAs) divide England into 159 distinct natural areas. Each character area is defined by a unique combination of landscape, biodiversity, geodiversity and cultural and economic activity. NCA profiles contain descriptions of the area and statements of environmental opportunity, which may be useful to inform proposals in your plan.

There may also be a local landscape character assessment covering your area. This is a tool to help understand the character and local distinctiveness of the landscape and identify the features that give it a sense of place. It can help to inform, plan and manage change in the area. Your local planning authority should be able to help you access these if you can’t find them online.

If your neighbourhood planning area is within or adjacent to a national park or area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), the relevant national park/AONB management plan for the area will set out useful information about the protected landscape. You can access the plans from the relevant national park authority or area of outstanding natural beauty website.

General mapped information on soil types and agricultural land classification is available (under ’landscape’) on the Magic website and also from the LandIS website, which contains more information about obtaining soil data.

Natural environment issues to consider

The National Planning Policy Framework sets out national planning policy on protecting and enhancing the natural environment. Planning practice guidance sets out supporting guidance.

Your local planning authority should be able to provide you with further advice on the potential impacts of your plan or order on the natural environment and the need for any environmental assessments.

Landscape

Your plans or orders may present opportunities to protect and enhance locally valued landscapes. You may want to consider identifying distinctive local landscape features or characteristics such as ponds, woodland or dry stone walls and think about how any new development proposals can respect and enhance local landscape character and distinctiveness.

If you are proposing development within or close to a protected landscape (national park or area of outstanding natural beauty) or other sensitive location, we recommend that you carry out a landscape assessment of the proposal. Landscape assessments can help you to choose the most appropriate sites for development and help to avoid or minimise impacts of development on the landscape through careful siting, design and landscaping.

Wildlife habitats

Some proposals can have adverse impacts on designated wildlife sites or other priority habitats such as sites of special scientific interest or ancient woodland. If there are likely to be any adverse impacts you’ll need to think about how such impacts can be avoided, mitigated or, as a last resort, compensated for.

Priority and protected species

You’ll also want to consider whether any proposals might affect priority species or protected species. To help you do this, Natural England has produced advice to help understand the impact of particular developments on protected species.

Best and most versatile agricultural land

Soil is a finite resource that fulfils many important functions and services for society. It is a growing medium for food, timber and other crops, a store for carbon and water, a reservoir of biodiversity and a buffer against pollution. If you are proposing development, you should seek to use areas of poorer quality agricultural land in preference to that of a higher quality in line with National Planning Policy Framework paragraph 171. For more information, see our publication Agricultural land classification: protecting the best and most versatile agricultural land.

Improving your natural environment

Your plan or order can offer exciting opportunities to enhance your local environment. If you are setting out policies on new development or proposing sites for development, you may wish to consider identifying what environmental features you want to be retained or enhanced or new features you would like to see created as part of any new development. Examples might include:

• providing a new footpath through the new development to link into existing rights of way

• restoring a neglected hedgerow

• creating a new pond as an attractive feature on the site

• planting trees characteristic to the local area to make a positive contribution to the local landscape

• using native plants in landscaping schemes for better nectar and seed sources for bees and birds

• incorporating swift boxes or bat boxes into the design of new buildings

• think about how lighting can be best managed to encourage wildlife

• adding a green roof to new buildings

You may also want to consider enhancing your local area in other ways, for example by:

• setting out in your plan how you would like to implement elements of a wider Green Infrastructure Strategy (if one exists) in your community

• assessing needs for accessible greenspace and setting out proposals to address any deficiencies or enhance provision

• identifying green areas of particular importance for special protection through Local Green Space designation (see planning practice guidance on this)

• managing existing (and new) public spaces to be more wildlife friendly (e.g. by sowing wild flower strips in less used parts of parks, changing hedge cutting timings and frequency)

• planting additional street trees

• identifying any improvements to the existing public right of way network, e.g. cutting back hedges, improving the surface, clearing litter or installing kissing gates) or extending the network to create missing links

• restoring neglected environmental features (e.g. coppicing a prominent hedge that is in poor condition, or clearing away an eyesore)