Habitats Regulations Assessment

The Habitats Regulations Assessment is a European Directive requirement - Local Authorities should consider and assess whether development proposals and policies set out in Local Development Documents (LDDs) would affect European Sites.

The purpose of Habitats Regulations Assesment is to ensure that the plan will not have adverse effects on the integrity of sites designated under the Habitats Directive.

This requirement has been brought about by the United Kingdom's failure to implement Articles 6(3) and 6(4) of the European Directive regarding Habitats (92/43/EEC) through the European Court of Justice (ECJ). It considered that UK law did not adequately transfer the Directive into British legislation.

European Sites consist of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). Planning Policy Statement 9 (PPS9): 'Biodiversity and Geological Conservation' states that RAMSAR sites should receive the same protection as SPAs and SACs. 

Within Stafford Borough there are the following European Sites:

• Cannock Chase SAC
• Chartley Moss SAC (under West Midlands Mosses SAC)
• Pasturefields Salt Marsh SAC
• Cop Mere (under Midland Meres and Mosses Phase II Ramsar designation)
• Aqualate Mere (under Midland Meres and Mosses Phase II Ramsar designation)
• Mottey Meadows SAC

Cannock Chase Special Area of Conservation

Stafford Borough Council worked jointly with Staffordshire County Council, Cannock Chase District Council, Lichfield District Council and South Staffordshire District Council to commission consultants to produce an Appropriate Assessment evidence base report to look at potential adverse effects from increased recreational pressure, air pollution and water abstraction. Consultants also produced a Visitor Impact Management Strategy. 

• To view the Footprint Ecology Evidence Base Report please click here [PDF 2.33Mb]
• To view the Visitor Impact Management Strategy please click here [PDF 1.47 Mb]

Following this piece of work a Cannock Chase SAC partnership has been established to progress and oversee further studies and mitigation strategies. A visitor survey took place from Autumn 2010 to September 2011 and the data will soon be analysed in order to understand visitor patterns. More information on further work and next steps will be published here when available.  

June 2011: Lichfield District Council and Tamworth Borough Council consulted on a joint Habitat Regulations Assessment. For further information please click here