6 responses from Mr Neil Harnott, Cumbria Wildlife Trust
1. Mr Neil Harnott, Cumbria Wildlife Trust : 16 Dec 2015 16:17:00
Discussion Paper section
2. Background
Please make your comments below on the section you have selected. Where appropriate, make reference to the paragraph number you are referring to, your preferred option, the question number asked in the Discussion Paper and the reference number of the site you are commenting on.
Question 1. Yes, the AONB DPD should define what would constitute a ‘major development’. Whilst this definition would not necessarily be ‘set in stone’ it would be a starting point for discussions. The definition given in the Statutory Instrument 2010 No.2184 – The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2010 (paragraph 2) should form the basis for any definition.
Are there any topics or issues that you think we have missed or that you wish to raise?
2. Mr Neil Harnott, Cumbria Wildlife Trust : 16 Dec 2015 16:18:00
Discussion Paper section
3. Evidence Base
Please make your comments below on the section you have selected. Where appropriate, make reference to the paragraph number you are referring to, your preferred option, the question number asked in the Discussion Paper and the reference number of the site you are commenting on.
Question 3: The DPD should ensure that it has the County Wildlife Sites GIS layer for both Cumbria and Lancashire. The Cumbria layer can be sourced from the Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre based with Tullie House Museum in Carlisle.
3. Mr Neil Harnott, Cumbria Wildlife Trust : 16 Dec 2015 16:18:00
Discussion Paper section
4. Vision and Objectives
Please make your comments below on the section you have selected. Where appropriate, make reference to the paragraph number you are referring to, your preferred option, the question number asked in the Discussion Paper and the reference number of the site you are commenting on.
Question 4: We agree with the vision.
Question 5: We agree with the chosen objectives.
4. Mr Neil Harnott, Cumbria Wildlife Trust : 16 Dec 2015 16:19:00
Discussion Paper section
5. Policy Issues
Please make your comments below on the section you have selected. Where appropriate, make reference to the paragraph number you are referring to, your preferred option, the question number asked in the Discussion Paper and the reference number of the site you are commenting on.
Question 10: It is worth noting that in wildlife terms, brownfield sites are often richer in wildlife than many greenfield sites. It should not be assumed that development of brownfield sites is preferable in wildlife terms to the development of improved pasture.
Question 19: we feel that Local Wildlife Sites should be considered for designation as Important Open Space where there is open access available.
Question 22: There should be a presumption against development where the development will impact negatively upon Local Wildlife Sites. There should be a “no net loss” of habitat within the AONB due to development and developments should seek to enhance and improve biodiversity wherever possible. The AONB should seek to ensure that all Local Wildlife Sites receive up-to date surveys with the data handed to the appropriate Local Records Centre.
5. Mr Neil Harnott, Cumbria Wildlife Trust : 16 Dec 2015 16:20:00
Discussion Paper section
6. Options for Meeting the Objectives and Delivering the Vision
Please make your comments below on the section you have selected. Where appropriate, make reference to the paragraph number you are referring to, your preferred option, the question number asked in the Discussion Paper and the reference number of the site you are commenting on.
Question 27
All of the following sites should be automatically excluded from further assessment due as the “development would harm a protected species, a site designated for its
biodiversity importance or an area of priority habitat or would compromise
habitat connectivity” (page 32, paragraph 6.17)
The comments should be read with the following caveats:
By “intersects” we mean that the area shown for the proposed site overlaps with the site boundary for a biodiversity designated area/priority habitat. As such development of this site will destroy some or all of the designated area. The overlap may be a small section or the entire site.
By “adjoin” we mean that the area shown by the proposed site sits very close to a designated site/priority habitat and development upon this site may potentially have negative impacts upon the designated site/priority habitat.
Sites not included in the list below are excluded simply on the basis that there is no recorded biodiversity at the site. This does NOT means that the site has no biodiversity value and all sites that go forward from this stage should undergo further biodiversity assessment through site visits by qualified ecologists. Development appraisal should not only be sensitive to current loss but also sensitive to loss of restoration potential.
Deciduous woodland Priority Habitat– Deciduous woodland is one of the most biodiverse habitats within the AONB and the Trust feels that permission should not be given to developments that require widespread removal of trees.
Site Reference – A2, Arnside edge. This site intersects Hollins Farm Verges County Wildlife Site (CWS) SD47-13. This site intersects Morecambe Bay Special Protection Area (SPA), Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Morecambe Bay Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
Site reference –A4, Ashmeadow Woodland, Silverdale Road, This site intersects an area of deciduous woodland.
Site reference – A7, High Close, Knott Lane. Site closely adjoins Dobshall Woods CWS (SD47-11), Red Hills Wood (SD47-36) and Red Hills Pasture CWS (SD47-37). Development could have significant impact on these sites. The site also intersects an area of deciduous woodland.
Site reference – A13, Land adjoining cemetery 1. Site intersects Hagg Wood CWS (SD47-16).
Site reference – A17, Land adjoining cemetery 2. Site intersects Hagg Wood CWS (SD47-16).
Site reference – A21, Arnside Knott and Heathwaite. Site intersects Red Hills Pasture CWS (SD47-37). Site intersects Arnside Knott Site of Invertebrate Significance.
Site reference – A30, Woodland south of Redhills Road. Site intersects Red Hills Wood CWS (SD47-36)
Site reference – A97, Middlebarrow Quarry. Site intersects Middlebarrow Wood CWS (SD47-15). Site adjoins Middlebarrow Wood SSSI. It is thought that this quarry and the nature conservation interest was considered mitigation for a previous development and should not therefore be considered.
Site reference B31, Land North of Beetham Holiday Homes, Slack Head Road. Site intersects Major Woods CWS (SD47-26).
Site reference B33, Hall More Caravan Park. Site intersects Hale Moss Site of Invertebrate Significance.
Site reference B36, The Bottom Yard, Dallam Tower. Site intersects Crow Wood CWS (SD48-07)
Site reference B37, Timber Yard, Dallam Tower. Site intersects Crow Wood CWS (SD48-07)
Site reference B38, Land South of Quarry Lane. Site intersects a ‘Special verge’ (roadside verge of importance)
Site reference B39, Quarry Lane Depot. Site intersects ‘Special Verge’ (roadside verge of importance). Site intersects deciduous woodland.
Site reference B40, Willacys Wood. Site intersects deciduous woodland.
Site reference B73, Marble Quarry. Site intersects Marble Quarry and Hale Fell SSSI, Site intersects Morecambe bay Pavements SAC. Site intersects marble Quarry Limestone Pavement Order. It is thought that the biodiversity interest at this site may form part of compensation for a previous development.
Site reference B74, Land West of Slack Head. Site intersects Major Woods Limestone Pavement Order. Site intersects Major Woods Site of Invertebrate Significance.
Site reference B75, Land at Deepdale. Site intersects deciduous woodland.
Site reference B76, Land North of High Croft Lane. Site intersects Underlaid Wood Limestone Pavement Order.
Site reference B77, Land North East of Yans Lane. Site intersects Haverback Bank Limestone Pavement Order. Site intersects deciduous woodland.
Site reference B104, Leighton House, Brackenthwaite Road. Site intersects Underlaid Wood Limestone Pavement Order. Site intersects Underlaid Wood Site of Invertebrate Significance. Site intersects ‘special verge’ (roadside verge of importance). Site intersects deciduous woodland.
Site reference S44, Hawes Villa, Moss Lane. Intersects Haweswater SSSI. Intersects Morecambe Bay Pavements SAC.
Site reference S52, Land East of Hawes Villa, Moss Lane. Site adjoins Haweswater SSSI. Site adjoins Morecambe Bay Pavement SAC.
Site reference S59, Eaves Wood and Park Field. Intersects Eaves Wood SSSI.
Site reference S60, Heald Brow. Intersects broadleaved woodland.
Site reference S62, Levens Field and Woodwell. Intersects deciduous woodland.
Site reference S63, Pointer Wood. Intersects deciduous woodland.
Site reference S64, Jack Scout. Intersects Jack Scout SSSI. Adjoins Morecambe Bay SAC and SPA
Site reference S65, Burton Wells Wood and Lambert's Meadow. Intersects deciduous woodland.
6. Mr Neil Harnott, Cumbria Wildlife Trust : 16 Dec 2015 16:22:00
Discussion Paper section
7. Delivery of Development
Are there any topics or issues that you think we have missed or that you wish to raise?
Question 31:
The Trust would like to support calls for the DPD to require home owners / landlords to make provision for nesting birds and roosting/hibernating bats when undertaking any renovations or repairs to their property. In addition all new development should be required to make provision for species such as swifts, bats, swallows, barn owls, house sparrows or other species that might live locally.
Conservation of habitats and species is something that needs to be considered throughout the landscape and not just within designated sites. The AONB needs to get a better understanding of how species move through the landscape between designated sites and increasing this landscape permeability wherever possible. This is becoming increasingly important with the changing climate forcing species to move in order to stay within their climatic niche.
