The EC Habitats Directive 1992 and Wilds Birds Directive 2009 as transposed into UK law by the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (2017) require a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) of land use plans to establish whether the plan, alone, or in combination with other plans or projects, is likely to have a significant effect on an international nature conservation sites (Special Protection Areas (SPA), Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) or Ramsar sites). If this is the case, then the impacts on the integrity of the site must be considered by an Appropriate Assessment.
Under normal circumstances, a land use plan can be brought into effect only after it has been ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of a Site in terms of the Site’s conservation objectives.
A Habitats Regulations Assessment (Screening Assessment and Appropriate Assessment) was been carried out of Burnley’s Local Plan.
Issues and Options
The first iteration of the Local Plan, the Issues and Options document of 2014 was subject to a Habitats Regulations Assessment. The Issues and Options Habitats Regulations Assessment can be downloaded below.
Preferred Options
The Preferred Options draft of the Plan was also subject to a Habitats Regulations Assessment. The Preferred Options Habitats Regulations Assessment can be downloaded below.
Proposed Submission
The Proposed Submission Local Plan was published for representations on 12 April 2017. A Habitats Regulations Assessment (Screening Assessment and Appropriate Assessment) was carried out of the Proposed Submission Local Plan.
The Proposed Submission Habitats Regulations Assessment can be downloaded below.
Proposed Main Modifications
Following the Examination Hearing Sessions held in November and December 2017, the Inspector proposed a number of Main Modifications i.e. changes to the Submitted Plan that he considered may be necessary to make it sound. They were subject to public consultation from 9th March to 27th April 2018.
A Habitats Regulations Assessment (Screening Assessment and Appropriate Assessment) was carried out of the Proposed Main Modifictaions and this is set out in an updated Report which takes account of the issues raised during the Examination Hearings which were addressed in the updated Report of January 2018, and the Proposed Main Modifications.
The Proposed Main Modifications Habitats Regulations Assessment can be downloaded below.
