B3. Fareham Borough Council

Designated site details and development pressures

Solent & Southampton Water SPA
Portsmouth Harbour SPA
Chichester and Langstone Harbours SPA
The Solent Maritime SAC

Each of the above SPAs are vulnerable to increased levels of recreational pressure. All European sites are vulnerable to increased nutrient loading and located within the Solent strategic nutrient neutrality catchment area. In addition, the three Solent SPAs are designated in part for their overwintering use by Brent Geese and wading birds which are sensitive to impacts upon functionally linked land outside their designation boundaries.

Local plan details and best practice

The Fareham Local Plan was adopted on 5^th April 2023. The adopted local plan contains policy wording which secures mitigation at European sites in terms of recreational impacts, nutrient neutrality and impacts on Brent Geese and wading birds functionally linked habitat. Three policies are used to implement all components of mitigation too ensure clarity.

Good practice highlighted in these policies include the way in which they detail mechanisms for implementation (financial contributions) and provide a clear set of criteria to aid decision makers. In addition, Policy NE5 provides detail on zonal areas which ensures no ambiguity on the implementation of mitigation. These areas are supported by the policy maps.

Policy NE3: Recreational Disturbance on the Solent Special Protection Areas (SPAs) Policy NE4: Water Quality Effects on the Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Ramsar Sites of the Solent Policy NE5: Solent Wader and Brent Goose Sites

Sites which are used by Solent Waders and/or Brent Geese (as shown on the Policies map) will be protected from adverse impacts commensurate to their status in the hierarchy of the Solent Wader and Brent Geese Network.

Core and Primary Support Areas

Development on ‘Core and Primary Support Areas’ (as shown on the Policies map) will only be permitted where:

a) The proposal has avoided or adequately mitigated impacts on-site; or

b) Where it can be clearly demonstrated that criteria a is not feasible or practicable, a suitable, readily available replacement site which conforms entirely to the specific requirements for the Solent Waders and Brent Geese species concerned and is satisfactorily agreed by the Council in consultation with other appropriate bodies is provided and its management secured for the lifetime of the development.

Secondary Support Areas

Development on ‘Secondary Support Areas’ (as shown on the Policies map) will only be permitted where either:

c) Adequate on-site mitigation is provided; or

d) A suitable replacement habitat is provided on a like for like basis broadly close to the site; or

e) Where it can be demonstrated that compliance with either criteria c and d is not appropriate, a smaller suitable habitat replacement area is agreed and secured in perpetuity through a costed Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan and a financial contribution (consistent with the approach taken to mitigating and off-setting adverse effects on the Solent Wader and Brent Geese Network) is provided towards a suitable identified site for Solent Waders and Brent Geese.

Low Use

Development on Low Use Sites (as shown on the Policies map) will only be permitted where:

f) On site mitigation is provided which is agreed by the Council; or

g) Where it can be demonstrated that criteria f is not appropriate, off-site enhancement and/or a financial contribution (consistent with the approach taken to mitigating and off-setting adverse effects on the Solent Wader and Brent Geese Network) is provided towards a suitable identified site for Solent Waders and Brent Geese.

Candidate Sites

Development on Candidate Sites (as shown on the Policies map) will only be permitted where:

h) Consecutive surveys are undertaken to determine the classification of the site; and the above requirements are met according to the status of the site which must first be established and agreed with the Council.

Indirect effects

Indirect effects to a Solent Wader and Brent Geese site from development proposals shall be avoided or (where this not feasible or practicable) a suitable package of mitigation measures should be agreed and secured.