A new power under the Environment Act 2021 to ‘…prepare and publish a strategy for a) improving the conservation and management of a protected site, and b) managing the impact of plans, projects or other activities…on the conservation and management of the protected site’.
What are Protected Sites?
Protected Sites are areas within our land and sea that have been identified as having our ‘best’ nature and wildlife within them.
There are many protections for nature. In the Environment Act a “protected site” means—
(a) a Special Protection Area (SPA) and/or Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) collectively called 'European sites'
(b) a Sites of Special Scientific Interest - (SSSI) or
(c) a marine conservation zone (MCZ)
Why do we need another strategy?
Even with these protections we are one of the most ‘nature depleted’ countries in the world, nature is vital for our wellbeing, so we need to support it to flourish again. Protecting and looking after what we have in these areas is vital for our biodiversity and because they support wider nature recovery across our land and sea.
These protected sites also need our help as many are in unfavourable condition and are experiencing added pressures from outside their site boundaries including climate change, pollution, coastal squeeze to name a few. The Environment Act recognises the need to help out these precious areas and Protected Site Strategies- PSS is the mechanism to do this.
What is PAS here to do?
We are speaking to local authorities, from Parish, District, County, Unitary, Combined and National Park to find out what PSS could mean for you to ensure this new tool has the best chance for the best outcomes for nature. Watch the introductory video to find out more.
Further links & guidance
Protected sites and areas: how to review planning applications
Thanks to Dave Mitchell, Lead Adviser – Northumbria Team, Natural England for compiling this list:
SSSI
- SSSI – general page (condition assessment, consents, appeals, enforcement)
- SSSIs – how NE makes a decision
- SSSI – public body responsibilities
European Sites
- General descriptions of SAC and SPA features
- Guidance on Duty to protect, conserve and restore European sites
- Guidance: Habitats regulations assessments: protecting a European site
Appropriate assessment guidance on the use of Habitats Regulations Assessment - External Defra guidance on the HRA process
- DEFRA HRA Guidance Feb 2021
- Derogation notice template for competent authorities to use (2021)
- Guidance Protected sites and areas: how to review planning applications
"The Impact Risk Zones (IRZs) are a GIS tool developed by Natural England to make a rapid initial assessment of the potential risks posed by development proposals to: SSSIs, SACs, SPAs and Ramsar sites." i.e. the protected sites covered in the definition of a PSS
Nature Network for LPAs - Practitioner Network
- keep informed of the development of the national PSS programme
- help PAS design the guidance for LPAs
- discussion forum
- case studies of good practice of process and application
The network is for local authority officers interested in nature recovery and PSS . We host an online discussion forum & run events & training. Please fill out this (Microsoft form) if you would like to join.
PSS FAQs
Work in progress come back soon (or pose us questions we can add here)
New SSSI Impact Risk Zone tool for LPAs
The SSSI IRZs [Site of Special Scientific Interest Impact Risk Zone] are a geographical information system (GIS) tool that can highlight whether a development proposal poses a risk to the notified features of SSSIs at any given location and require consideration by Natural England.
Launched summer 2024, the new SSSI IRZs tool is now simpler to use, easier to interpret, and can hold and compile any amount of advice relevant to a location and include hyperlinks to guidance.