Appropriate Assessment

It is a statutory requirement for local authorities to undertake an 'appropriate assessment' of land use plans to ensure the protection of the integrity of sites designated as Special Protection Areas (SPA) and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC).

Special Protection Area

The Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA) is made up of a number of designated sites that contain species of rare birds of international nature conservation importance. As a whole these sites span across eleven districts and within Woking it includes Horsell Common and Sheets Heath Common.  The regulations covering this designation require that any plan or proposal should have regard to whether it would have a significant effect on the rare birds that the sites contain. Particular concerns that have been raised by Natural England in this respect is that new housing development may have an adverse effect on the SPA as a result of:

  • The rare birds being hunted by cats from new houses sited close to the SPA.
  • Increased risk of fires/rubbish dumping as a result of new houses sited close to the SPA.
  • An increase in recreational activity on the SPA, for example dog walking, that may disturb the ground nests.

The Council is working with Natural England to establish how the above issues will be addressed.  

Special Area of Conservation

A part of the Thursley, Ash, Pirbright and Chobham Special Area of Conservation (SAC) lies within the borough boundary.  The SAC contains important North Atlantic wet heaths and European dry heaths, for example, and like the SPA, is protected through the Habitats Regulations.

Appropriate Assessment of the Core Strategy  

In order to meet the requirements of the Habitat Regulations the Council undertook screening opinions of the need to undertake an appropriate assessment of the Core Strategy first submission.  These screening opinions will be revisited in order to inform the new Core Strategy.