Draft Site Allocations and Policies (incorporating IP-One Area Action Plan) Development Plan Document

Support

Representation ID: 694

Received: 10/03/2014

Respondent: Natural England

We are supportive of policy DM33 Green Corridors, which seeks to establish and enhance green corridors within the Borough, providing links to adjacent open spaces and walking, cycling or riding routes.

Object

Representation ID: 695

Received: 10/03/2014

Respondent: Natural England

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Natural England supports Policy DM34. However, we suggest removal of 'within core areas' in relation to protecting sites of international and national importance, since all such sites should be protected (and enhanced), regardless of location. Reference should be added to the requirement for proposals with the potential to affect European sites to comply with the Conservation (Habitats and Species) Regulations 2010. The statement about sites of county or local importance and Suffolk BAP habitats or species being protected should also refer to their enhancement. Buffers to sites are supported, but we advise using the source-pathway-receptor model to assess development effects.

Support

Representation ID: 696

Received: 10/03/2014

Respondent: Natural England

The policy identifies that within the countryside, major development will only be permitted provided it respects the character of the countryside, recognising the three distinctive landscape character areas within the Borough. It also identifies that, regarding the Suffolk Coast and Heath AONB, major development will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances. DM35 also requires proposals for development to conserve the landscape and beauty of the AONB, avoid the loss of best and most versatile agricultural land where possible and contribute to the green rim and other strategic walking and cycling routes and wildlife corridors. Natural England fully supports these requirements.

Object

Representation ID: 697

Received: 10/03/2014

Respondent: Natural England

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

The policy should make reference to the need for proposals coming forward to comply with the requirements of policies DM33-DM35.

Object

Representation ID: 698

Received: 10/03/2014

Respondent: Natural England

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

The policy should make reference to the need for proposals coming forward to comply with the requirements of policies DM33-DM35.

Object

Representation ID: 699

Received: 10/03/2014

Respondent: Natural England

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

We have not reviewed the individual site allocations in detail. Policies DM38 - DM42 should require that proposals coming forward must comply with the biodiversity protection and enhancement requirements of policies DM33-DM35.

Object

Representation ID: 700

Received: 10/03/2014

Respondent: Natural England

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

DM43 Land Allocated and Protected as Open Space: we generally welcome this policy subject to any development being required to comply with policies DM33 - DM35. In particular, the development or enhancement of open space for recreation should not contribute increased disturbance effects to designated sites.
Natural England is supportive of the recognition of the essential value of open space to quality of life in Ipswich.

Object

Representation ID: 701

Received: 10/03/2014

Respondent: Natural England

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

DM44 Land Allocated for Leisure Uses or Community Facilities: we generally welcome this policy subject to any development being required to comply with policies DM33 - DM35. In particular, the development or enhancement of open space for recreation should not contribute increased recreational disturbance effects to designated sites.

Object

Representation ID: 702

Received: 10/03/2014

Respondent: Natural England

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Natural England has significant concerns with the proposed allocation of Pond Hall Farm. Orwell Country Park already suffers from significant visitor pressure which is believed to contribute damage and bird disturbance effects to the adjoining Orwell Estuary SSSI and SPA. The development of IP149 for recreational uses has the potential to contribute further, potentially more significant, disturbance effects. Whilst supporting the allocation of land for leisure and community uses, such sites should be in the least environmentally sensitive locations, and it should be demonstrated that allocations will have no adverse effect on designated sites.

Object

Representation ID: 703

Received: 10/03/2014

Respondent: Natural England

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Policy DM45 Safeguarding land on development sites for transport infrastructure - we have no comments on these sites subject to requirements for proposals to comply with policies DM33 - DM35.