SECTION 3.0 - Durham County Council

Policy Statement 9 (PPS9) Biodiversity & Geological Conservation advises that
Local planning authorities should identify these sites on proposals maps and may
need to cross-refer to the statutory protection given to these sites in the
explanatory texts in local development documents. However, since they enjoy
statutory protection specific polices in respect of these sites should not be included
in local development documents (see also Part I of ODPM/DEFRA Circular ODPM
06/2005,
DEFRA 01/2005).
• Natura
2000
Natura 2000 comprises an EU wide network of nature protection areas established
under the 1992 Habitats Directive. It consists of Special Areas of Conservation
(SAC) and also Special Protection
Areas (SPA) designated under the Birds
Directive. The emphasis is on promoting the sustainable management
of these
sites in order to ensure the survival of Europe’s most valuable and threatened
species and habitats.
• EIA Directive
The above nature directives along with the Environmental Impact
Assessment
(EIA) Directive n
n of
f the
o late or is of poor quality (EC, 2006).
4 require the assessment of potential impacts of certai
developments. This includes consideration of alternatives and the desig
measures to prevent and reduce negative impacts. The Commission o
European Communities (2006) highlights the need for careful assessments to be
carried out early on in the decision-making process. Too often EIA is conducted
to
•
European Commission Directive 79/409/EEC on the Conservation of Wild
Birds, European Union, (1979).
The
EU Wild Birds Directive has created a protection scheme for all of Europe's
wild
birds. It identifies 194 species and sub-species (listed in Annex I) among them
as
particularly threatened and in need of special conservation measures. In
addition
member states are also required to designate Special Protection Areas
(SPAs)
for the 194 threatened species and all migratory bird species. SPAs are
scientifically
identified areas critical for the survival of the targeted species, such as
wetlands.
The designation of an area as a SPA gives it a high level of protection
from
potentially damaging developments. All SPAs in the UK are also nationally
designated
as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, (SSSIs). The Directive is
transposed
into the UK by the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations
1994.
Planning Policy Statement 9 (PPS9) Biodiversity & Geological Conservation
advises
that Local planning authorities should identify these sites on proposals
maps
and may need to cross-refer to the statutory protection given to these sites in
the
explanatory texts in local development documents. However, since they enjoy
statutory
protection specific polices in respect of these sites should not be included
in local development documents (see also Part I of ODPM/DEFRA Circular ODPM
06/2005,
DEFRA 01/2005).
4 Directive 85/337/EEC as amended by Directive 97/11/EC, OJ L 073, 14.3.1997, p.5
Page 11 4/15/2009