A1. Cannock Chase Special Area of Conservation

The mitigation strategy at Cannock Chase SAC focuses on access management and is known as Strategic Access Management and Monitoring Measures (SAMMM). To manage identified recreational pressures and deliver SAMMM, the Cannock Chase SAC Partnership was formalised under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2016. This MOU was reviewed and updated in 2022.   

The mitigation strategy recognises that housing growth has the potential to lead to increased recreational pressure from visitors. Through the SAMMM, LPAs within a defined Zone of Influence (ZoI) require new development to provide financial contributions which are used to fund actions designed to prevent impacts associated with an increase in recreational pressure upon the SAC, or otherwise demonstrate no adverse effect through Habitats Regulations Assessment. 

SAMMM originally agreed through the 2016 MOU comprised several elements including: 

• Engagement with key user groups. 
• Strategies to target carpark use and track / footpath management. 
• Monitoring. 
• Recruitment of staff, including one full-time project manager and one full-time visitor engagement officer. 

Following a series of reviews, which drew on monitoring and survey data, the 

SAMMM measures were updated and agreed by the SAC Partnership through a 

2022 MOU, after which the measures are referred to as Detailed Implementation Plans (DIPs). The updates include a series of community engagement events, special projects, improvements to on-site infrastructure and officers to deliver the mitigation. While the mitigation framework and funding mechanisms are established, delivery of some elements, particularly capital infrastructure projects have been slower to progress, with implementation ongoing. Activity has been primarily engagement-led so far. 

Delivery of mitigation measures has been influenced by practical constraints, including land ownership, the need for agreement between multiple partners, and internal governance processes within public bodies. These factors affect the timing and implementation of certain projects, particularly those requiring capital works or changes to land management. 

The primary pressures on the SAC arise from recreational use by visitors, particularly those associated with nearby housing development. Growth in housing within a defined ZoI is expected to result in additional visitor numbers, which has the potential to intensify recreational pressures at the SAC. The SAC is a wellestablished and culturally significant recreational resource for surrounding communities, and visitor use is strongly influenced by local patterns of behaviour and attachment to the site. Recreational impacts have been identified through a range of evidence base documents (Underhill-Day and Liley, 2012). These include concentrated use of car parks, paths, and trails which can lead to localised habitat degradation, physical damage to habitats, including trampling of vegetation, creation of informal paths, and soil erosion, alongside an increase in disturbance of wildlife, all of which can affect the condition of heathland, woodland, and other qualifying habitats. Dog walking, cycling, and horse riding are specifically identified as activities that can contribute to these impacts. 

In 2017 the evidence base underpinning the mitigation solutions identified for Cannock Chase SAC was reviewed (Hoskin and Liley, 2017).  The purpose of this review was to better understand the current situation and ensure the mitigation options were still fit for purpose.  Following the 2017 review, a further evidence base review was undertaken, known as the Planning Evidence Base Review (PEBR). The purpose of the PEBR was to monitor and guide the ongoing mitigation works and to ensure the evidence base remains robust (Panter and Liley, 2019; Liley and Panter, 2020a).  This drew on updated visitor survey data and potential levels of growth within the area of impact. 

In 2018 an evidence base was collected to inform a car park strategy and site users strategy for the SAC (Panter et al, 2018).  This report set out a series of findings to help design bespoke mitigation measures for the SAC drawing on other management documents, baseline data (e.g. visitor surveys, car park and path audits) and stakeholder engagement. 

These outputs informed the development of Detailed Implementation Plans (DIPs), including a car parking strategy (Liley et al., 2019). The strategy set out a coordinated approach to managing access, including rationalising parking provision, improving the quality of existing car parks, exploring opportunities for additional provision outside the SAC, and considering measures to influence travel behaviour. 

It also included proposals for monitoring how visitors respond to changes in access and infrastructure over time. Alongside this, a complementary plan was prepared to focus on site users and access management (Liley & Panter, 2018), set out measures to help direct visitor activity, enhance infrastructure, and develop ‘gateway’ locations and other projects intended to accommodate future increases in visitor numbers, alongside ongoing engagement and monitoring. 

The Cannock mitigation strategy (SAMMM) was developed as a strategic, crossboundary solution rather than by a single authority acting independently. The strategy explicitly intends for measures to be adopted and delivered jointly by those authorities and partner organisations. The Cannock Chase SAC Partnership provides a framework for coordination between statutory bodies which have land use planning responsibilities to the Cannock Chase SAC (Cannock Chase District Council 2022b). 

The Cannock Chase SAC mitigation solution applies to any net increase in residential development that is likely to increase recreational pressure within a 15km ZoI. 

The types of development from which developer contributions are required include new homes arising through the conversion of existing buildings, HMOs, sheltered accommodation and care homes falling within Use Class C3, and Gypsy and Traveller pitches. Hotels, holiday lets, and camping/caravan sites also need to undertake an HRA or provide a financial contribution if they generate visitors to Cannock Chase SAC. 

Prior approval and permitted developments, such as conversion of offices into new homes, are also required to contribute. 

Recreation pressure at Cannock Chase SAC 

To ensure the integrity of Cannock Chase SAC is not adversely affected by increased recreational use, all development that results in a net increase in homes, or an increase in tourism or visitor use of Cannock Chase SAC will be required to supply the council (as competent authority) such information as reasonably required for the Competent Authority to undertake a HRA or make a financial contribution in accordance with the most up to date Cannock Chase SAC Partnership Mitigation Scheme. 

This mitigation may include: 

• Contributions to habitat management and creation; 
• Access management and visitor infrastructure; 
• Publicity, education and awareness raising; 
• Provision of additional recreation space within development sites where they can be accommodated, and where they cannot by contributions to off-site alternative recreation space; and measures to encourage sustainable travel.” 

Developer contributions have been calculated based on housing growth within the 15km ZoI around Cannock Chase SAC.  The level of contribution to the overall cost of the SAMMM varies between LPA depending on the scale of development proposed in the ZOI.   

Local planning authorities within the ZoI require financial contributions from qualifying development as part of the planning process, and these follow a formulabased approach adopted across authorities, with local implementation. Cannock Chase District Council’s planning pages state that all relevant planning consents since 1 April 2022 must meet an annual developer contribution per dwelling (e.g., £355.02 per unit for 2025–26), in order to mitigate impacts on Cannock Chase SAC. This charge is indexed annually and collected through planning mechanisms. The contribution route provides a streamlined mechanism, although developers can opt to undertake their own HRA where preferred. 

Contributions are collected via legal agreements, typically a Section 106 unilateral undertaking, which requires payment before development commences and binds the landowner and successors in title. For CIL-liable developments, the SAC charge can be incorporated into the overall CIL process, while for non-CIL developments it is assessed on a case-by-case basis. The agreements include covenants to ensure enforceability, and administrative or legal costs may also be recovered. The funds collected are pooled through partnership arrangements to finance the mitigation measures identified in the MOU. 

The partnership authorities provide downloadable guidance documents (e.g. the Cannock Chase SAC Guidance, Cannock Chase District Council (2022a)) that outline how mitigation contributions are to be made, the rates involved, the legal instruments required such as Unilateral Undertakings/Section 106 Agreements. 

Projects to educate and raise awareness of the site’s sensitivities form a key element to managing recreational impacts and anti-social behaviour at the SAC. To date, engagement and education activities are the most progressed elements with behaviour change central to the mitigation programme.  The SAC Partnership works closely with the local community and provides consistent messaging for users.  The ‘Cannock Chase Code’ and the ‘Dogs on the Chase Code’ form two key elements of this messaging. These provide guidance in relation to litter, BBQs, signposting of tracks for different users, protection of wildlife and the requirement for dogs to be kept on the lead during the nesting season, among other topics. 

The Cannock Chase SAC Partnership website also provides details for different user groups including walking, cycling and horse-riding promoted routes, an interactive map, access and visitor information, details for schools and updates on key events. 

In addition to this, the Partnership has a seasonal ranger team who spends time out and about engaging with users of the SAC face-to-face on site and within the local community building relationships. 

Volunteering is a key element of the SAC Partnerships engagement activity, and it organises events such as litter picking sessions which have been very successful. In addition, a range of engagement events with primary schools (nature rangers), scouting and Duke of Edinburgh groups, and secondary schools are organised. 

Monitoring is an important component of the SAMMM.  It is required to ensure the package is successful and allow adjustments to be made to address emerging issues.  SAMMM monitoring includes the following: 

• Regular vehicle counts across the whole SAC and other parts of the National Landscape in line with current transects (no additional cost as part of duties of SAC partnership staff). 
• Visitor survey repeated at 5-year intervals, involving interviews with visitors. 
• Path condition monitoring and assessment (undertaken by SAC partnership staff). 
• Automated counters to record footfall at selected key paths to give overall trend of use and changes over time. 
• Incident recording (e.g. fires, off-road vehicles, dangerous parking, fly-tipping) in a standard way to allow them to be mapped and data compared between years, undertaken by partnership staff. 

In addition to formal monitoring methods, the ranger team plays a key role in gathering qualitative insights about visitor behaviour, emerging pressure points, and the effectiveness of interventions. This real-time feedback helps identify issues early and can prompt adjustments to management measures before they become significant problems. 

Monitoring is central to how the scheme evolves. Data collected is actively used to inform reviews of the mitigation package and updates to the DIPs. The Cannock Chase SAC Partnership website provides information obtained from both a 2025 

(Arvensis Ecology, 2025) botanical monitoring survey and a 2025 (Cannock Chase SAC Partnership, 2024) visitor survey. These surveys provide preliminary monitoring outputs and will be built upon over time to measures success of SAMMM. 

The scheme is delivered through a formalised SAC Partnership spanning multiple LPAs and key stakeholders, underpinned by a MoU. This provides a clear governance framework, including a Joint Strategic Board and Project Group, enabling coordinated decision-making, shared responsibility for mitigation delivery, and alignment of planning approaches across authorities. The partnership model simplifies the process for developers while ensuring each authority continues to meet its own Habitats Regulations duties. 

Experience from the partnership has demonstrated that, while a partnership approach governance model provides significant strategic benefits, involving numerous partners and stakeholders can create challenges in practice.  In particular, the need to secure consensus across multiple organisations can lengthen decisionmaking processes, increase administrative complexity, and slow the implementation of certain mitigation projects which require capital works with varying land ownership constraints / priorities.   

The 15km ZoI was defined using visitor survey data and analysis of travel patterns and has been tested through subsequent evidence reviews. The scheme incorporates ongoing monitoring, such as visitor surveys, automated counters, and incident recording, which informs periodic reviews of the evidence base and mitigation approach. While the ZoI itself has remained broadly consistent, the mitigation package is designed to evolve over time in response to monitoring, updated evidence, and housing delivery trends. 

In addition to being evidence-led, experience from the partnership has demonstrated that effective mitigation design must also be informed by local knowledge to ensure measures are realistic, deliverable, and appropriately tailored to local circumstances. This includes reflecting local demographics and land ownership constraints, all of which can materially influence the suitability and effectiveness of mitigation measures. A key lesson learned has been that combining evidence with local insight results in mitigation that is more practical to implement and better aligned with onthe-ground opportunities and constraints. 

The Partnership supports the overarching strategy with DIPs, which set out specific mitigation projects, costings, and delivery mechanisms. These plans translate strategic objectives into practical interventions, such as access management, infrastructure improvements, and visitor engagement measures. The DIPs are reviewed and updated periodically, allowing the scheme to respond to monitoring outcomes, funding availability, and emerging priorities rather than remaining fixed.

Mitigation is funded through developer contributions calculated across the ZoI based on planned housing growth, with costs apportioned between authorities. Contributions are typically secured through Section 106 agreements or similar mechanisms, with each authority determining its own approach to collection. The developer contribution scheme provides a clear and efficient route to compliance, but participation is optional; developers may instead undertake their own Habitats Regulations Assessment if they choose. Contributions are index-linked and designed to ensure mitigation is delivered alongside development. 

Delivery is supported by a dedicated project team, including officers responsible for coordination, engagement, and implementation. A strong emphasis is placed on face-to-face engagement and behaviour change, with initiatives such as the ‘Cannock Chase Code’ and ‘Dogs on the Chase Code’ providing clear, consistent messaging to visitors. Engagement activities are targeted toward key user groups and are complemented by on-site presence and community outreach, reflecting the importance of influencing visitor behaviour as part of the mitigation strategy. 

The mitigation framework is embedded within Local Plan policies and development management processes across the partner authorities, ensuring that impacts on the SAC are addressed consistently through the planning system. The scheme provides a structured mechanism to support Habitats Regulations compliance, while still allowing flexibility for bespoke assessment where required. This integrated approach helps facilitate sustainable development while safeguarding the integrity of the SAC. 

Cannock Chase National Landscape (n.d.). Essential Guide to Cannock Chase. Available at: https://www.cannock-chase.co.uk/wp-

content/uploads/2025/06/Essential-guide-to-Cannock-Chase-National-LandscapeJune-2025.pdf (Accessed: 09/02/26) 

Cannock Chase District Council (2022a). CANNOCK CHASE SPECIAL AREA OF 

CONSERVATION (SAC) GUIDANCE TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. Available at: 

https://www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/sites/default/files/siteold/cannock_cannock_chase_sac_updated_guidance_april_2022.pdf (Accessed: 09/02/26) 

Cannock Chase District Council (2022b). MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING of the CANNOCK CHASE SPECIAL AREA OF CONSERVATION (SAC) PARTNERSHIP. Available at: 

https://www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/sites/default/files/site-old/sac-partnershipmemorandum-of-understanding-final-24-october-2022.pdf (Accessed: 09/02/26) 

Cannock Chase District Council (2023) Cannock Chase District Local Plan PreSubmission (Regulation 19) December 2023. 

Cannock Chase National Landscape (n.d.). Essential Guide to Cannock Chase. Available at: https://www.cannock-chase.co.uk/wp-

content/uploads/2025/06/Essential-guide-to-Cannock-Chase-National-LandscapeJune-2025.pdf (Accessed: 09/02/26) 

Hoskin, R. and Liley, D (2017). Cannock Chase SAC Planning Evidence Base Review. Unpublished report for the Cannock Chase SAC Partnership.

Liley, D. and Lake, S. (2012). Cannock Chase SAC Visitor Observation Study. 

Footprint Ecology unpublished report. 

Liley, D. and Panter, C. (2020). Cannock Chase SAC Planning Evidence Base Review Stage 2. Report by Footprint Ecology for the SAC Partnership. 

Natural England (2020). European Site Conservation Objectives: Supplementary advice on conserving and restoring site features - Cannock Chase Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Available at: https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/TerrestrialAdvicePDFs/UK0030107.pdf (Accessed: 09/02/26) 

Panter, C. and Liley, D. 2019. Cannock Chase Visitor Survey 2018 (Unpub. No. 494). 

Footprint Ecology / Cannock Chase SAC Partnership. 

Panter, C., Underhill-Day, J., Weitowitz, D. & Liley, D. (2018). Evidence base to inform a car-park strategy and a site users strategy for Cannock Chase. 

Unpublished report for the Cannock Chase SAC Partnership. 

Panter, C. and Liley, D. (2019). Cannock Chase Visitor Survey 2018 (Unpub. No. 

494). Footprint Ecology / Cannock Chase SAC Partnership. 

Underhill-Day, J. and Liley, D (2012). Cannock Chase Visitor Impacts Mitigation Report. Footprint Ecology. Unpublished report. 

White, J, Liley, D. & Underhill-Day, J. (2009). Cannock Chase Visitor Impact Mitigation Strategy. Footprint Ecology. Available at: https://www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/downloads/file/630/cannock-chase-visitor-impactmitigation-strategy (Accessed: 09/02/26)