More about the Habitats Regulations Assessment

The purpose of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (the ‘Habitats Regulations’) (as amended) is to protect nature. It focuses on sites that are designated for their importance to habitats and species, including Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas (for wild birds) and certain Marine Sites, such as Ramsar Sites (wetlands of international importance).  

Under the Regulations, the Council is required to undertake a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) to determine if a Local Development Document is likely to have a significant effect on a Habitats Site, either alone or in-combination with other plans and projects.

In stage 1, the proposed sites and policies of the draft Local Plan are screened to identify if they will have a Likely Significant Effect on important habitat sites.

The relevant habitats sites for the Council are:-

• The components of the Chilterns Beechwoods Special Area of Conservation that are within Dacorum Borough. These are Ashridge Commons and Woods SSSI and Tring Woodlands SSSI
• South West London Waterbodies Special Protection Area
• South West London Waterbodies Ramsar.

These sites are assessed under the criteria of:

• Air quality
• Water
• Habitat loss and fragmentation
• Public access and disturbance.

Where we cannot rule out the potential for likely significant effects, we must undertake an Appropriate Assessment (stage 2) of the implications of the draft Local Plan on the habitats sites conservation objectives. 

If this assessment finds that the draft Local Plan is likely to contribute towards adverse effects on the habitats sites, then these must be reduced through mitigation measures, so that there is no longer any potential for them to occur. 

Our previous evidence and technical work for the Habitats Regulations Assessment can be found here:

• Chilterns Beechwoods SAC Mitigation Strategy for Ashridge Commons and Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest, November 2022
• Visitor survey, recreation impact assessment and mitigation requirements for the Chilterns Beechwoods SAC and the Dacorum Local Plan, March 2022
• Habitats Regulations Assessment of the Emerging Strategy for Growth 2020-2038, May 2021
• Habitats Regulations Assessment Desk Study and Site Walkover Survey of the Chilterns Beechwoods SAC, May 2021
• Topic Paper for the Chilterns Beechwoods SAC – Main Report, Summary of Evidence and Appendices, November 2020.

The purpose of the Mitigation Strategy is to avoid adverse recreational pressure on the SAC arising from future development in the Zone of Influence (a 12.6 km zone that extends from Ashridge Commons and Woods SSSI). It was prepared jointly by the Council working with Natural England, the National Trust, Buckinghamshire Council, Central Bedfordshire Council and St Albans City and District Council.

It requires new housing development to contribute towards:

• Strategic Access Management and Monitoring Strategy (SAMMS) measures to be used by the National Trust to protect Ashridge Commons and Woods SSSI; and
• Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG). SANG is the term given to greenspaces that are created or enhanced with the specific purpose of absorbing recreational pressure that would otherwise occur at CBSAC. There are specific essential criteria these spaces must adhere to.

We will undertake further work on the mitigation needed to protect the Chilterns Beechwoods SAC and other nationally important habitats sites.

This will include assessing the provision, capacity and location of new SANG that will be needed to mitigate recreational pressure on the Chilterns Beechwoods SAC arising from the sites we allocate for new homes.  

We will present our updated screening of the draft policies and proposed site allocations alongside our (final) pre-submission local plan for consultation at Regulation 19.