Object

Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) - Revised Proposed Submission 2016

Representation ID: 2874

Received: 14/12/2016

Respondent: Natural England

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Representation Summary:

It is our view that Policy CS2 as presented however is not consistent with National Policy:
1. It does not clearly set out criteria to firstly avoid, then mitigate and, as a last resort compensate for adverse impacts on biodiversity. The Southend on Sea Development Management Document (July 2015) also does not refer to the avoidance-mitigation-compensation hierarchy (see paragraph 118 of the NPPF).

2. It does not make a clear distinction between the protected sites hierarchy of international, national and local sites. A clear distinction should be made between the protected sites hierarchy of international, national and local sites in order to ensure consistency with paragraph 113 of the NPPF. There are descriptions of 'designated sites', 'international and European designated sites'. Nationally designated sites are not described at all.

Full text:

Thank you for your consultation on the above which was received by Natural England on 03 November 2016.
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.
Context
We responded on 11 July 2011 on the Draft Southend Central Area Action Plan and associated HRA Screening Report (our ref 27040) and supplied comments online to the Central Area Action Plan - Proposed Submission on 17 October 2011 (our ref 33069). We also responded on 26 January 2016 on the Preferred Approach Option 2015 (our ref 176229).
While you have provided a Representation Form, we are providing comments below in the same format as that form in order to expedite this response:

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