thames basin heaths special protection area...

Thames Basin Heaths SpecialProtection Area Avoidance andMitigation SupplementaryPlanning Document

Bracknell Forest Borough Local Development Frameworkwww.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/spaMarch 2012

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Text Box

ANNEX 1

1Summary

31 Introduction

31.1 The Thames Basin Heaths SPA

31.2 Purpose and Scope of the SPD

41.3 Spatial Policy Framework

61.4 Stages in the Production of the SPD

71.5 Sustainability Appraisal

71.6 Sub-Regional Working

82 Background

82.1 Habitats Regulations

92.2 Bracknell Forest Housing Figures

92.3 Findings of the Core Strategy DPD Appropriate Assessment

103 SPA Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy

133.1 Types of Development Covered

143.2 Development within 400m of SPA

143.3 Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG)

183.4 Strategic Access Management and Monitoring (SAMM)

193.5 Bespoke Solutions

213.6 Residential Institutions

224 Implementation and Monitoring

224.1 SANGs Contributions

244.2 SAMM Contributions

254.3 Summary of Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy

274.4 Timing of Contribution

274.5 Monitoring

29Appendix 1:Thames Basin Heaths SPA

30Appendix 2: Consideration of Development Proposals Affecting InternationallyDesignated Sites

31Appendix 3: Residential Development likely to have a Significant Effect on theSPA

33Appendix 4:The Identification of Strategic SANGs

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Appendix 5: Full Assessment of SANGs 42

91Appendix 6: SANGs Enhancement Works

97Appendix 7: SPA Avoidance and Mitigation

106Glossary

108Abbreviations

109References

12Figure 1 Thames Basin Heaths SPA and Buffer Zones in Bracknell Forest17Figure 2 Strategic SANGs in Bracknell Forest29Figure 3 Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA)42Figure 4 Strategic SANGs in Bracknell Forest43Figure 5 The Cut Countryside Corridor SANG44Figure 6 The Cut Countryside Corridor SANG 5km Catchment52Figure 7 Shepherd Meadows SANG53Figure 8 Shepherd Meadows SANG 5km Catchment57Figure 9 Englemere Pond SANG58Figure 10 Englemere Pond SANG 5km Catchment62Figure 11 Horseshoe Lake SANG 63Figure 12 Horseshoe Lake SANG 4km Catchment66Figure 13 Longhill Park Group SANG67Figure 14 Longhill Park Group SANG 5km Catchment75Figure 15 Part of Great Hollands Recreation Ground SANG76Figure 16 Part of Great Hollands Recreation Ground SANG 2km Catchment79Figure 17 Ambarrow Court / Hill SANG80Figure 18 Ambarrow Court / Hill SANG 4km Catchment

1Table 1 Summary of SPA Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy4Table 2 Spatial Policy Framework6Table 3 Stages in the Production of the SPD15Table 4 Strategic SANGs and Residual Mitigation Capacity23Table 5 Calculation of SANGs Contributions25Table 6 Strategic Access Management and Monitoring (SAMM) Contributions25Table 7 Summary of SPA Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy31Table 8 Breakdown of Proposed Housing34Table 9 Sites Excluded from the Regional Open Space Review37Table 10 Suitable Areas of Strategic SANGs38Table 11 Calculation of Open Space Use39Table 12 Mitigation Capacity of SANGs91Table 13 SANGs Enhancement Works


98Table 14 SANGs Enhancement Works (as estimated at 2010/11)100Table 15 Summary of Total SANGs Costs101Table 16 SANGs Tariff - Estimates and Assumptions102Table 17 Calculation of SANG Tariff per Bedroom102Table 18 Calculation of £630 per dwelling SAMM Contribution104Table 19 Overall SAMM Costs104Table 20 SAMM Tariff105Table 21 Total SPA Avoidance and Mitigation Costs


SummaryIt has been established that a net increase in housing and other types of development potentiallyhave an adverse effect on the integrity of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area(SPA). Developments can provide, or make a contribution to the provision of, measures toensure that they have no likely significant effect on the SPA. This Supplementary PlanningDocument (SPD) sets out these measures. A summary of the avoidance and mitigation strategyis outlined in the table below. More detail is contained in the following sections.

Table 1 Summary of SPA Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy

Total Tariff(1)(2)

(per dwelling)

SAMMContribution(per dwelling)

SANGContribution(per dwelling)

Size ofDwelling(bedrooms)

RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT(3)

n/aPresumption against net increase in residentialdevelopment.

Net increase inresidentialdwellings within400m of SPA

£1,749£399£1,3501Net increase inresidential

£2,296£526£1,7702dwellingslocated between

£3,111£711£2,4003400m and 5km of

£3,537£807£2,7304the SPA (netincrease of less

£4,602£1,052£3,5505+than 109dwellings)

Costs ofbespoke SANG

£399Provision of abespoke SANGin accordance

1Large residential

developments(4)

located between £5262 + 'per bedroom'SAMMwith the

£7113400m and 5km ofthe SPA (net contributions

(dependent onhousing mix)

Avoidance andMitigation SPDand the Habitats

£8074increase of 109dwellings ormore) £1,0525+ Regulations and

in agreementwith NE andBFC.

Subject to Habitats Regulations Assessment, in order to establish likelysignificant effect on the SPA. May be required to provide appropriatemitigation. Considered on a case by case basis in agreement with NE.

Net increase ofmore than 50residentialdwellings

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Total Tariff(1)(2)

(per dwelling)




located between5 - 7km of theSPA

Considered on a case by case basis at the planning application stage,in agreement with Natural England. Avoidance and mitigation measurescould include:

C2 NursingHomes within400m of the SPA

A workable pet covenant enforceable by the accommodationmanagement company / organisation which precludes the keepingof cat and dogs on the premises; with the exception of assistedliving dogsThat the use class of the property is limited to that of C2, and theoccupants will only be of limited mobility and thus will not accessthe Thames Basin Heaths SPAMeasures are put in place to ensure that the car park cannot bemade available to the general public


C2 NursingHomes between400m and 5km ofthe SPA That the use class of the property is limited to that of C2, and the

occupants will only be of limited mobility and thus will not accessthe Thames Basin Heaths SPA

NON RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

Subject to Habitats Regulations Assessment in order to establish likelysignificant effect on the SPA. May be required to provide appropriate

Non-residentialdevelopment

avoidance and mitigation measures. Considered on a case by case

basis in agreement with NE.(5)

1. Unless screening under Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 Regulation 61(1) concludes no significanteffect on the integrity of the SPA.

2. SANG and SAMM should ordinarily be applied unless it can be demonstrated that, through any other package of avoidanceand mitigation measures put forward, the development will lead to no significant adverse effect on the integrity of the SPAin accordance with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010. In accordance with this legislation, thelocal authority must adopt a precautionary approach and any avoidance and mitigation measures must be agreed in advancewith the Council and Natural England.

3. Including new build, redevelopment, mixed use schemes, changes of use, conversions, affordable housing, planningapplications for approval of reserved matters (where no avoidance or mitigation measures have been secured at outlinestage) (including flats, apartments and houses).

4. Comprehensive development (or part thereof) including, but not limited to, sites identified by Policies CS3, CS4 and CS5in the Council’s Core Strategy DPD, urban extensions agreed through the adoption of the Site Allocations DPD and othermajor sites.

5. See section 2.3.

2 www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/spa

1 Introduction1.1 The Thames Basin Heaths SPA

1.1.1 The Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA) was designated in March2005. It is protected from adverse effects under European and national law.(1) The SPA is anetwork of heathland sites which are designated for their ability to provide a habitat for theinternationally important bird species of woodlark, nightjar and Dartford warbler.

1.1.2 The SPA zone of influence spans 11 local authorities across Hampshire, Berkshire andSurrey and is fragmented by urban development and other land uses. It consists of 13 Sitesof Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) scattered across these counties as shown in Appendix 1.

1.1.3 The two areas of the SPA that lie within Bracknell Forest are the Broadmoor to BagshotHeaths SSSI and the Sandhurst to Owlsmoor Bogs and Heaths (also know as Wildmoor Heath)SSSI. A large proportion of Bracknell Forest lies within 5km of the SPA to which this SPDprincipally applies.

1.1.4 In 2005 Natural England conducted research which indicated that the existing level ofrecreational pressure was having a detrimental effect on the three species of Annex I birds forwhich the SPA was designated.These ground-nesting birds which breed on the SPA are subjectto disturbance from people and their pets using the SPA for recreational purposes and thisaffects their breeding success.

1.1.5 Due to this information and the level of house-building expected in the Thames BasinHeaths area, Natural England objected to all planning applications for a net increase in residentialdevelopment within 5km of the SPA. This affected 11 Local Authorities in Berkshire, Hampshireand Surrey, which are within 5km of the SPA.

1.1.6 In order to comply with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010(the 'Habitats Regulations') and demonstrate that house-building is deliverable without givingrise to an adverse effect on the integrity of the SPA, in 2007 Bracknell Forest Council carriedout an Appropriate Assessment of the Core Strategy DPD.(2) This identified potential effectson the SPA and, in an accompanying Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy, proposed measureswhich would ensure that those effects could be avoided and mitigated.

1.1.7 Significant sub-regional progress has been made since the implementation of theAvoidance and Mitigation Strategy in 2007. This includes adoption of the South East PlanPolicy NRM5 (Conservation and Improvement of Biodiversity) and NRM6 (Thames Basin HeathsSpecial Protection Area), agreement on the Thames Basin Heaths SPA Delivery Frameworkand implementation of the Strategic Access Management and Monitoring (SAMM) Project.

1.2 Purpose and Scope of the SPD

1.2.1 The main purpose of this Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) is to provideguidance to ensure that new development delivers Bracknell Forest Council (BFC) Core StrategyPolicy CS14 (Thames Basin Heaths SPA) in addition to other relevant national, regional and1 The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010and Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and

of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds (codified version).2 See Bracknell Forest Council Thames Basin Heaths SPA Technical Background Document to the Core Strategy DPD (July

2007).


local policies and targets. It provides an updated Avoidance and Mitigation strategy to showhow the effects of new (principally) residential developments on the Thames Basin Heaths SPAshould be avoided and mitigated. It supersedes Chapter 11 and Appendix C of the Limitingthe Impact of Development SPD.

1.3 Spatial Policy Framework

1.3.1 The following table outlines the elements of the Development Plan that are relevant tothis SPD.

Table 2 Spatial Policy Framework

NotesPolicy ReferencesAdopted Policy

Sets out the principle of SPA protection in theSouth East. Whilst the Government has

NRM5 Conservation andImprovement ofBiodiversity

South East Plan(2009)

clearly stated its intention to revoke RegionalSpatial Strategies (RSSs), the Council

NRM6 Thames BasinHeaths SpecialProtection Area

considers that South East Plan Policies NRM5and NRM6, associated supporting evidencebase, and the Thames Basin Heaths SPADelivery Framework (2009) set out the mostup to date requirements and advice to enablethe Borough to deliver development whilstprotecting the SPA. The Government’sproposals to abolish RSSs is contained in theLocalism Act which gained Royal Assent on15 November 2011, and it is anticipated thatthese provisions will come into effect in April2012.

Sets out the principle of SPA protection inBracknell Forest.

CS6 Limiting the Impactof Development

Bracknell ForestCouncil CoreStrategy DPD(February 2008) CS14 Thames Basin

Heaths SpecialProtection Area

Sets out the principle of SPA protection inBracknell Forest.

EN3 NatureConservation

Bracknell ForestBorough LocalPlan 1991-2006

1.3.2 The BFC Core Strategy Development Plan Document (DPD) sets the long-term vision,objectives and strategy for the spatial development of Bracknell Forest and provides a frameworkfor promoting and controlling development to 2026.

1.3.3 The principle of SPA protection is set out in BFC Core Strategy Policy CS14: ThamesBasin Heaths Special Protection Area. The Appropriate Assessment of the Core Strategy(3)

identified that such a policy was necessary to mitigate the environmental effects of development.

3 See Thames Basin Heaths SPA Technical Background Document to the Core Strategy DPD (June 2007)


Core Strategy DPD Policy CS14 Supporting Text

(Supporting text...) The Thames Basin Heaths is designated as a Special Protection Areaunder the EC Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Flora andFauna (the “Habitats Directive”).This designation aims to protect a network of sites acrossEurope which has rare or important habitats or species, in order to safeguard biodiversity.The Thames Basin Heaths SPA covers 8400 hectares within the boundaries of nine LocalAuthorities in Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey; 1300 hectares lie to the south of theBorough of Bracknell Forest. The SPA is designated for its ability to provide a habitatsupporting breeding populations of Dartford warbler, nightjar and woodlark, which areprotected species under the EC Wild Birds Directive.

The sites are protected by the Habitats Directive, which is transposed into UK law by theHabitats Regulations. The requirements of both the Habitats Directive and the HabitatsRegulations are prescriptive and provide an absolute measure of whether permission canbe given. If an adverse impact is likely, and no mitigation is proposed to remove this impact,the plan or project must be refused subject to the exceptions tests set out in Regulation49 of the Habitats Regulations.

A significant impact is likely to occur from a net increase in residential development, leadingto an increased population, in an area where the inhabitants of the development are withinsuch proximity to the SPA they are likely to visit for recreational purposes. This zone ofsignificant effect is within a 5 kilometre straight-line distance from the SPA boundary.

The Core Strategy DPD must remove any adverse effects resulting from its policies. TheSPA technical background document to the Core Strategy DPD, has identified any potentialeffects arising from the plan, and put forward the type and amount of avoidance andmitigation measures required to remove these effects.

SPA Technical Background Document

The document identifies a strategic level of avoidance and mitigation measures, for examplethe provision of alternative recreational open space and visitor management.

This document has also concluded that any development within a 400 metre straight-linedistance of the boundary of the SPA will be assessed on its own merits with regard to theHabitats Directive. If a significant impact cannot be precluded a detailed project-levelAppropriate Assessment must ensure no adverse effect. Within this zone a significantadverse effect can only be avoided or mitigated in exceptional circumstances, thereforethere will be a general presumption against new residential development within 400 metresof the SPA boundary.

Outside this 400 metre zone, if development identified as having a significant effect cancomply with, and contribute an appropriate level towards, the measures detailed in theSPA Technical Background Document, the significant effect will be avoided and mitigated.Measures within the SPA Technical Background Document are not able to remove thesignificant effect of proposals within the 400 metre zone.

In order to assist the Council in making an Appropriate Assessment, where this is necessary,the developer will be required to provide such information as the Council may reasonablyrequire for the purpose of the assessment.


Policy CS14:Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area

The Council will carry out an assessment of the effects of a development proposalon the conservation objectives of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area(SPA) where there is a risk of the proposal having a significant impact on the integrityof the site, either alone or in combination with other proposals. Proposals leadingto a net increase in residential dwellings, within a straight-line distance of 5 kilometresfrom the SPA boundary, are likely to have a significant effect.The Council will notpermit development which, either alone or in combination with other development,has an adverse effect upon the integrity of the SPA.

Development outside the 400-metre zone will be permitted where it can demonstratethat it can remove any adverse effect by contributing towards avoidance andmitigation measures in line with the SPA Technical Background Document.

The effective avoidance and/or mitigation of any identified adverse effects must bedemonstrated and secured prior to approval of the development.

Implementation

This policy will be implemented through:

The determination of planning applications and appeals;Subsequent policies and guidance in further Local Development Documents.

1.3.4 Therefore, in line with Planning Policy Statement (PPS)9,(4) the requirements for avoidinga likely significant effect on the SPA are set out in the South East Plan, the Core Strategy DPD,with this SPD providing guidance on the implementation of avoidance and mitigation measures,in line with the Thames Basin Heaths SPA Delivery Framework (2009).

1.4 Stages in the Production of the SPD

1.4.1 Due to policy changes and work at the regional level, BFC undertook two consultationson the draft SPD. Details are set out in the table below.

Table 3 Stages in the Production of the SPD

DateStage

29th July - 2nd September2009

Thames Basin Heaths SPA Avoidance and Mitigation SPDSustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (July 2009)Consultation

2nd November - 14December 2009

Draft Thames Basin Heaths SPA Avoidance and MitigationSPD and Draft Sustainability Appraisal Report (November2009) Consultation

4 Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation


DateStage

12th September - 24 October2011

Draft Thames Basin Heaths SPA Avoidance and MitigationSPD and Draft Sustainability Appraisal Report (2011)Consultation

March 2012Adoption of Thames Basin Heaths SPA Avoidance andMitigation SPD and publication of Sustainability Statement

1.5 Sustainability Appraisal

1.5.1 Plans and programmes that have been determined to require Appropriate Assessmentpursuant to the Habitats Directive are also subject to an assessment procedure under theStrategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive (Article 3(2) (b)).

1.5.2 Although it is no longer mandatory to carry out Sustainability Appraisal (SA) of SPDs,BFC has decided to continue to do so. Therefore this SPD is accompanied by an SAincorporating the requirements of SEA. Consultation on the SA has been undertaken as shownin the table above.

1.6 Sub-Regional Working

1.6.1 The Thames Basin Heaths SPA affects 11 local authorities.(5) In order to be sure of aconsistent approach across the whole area, and on the advice of the Technical Advisor at theSouth East Plan Examination in Public (November/December 2007), a Joint Strategic Partnership(JSP) was set up in 2007 to provide a vehicle for joint working, liaison and exchange ofinformation between local authorities and other organisations affected by the Thames BasinHeaths SPA. A Councillor from Bracknell Forest is a member of the Joint Strategic PartnershipBoard (JSPB).

1.6.2 In February 2009, the JSPB adopted guidelines in the form of a Delivery Framework.(6)

This is available on the Council's website at http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/spa. Theseguidelines form the basis of the approach adopted in this SPD.

1.6.3 Bracknell Forest Council has been working jointly at a sub-regional level for a numberof years to implement avoidance and mitigation measures and will endeavour to continue todo so in the future.

5 Waverley BC, Guildford BC, Surrey Heath BC, Woking BC, Bracknell Forest BC, Hart DC, Wokingham BC, Elmbridge BC,Runnymede BC, The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Rushmoor BC.

6 Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area Delivery Framework (JSPB) 12 February 2009.


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2 Background2.1 Habitats Regulations

2.1.1 The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010, referred to as the “HabitatsRegulations”, implement in Great Britain the requirements of the EU Directive on theConservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Flora and Fauna, referred to as the “HabitatsDirective” (Council Directive 92/43/EEC) and protect areas classified under Directive2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on theconservation of wild birds (codified version), referred to as the “Birds Directive”.The Regulationsaim to protect a network of sites that have rare or important habitats and species in order tosafeguard biodiversity.

2.1.2 Under the EC Birds Directive, Member States are required to take special measuresto conserve the habitats of certain rare species of birds (listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive)and regularly occurring migratory birds. In particular each Member State was required to classifythe most suitable areas of such habitats as Special Protection Areas (SPAs). This is designedto protect wild birds, and to provide sufficient diversity of habitats for all species so as to maintainpopulations at an ecologically sound level. All Bird Directive SPAs are part of the Natura 2000network under Article 3(1) of the Habitats Directive.

2.1.3 Under Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive, Competent Authorities have a duty to ensurethat all the activities they regulate have no adverse effect on the integrity of any of the Natura2000 sites. Therefore, the Competent Authority must assess the possible effects of a plan orproject on any Natura 2000 sites. This includes an initial screening stage to identify any likelysignificant effects on the SPA which may arise, either alone or in combination with other plansor projects. If at the screening stage it is considered that there is likely to be a significant effect,in view of the site’s conservation objectives, then the plan or project must be subject to anAppropriate Assessment (AA). Having undertaken the AA (again in view of the site’s conservationobjectives), the Competent Authority shall agree to the plan or project only after ascertainingthat it will not adversely affect the integrity of the European site concerned, or where the furthertests as described in article 6(4) can be met. This process is clarified in Figure 1 of Circular06/2005 ‘Biodiversity and Geological Conservation’ which is shown in Appendix 2.

2.1.4 The decision-maker must consider the likely and reasonably foreseeable effects inorder to ascertain that the proposal will not have an adverse effect on the integrity of the sitebefore it may grant permission (subject to the exception tests set out in Regulation 61 of theHabitats Regulations).

2.1.5 As described above, screening and, if necessary, AA should be undertaken by theCompetent Authority (Bracknell Forest Council - BFC). However, the process also requiresecological expertise in order to make judgements about the implications for site integrity. Itrequires close working with Natural England in order to obtain the necessary information, agreethe process, outcomes and mitigation proposals, and to meet the requirements of the HabitatsRegulations.


2.2 Bracknell Forest Housing Figures

2.2.1 The Council’s Core Strategy DPD was subject to, and passed Appropriate Assessment,allowing its adoption in February 2008. Policy CS15 of the Core Strategy sets out that overthe plan period 2006 - 2026 the Council will make provision for 11,139 new dwellings (net).This figure includes a carry over of 359 units from a shortfall during the previous plan period(pre-2006). Subsequent advice from the Government Office for the South East (GOSE) wasthat no allowance needs to be made for the shortfall. Removing this allowance reduces thehousing requirement from 11,139 to 10,780. Further references in this document to the CoreStrategy housing requirement therefore relates to a target for the plan period of 10,780 dwellings.

2.2.2 Some of these developments will fall outside of this Avoidance and Mitigation SPD andwill not be required to make SPA contributions. This is set out in Appendix 3.

2.3 Findings of the Core Strategy DPD AppropriateAssessment

2.3.1 Table 10 in the Technical Background Document to the Core Strategy DPD (2007),sets out the likely effects on the conservation objectives of the SPA arising as a result of thepolicies in the Core Strategy DPD. These relate to the effect of recreation and urbanisation onthe SPA habitat and interest features.

2.3.2 This Avoidance and Mitigation SPD addresses the recreation-related effects on theSPA which should allow the Council to conclude no adverse effect on the integrity of the SPAas a result of a net increase in residential development between 400m and 5km of the SPA.

2.3.3 Developments that cannot be mitigated by this SPD (e.g. non-residential developmentsand larger residential developments) will be dealt with on a case by case basis. A HabitatsRegulations Assessment may be required to address some or all of the following potentialeffects on the SPA. These could include any (or all) of the following:

Vandalism (incl. fire) – potentially causing damage to birds and nestsEnrichment (from waste tipping and dog faeces) – potentially causing other plants toout-compete heathland plantsPredation – of eggs and/or chicksDisturbance by people and dogs – potentially causing adult birds not returning to nest,chicks/eggs to die of exposure and a reduction in bird breeding success.Trampling – of eggsFragmentation between heathland – potentially affecting bird territories and availabilityof ‘lay-back’ land required for grazing animals when their presence on the SPA is likely tocause damageSupporting habitats – potential loss of foraging habitats for birdsHydrology – changes to water supply into the SPA could potentially affect the habitat.Noise - breeding birds can be deterred by noiseLighting - lights could potentially have an adverse effect on the nocturnal feeding ofnightjarAir pollution - emissions from road vehicles have the potential to impact on air qualitythereby affecting the sensitive habitats on the SPA on which the Annex 1 birds depend


3 SPA Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy3.0.1 This section provides guidance on the measures which will be implemented in BracknellForest to avoid likely significant effects on the SPA from development that is set out in the CoreStrategy DPD. It reflects the measures agreed by the JSPB in the Thames Basin Heaths DeliveryFramework (2009) which can be found on the Council's website athttp://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/spa

3.0.2 Any net increase in residential dwellings within 5km of the SPA is likely to have asignificant effect either alone or in combination with others falling within the 5km zone.Consequently, every proposal for net additional dwellings must make provision to avoid and/ormitigate the effect. If developments contribute towards the measures set out in this SPD,(7)

they can avoid the effects of the development proposal and a project-level AppropriateAssessment is not required.

3.0.3 The option remains for developers to undertake a Habitats Regulations screeningassessment and where necessary a full appropriate assessment to demonstrate that a proposalwill not adversely affect the integrity of the SPA.

3.0.4 A three prong approach to avoiding likely significant effect on the SPA is appropriate:

Provision of Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) to attract people awayfrom the SPA and hence reduce pressure on it;access management and monitoring measures on, and monitoring of, the SPA to reducethe effect of people who visit the SPA; andhabitat management.

3.0.5 This SPD focuses on the two prongs of SANG (Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace)and access management, which the JSPB currently considers are the most appropriateavoidance measures. In the longer term, habitat management may, theoretically, be taken tobe an avoidance measure; however, the focus in the short-term must be improving the qualityof the SPA to favourable condition status. This is a duty of SPA landowners which falls outsidethe development control system.

3.0.6 The avoidance measures should be provided in order that they can function in perpetuity.

3.0.7 The avoidance measures should be applied within a ‘Zone of Influence’ - defined asthe area from 400m from the perimeter of the SPA to 5km from the perimeter of the SPA.(8)

Figure 1 shows the area of SPA in Bracknell Forest and the extent of the 400m and 5km buffer

7 The following sections show that developer contributions are applied on a 'per bedroom' basis. In the former Avoidanceand Mitigation Strategy, developer contributions were applied on a 'per dwelling' basis. In 2010, a legal opinion was jointlysought to establish whether the proposed SAMM tariff was compliant with Circular 05/2005. An opinion was received from(Landmark Chambers) which concluded that the tariff did meet the requirements of the Circular except in regards to beinga flat rate tariff. The opinion considered that a flat rate tariff would not be proportional and would fetter the local authorities’discretion. The opinion also stated that a tariff which included the number of bedrooms and/or distance would be proportionateand acceptable. Previous Thames Basin Heaths SANG and access management tariffs took account of distance throughthe distance zoning scheme. In response, Natural England and the local authorities agreed a proportional SAMM tariffbased on the number of bedrooms. BFC has also applied this to SANG tariffs in line with the other SPA affected localauthorities. Tariffs calculated and applied in this way are considered to meet all the requirements of current policy andguidance and will be able to provide effective mitigation to address the effect of additional housing on the SPA.

8 Measured as the crow flies from the primary point of access to the curtilage of the dwelling as recommended by the JointStrategic Partnership Board and set out in the Thames Basin Heaths SPA Delivery Framework (12 February 2009).



zones. The majority of overall housing provision in Bracknell Forest(9) between 2006-2026 willbe located within this zone of influence.There is a presumption against residential developmentwithin 400m of the SPA boundary as explained below.

3.0.8 Residential developments of over 50 houses located between 5 and 7km from the edgeof the SPA should be assessed on a case by case basis. Where appropriate, a full appropriateassessment may be required to ascertain whether the proposal could have an adverse effecton the SPA. Any avoidance and mitigation measures need to be approved by the Council inagreement with Natural England.

9 As set out in the Core Strategy DPD and the Site Allocations DPD Draft Submission.


Figure 1 Thames Basin Heaths SPA and Buffer Zones in Bracknell Forest


3.1 Types of Development Covered

3.1.1 The duty to consider the possibility of likely significant effect on the SPA applies to alltypes of development, not just residential. This strategy largely concerns itself with the effectsarising from the following developments:

Proposals for 1 or more net new dwelling units falling within Use Class C3 (residentialdevelopment); andProposals for 1 or more net new units of staff residential accommodation falling within withUse Classes C1 (hotel use) and C2 (residential institutions).

3.1.2 Other C1 and C2 uses will be assessed on a case by case basis.

3.1.3 Use class C3 (residential uses) is formed of three parts(10)

C3(a): those living together as a single household as defined by the Housing Act 2004(basically a ‘family’)C3(b): those living together as a single household and receiving care, andC3(c): those living together as a single household who do not fall within the C4 definitionof a house in multiple occupation.

3.1.4 C4 uses relate to houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and in broad terms this usecovers small shared houses or flats occupied by between 3 and 6 unrelated individuals whoshare basic amenities. In relation to HMOs, these are normally single dwelling units. Changesto legislation introduced in April and October 2010 means that a change of use from a dwellinghouse (C3 use) to a HMO (C4 use) is possible under permitted development rights. Thereforeplanning permission is not needed and would not be assessed in relation to effect upon theSPA.

3.1.5 Large HMOs (i.e. 6 or more people sharing) are unclassified by the Use Classes Orderand are ‘sui generis’ (not falling within any of the use classes). Therefore a change of use tofrom either C3 or C4 uses to a large house in multiple occupation would be required. Applicationsrelating to large HMOs will be assessed on a case by case basis.

3.1.6 This strategy applies to applications for full or outline planning permission. Reservedmatters,(11) discharge of conditions, or amendments to existing planning consents will beconsidered on an individual basis by the Council.

3.1.7 Large residential development proposals which, due to their scale and potential effectand ability to offer their own alternative avoidance measures, will be considered on a case bycase basis. See section 3.5.

3.1.8 Replacement dwellings will not generally lead to increased recreational pressure,therefore, will have no likely significant effect on the SPA and will not be required to make acontribution to the provision of avoidance measures.

10 See CLG circular 08/2010 (November 2010) relating to ‘Changes to planning regulations for dwellinghouses and housesin multiple occupation’.

11 In March 2007, legal advice was received which led the Council and Natural England to the view that Regulations 48 and49 of the 1994 Habitats Regulations should be applied to applications for approval of reserved matters or variations orrenewals, where potential effects on the SPA were not fully considered when an existing permission was granted or whereinformation more recently provided would make for a different assessment of effects.


3.1.9 All other applications for planning permission for developments in the vicinity of theSPA will be screened to assess whether they will have a likely significant effect (individually orin combination with other plans or projects) and where necessary a Habitats RegulationsAssessment will be undertaken.

3.2 Development within 400m of SPA

3.2.1 Within 400m of the SPA(12) the effect of new net increase in residential developmenton the SPA is likely to be such that it is not possible to conclude no adverse effect on the SPA.There should therefore be a presumption against any net increase in residential developmentwithin this zone (the exclusion zone).(13) A Habitats Regulations Assessment will be needed,and agreed with Natural England, to demonstrate that any development within this zone willnot have an adverse effect on the SPA and/or the acceptability of any avoidance and mitigationmeasures provided.

3.2.2 Applications for non-residential development in this zone will be assessed on a caseby case basis, in agreement with Natural England.

3.3 Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG)

3.3.1 The provision of alternative recreational land to attract new residents away from theSPA is a key part of avoiding the effects of new development on the Thames Basin HeathsSPA.

3.3.2 Within Bracknell Forest there are two ways for developers to provide new SANGs:

Make a payment contribution towards strategic SANGs(14) (subject to available SANGscapacity); or Make an in-kind, bespoke provision based upon the principles within this SPD (see section3.5).

3.3.3 SANGs provision must be in addition to normal open space requirements(15) on thebasis of at least 8ha per 1,000 population and meet the quality standards agreed at thesub-regional level.(16)

3.3.4 Sufficient SANG should be provided in advance of dwelling occupation to ensure thatthere is no likely significant effect on the SPA.

12 Measured as the crow flies from the SPA perimeter to the point of access on the curtilage of the dwellings.13 This is set out in Core Strategy DPD Policy CS14.14 Strategic SANGs are open spaces in Bracknell Forest which, in agreement with NE, have been identified as being suitable

for bringing up to SANGs standard through the application of developer contributions.15 Open land to avoid and mitigate adverse effects on habitat protected by the SPA designation is not the same as open space

provision to meet recreational needs. Each serves a different purpose and is defined as such. Therefore the capacity ofthe SANG is based on at least 8ha/1000 persons after discounting any relevant Open Space of Public Value (OSPV) asset out in Appendix 4. Management of the SANGs is required to bring the sites up to a higher quality which will encouragemore visitors and divert visits away from the SPA. If contributions towards the management of open space provision arereduced, the baseline quality of OSPV will be reduced. This baseline is a consideration in providing the necessary measuresto bring SANGs up to the required standard.

16 See Natural England SANGs Quality Guidance on the Council's website at http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/spa



3.3.5 SANG catchment areas (the area within which a development needs to be located inorder to use a particular SANG as an SPA avoidance measure) are shown in table 10 and onthe maps in Appendix 5. Developments of less than 10 dwellings do not need to be within aspecified distance of SANG.(17) However, all net new dwellings (including on sites of less than10 dwellings) will be required to contribute to the provision of avoidance measures.(18)

3.3.6 Appendices 4 and 5 explain the process undertaken to identify strategic SANGs inBracknell Forest and their full assessment. The following table lists the open spaces in theborough which were identified as suitable SANGs and the residual area of SANGs capacityavailable.

Table 4 Strategic SANGs and Residual Mitigation Capacity

Residual area of SANGscapacity available (ha)

Strategic SANGs(1)

17.12haThe Cut Countryside Corridor: (Jocks Copse / Tinker'sCopse / The Cut (south) / Garth Meadows / Larks Hill / PiggyWood)

29.46haShepherd Meadows

27.06haEnglemere Pond

8.64haHorseshoe Lake

12.53haLonghill Park Group (Longhill Park / Milman Close / Beswick

Gardens Copse / Lily Hill Park(2) / Clintons Hill)

18.65haLily Hill Park

12.21haAmbarrow Court / Hill

3.9haPart of Great Hollands Recreation Ground

1. In 2007, South Hill Park was identified as an area of open space which had the potential to be a SANG. Due to its limitedcatchment (400m) however it would in practise only provide mitigation for residential developments of less than 10 dwellings.For such developments, the Council has SANGs capacity in the south of the Borough. The site has therefore been removedfrom the Council's suite of strategic SANGs.

2. Lily Hill Park is part of the Longhill Park Group SANG. This is however shown separately in the row below as SANGscapacity on this site has been reserved for the Bracknell Town Centre Redevelopment and is not included in the costcalculations for the strategic SANGs.

3.3.7 The broad enhancements to the SANGs are provided in Appendix 6. This will beimplemented as a rolling programme of works as development occurs, funded by developer’scontributions. An Open Space Management Plan will give full details of the exact works to becarried out at each site. These plans will be reviewed every 5 years and agreed with Natural17 The South East Plan Technical Assessor recommended that only new residential development of 10 dwellings or more

would have an impact on the SPA. The Board considers that this approach fails to recognise the longer term cumulativeeffect of small-scale developments, however accepts his conclusion that individually developments of less than 10 dwellingswill not have a significant impact on the SPA. Thus this Delivery Framework recommends a more flexible approach to theprovision of SANG in relation to smaller developments. The threshold of 10 is identified on the basis of the definition ofmajor development in the GDPO 1995.

18 Whilst the JSPB considers that SANG is not required to cater for the individual effect of small developments, in order toprovide certainty that the overall (cumulative) effect of all small developments on the SPA is avoided, an appropriate levelof SANG should be provided within the vicinity of the SPA as a whole.


England, in consultation with other partners where relevant. Future monitoring and surveysmay indicate additional works or improvements that could improve suitability as SANGs. Thestrategic SANGs are shown on the following map.


Figure 2 Strategic SANGs in Bracknell Forest


3.4 Strategic Access Management and Monitoring (SAMM)

3.4.1 The second avoidance and mitigation measure is access management andmonitoring.(19) This should be provided for in perpetuity. A contribution towards the StrategicAccess Management and Monitoring (SAMM) project(20) will be required from all new netresidential development, regardless of whether the SANGs provision is bespoke or via theAvoidance and Mitigation Strategy.(21) This will ensure that visitor management on the SPA isco-ordinated across the area, so that displacement of visitors from one area of the SPA toanother is avoided.

3.4.2 The Thames Basin Heaths SPA comprises multiple SSSI sites, owned and managedby many different organisations and some private individuals. In order to ensure that accessmanagement implemented in one area does not simply displace visitors onto another part ofthe SPA, it is necessary to take a strategic approach to visitor access management.

3.4.3 The Access Management and Monitoring Partnership (made up of landowners andmanagers of the SPA) with support from Natural England and Hampshire County Council, hasput forward a programme of strategic visitor access management measures for the purpose ofmitigating the effects of new development on the SPA, funded by developer contributions.These measures, in combination with a complimentary monitoring programme, have been takenforward into the Strategic Access Management and Monitoring (SAMM) Project. Natural Englandcurrently hosts the project co-ordinator, whilst Hampshire County Council manages the finances.

3.4.4 The SAMM project aims to:

Promote SANGS as new recreational opportunities for local people and particularlyencourage their use during the breeding bird seasonProvide on-the-ground wardening service to supplement existing wardening effortsProvide an SPA-wide education programmeCreate new volunteering opportunitiesDemonstrate best practice for strategic access management of visitors and visitorinfrastructure where the supply of greenspace is heavily dependent on protected areasMonitor visitor usage of SANGs and SPAMonitor Annex 1 birds on SPA sites

3.4.5 The increase in co-ordination capabilities will help existing wardens to promote standardmessages, whilst the on-the-ground wardening service will be implemented, in relation todelivery of new residential development. In combination, this will allow confidence that, evenif the provision of SANGs alone does not divert all new residents from using the SPA forrecreation, there will be no increase in harm caused as a result of recreational pressure.

3.4.6 The SAMM Legal Agreement was signed by BFC, Natural England and the other 10local authorities affected by SPA issues in July 2011. The project was implemented from 14July 2011.

19 This is set out in South East Plan Policy NRM6 and the Thames Basin Heaths SPA Delivery Framework (2009).20 Detailed information can be found on the Council's website at http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/spa21 Both SANG and SAMM should ordinarily be applied unless it can be demonstrated that, through any other package of

avoidance and mitigation measures put forward, the development will lead to no significant adverse effect on the integrityof the SPA in accordance with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010. In accordance with thislegislation, the local authority must adopt a precautionary approach and any avoidance and mitigation measures must beagreed in advance with the Council and Natural England.



3.4.7 The SAMM Project Manager (currently hosted by Natural England) is tasked withdrawing up the detailed list of actions. The resulting work programme is overseen by the SAMMProject Board.

3.4.8 The SAMM Project will be implemented by collection of the relevant S106 contributions.As the measures are strategic, not all money collected from development within the boroughwill necessarily be spent within the borough. However, all contributions will be spent inaccordance with a monitored work programme. A monitoring programme will measure thesuccess of the project.

3.5 Bespoke Solutions

3.5.1 Bespoke SANGs may be provided for certain developments. This may be the developer’schoice, required by policy or necessity due to lack of SANGs capacity, or required wherecompliance with a general standard may not be sufficient to comply with Habitats Regulations.Bespoke SANGs must be provided in perpetuity.

3.5.2 Large residential developments located between 400m and 5km of the SPA will berequired to provide a bespoke SANG in accordance with the Avoidance and Mitigation SPDand the Habitats Regulations and in agreement with NE and BFC. Due to the practicalities ofproviding bespoke SANGs which are large enough to be attractive to new residents, it is likelythat only larger developments (109+ dwellings) will be in a position to deliver acceptable bespokeSANGs. 109 dwellings is the minimum number necessary (at an average of 2.31 people perdwellingI(22) and at least 8ha per 1000 population SANG requirement) to generate a requirementfor a 2ha SANG. This is the smallest SANG by area which would be acceptable.

3.5.3 Bespoke SANGs would need to be provided at a standard of at least 8ha per 1,000population. However, the minimum SANGs standard may not be appropriate to demonstratethat the requirements of the Habitats Regulations are met. These applications will be dealtwith on a case-by-case basis following guidelines on Appropriate Assessment and in agreementwith Natural England.

3.5.4 Developments identified within the Core Strategy DPD (2007) are required to providebespoke SANGs. These are:

Policy CS3 - Bracknell Town Centre. This already has planning permission, includingbespoke avoidance and mitigation measures, which remove all adverse effects on theSPA arising from this development.(23)

Policy CS4 - Amen Corner, Binfield – this includes the construction of approximately725 net additional dwellings and the Amen Corner SPD (March 2010) sets out a requirementfor bespoke avoidance and mitigation measures.Policy CS5 - Land North of Whitegrove and Quelm Park, Parish of Warfield (nowknown as Warfield) – this includes the construction of approximately 2,200 net additionaldwellings and the Warfield SPD (March 2012) sets out a requirement for bespokeavoidance and mitigation measures.

22 In Bracknell Forest, the average household size is 2.31 persons per dwelling. This is set out in the Thames Basin HeathsSPA Technical Background Document to the Core Strategy DPD (2007).

23 See Habitats Regulations Appropriate Assessment Bracknell Town Centre Re-development (June 2010).


3.5.5 Bracknell Forest Council’s Site Allocations DPD(24) identifies further sites (in additionto the developments identified in the Core Strategy) where a bespoke SANG will be expected.The Council will consider the acceptability of bespoke SANGs on a case-by case basis, inagreement with Natural England, in accordance with the Habitats Regulations.

3.5.6 Due to the large-scale nature of these developments, and the subsequent concentrationof new residents arising in these locations, where possible these proposals will provide theirown areas of SANGs on-site. Where not possible, off-site provision may be acceptable,assuming the Council, in agreement with Natural England, can conclude that the off-site SANGswill function as an effective alternative to the SPA.

3.5.7 Where appropriate, the Council will endeavour to assist in the provision of SANGs fordevelopments within or close to Bracknell Town Centre.

3.5.8 Other developments may also wish to consider putting forward a bespoke mitigationpackage rather than contribute towards the measures in the Council’s strategy. This must beagreed with the Council and Natural England.

3.5.9 Whilst the SANGs quantity and quality standards set out in this document are a usefulstarting point for the assessment of bespoke SANGs, compliance with these standards maynot be appropriate to demonstrate that the requirements of the Habitats Regulations are met.(25)

A Habitats Regulations Assessment will be required to ensure that there is no likely significanteffect or no adverse effect on the integrity of the SPA. Early dialogue with the Council andNatural England is encouraged.

3.5.10 Open land to avoid and mitigate adverse effects on habitat protected by the SPAdesignation is not the same as open space provision to meet recreational needs. Each servesa different purpose, as illustrated by research which has shown that SPA visitors seek siteswith different characteristics than general open space users;(26) provision for each is soughtand calculated on a different basis.(27) This SPD requires the provision and management ofopen land in addition to the recreational open space to serve and make a new developmentsustainable, and which is needed to make a scheme acceptable regardless of its location inrelation the SPA.

3.5.11 Contributions will be sought towards the acquisition (where relevant) and enhancementof the SANGs, their management in perpetuity and must meet Natural England's QualityGuidance. Levels of existing visitor use on the SANG will need to be discounted to protectcurrent access. Any existing nature conservation interests must also be taken into account andpotentially discounted.

3.5.12 To mitigate the effect that occupiers of a development will have on the integrity of theSPA, any enhancement to SANGs standard must be in place before those occupiers move inand so, where appropriate, the Council will seek to restrict occupations until related SPAavoidance and mitigation measures and/or works have been completed. Rather than retainresponsibility for maintaining in-kind semi-natural open space, a developer may want to offerthe land to BFC, another public body or set up a management company or community trust (all24 Draft Submission version (November 2011).25 This was confirmed as the most appropriate way to assess bespoke solutions by the Secretary of State in his decision letter

on the TRL Site, Crowthorne (APP/R0335/A/08/2076543)26 See Liley, Mallord and Lobley, 2005.27 The capacity of the SANG is based on at least 8ha/1000 persons after discounting any relevant open space of public value

(OSPV) (4.3 ha of OSPV per 1,000 people) as set out in Chapter 4 of Limiting the Impact of Development SPD (2007).Contributions towards the management of open space provision ensure a baseline quality of OSPV. This baseline is aconsideration in providing the necessary measures to bring SANGs up to the required standard.


subject to appropriate ongoing funding). In this case the Council will need assurance that suchan organisation has the necessary skills and resources to maintain the open space and that itwill remain in existence to achieve this in perpetuity.

3.5.13 Where a development includes specific measures to avoid and mitigate its effect uponthe SPA, the Council will, in agreement with Natural England, undertake a Habitats RegulationsAssessment. This will consider the effect of the proposal on the SPA and the avoidance andmitigation measures, including size, quality and location of any proposed SANG and strategicaccess management and monitoring measures.

3.5.14 Contributions towards the SAMM project will be required even where bespoke SANGsprovision is proposed. Both SANG and SAMM should ordinarily be applied unless it can bedemonstrated that, through any other package of avoidance and mitigation measures putforward, the development will lead to no significant adverse effect on the integrity of the SPAin accordance with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010. In accordancewith this legislation, the local authority must adopt a precautionary approach and any avoidanceand mitigation measures must be agreed in advance with the Council and Natural England.

3.6 Residential Institutions

3.6.1 When a planning application is made for C2 Nursing Homes, the following SPA avoidanceand mitigation measures will apply:

C2 Nursing Homes Within 400m of the SPA

3.6.2 These developments will be dealt with on a case by case basis at the planning applicationstage, in agreement with Natural England. Certain avoidance and mitigation measures mayneed to be put in place in order to reach a conclusion of no adverse effect on the integrity ofthe SPA. For example, these could include the following:

A workable pet covenant enforceable by the accommodation management company /organisation which precludes the keeping of cat and dogs on the premises; with theexception of assisted living dogs.That the use class of the property is limited to that of C2, and the occupants will only beof limited mobility and thus will not access the Thames Basin Heaths SPA.Measures are put in place to ensure that the car park cannot be made available to thegeneral public.

C2 Nursing Homes Between 400m and 5km of the SPA

3.6.3 These developments will be dealt with on a case by case basis at the planning applicationstage, in agreement with Natural England. Certain avoidance and mitigation measures mayneed to be put in place in order to reach a conclusion of no adverse effect on the integrity ofthe SPA. For example, these could include the following:

That the use class of the property is limited to that of C2, and the occupants will only beof limited mobility and thus will not access the Thames Basin Heaths SPA.

Other

3.6.4 Any other residential accommodation for older persons which is self contained will besubject to the usual SPA avoidance and mitigation measures set out in this SPD.


4 Implementation and Monitoring4.1 SANGs Contributions

4.1.1 All SANGs set out in table 5 are either owned, or leased to/by the Council, or are siteswhere the Council has an agreement with the freeholder or leaseholder. The Council is willingto pool together developer contributions from different developments to facilitate and implementenhancements and make these sites available for SPA mitigation purposes.

4.1.2 Where, instead of a bespoke solution, provision is made for contributions to be paidand pooled towards implementing the Avoidance and Mitigation SPD (which have been agreedwith Natural England); the Council will not require an Appropriate Assessment of the planningapplication, as a likely significant effect is avoided.

4.1.3 The contributing development must be within a maximum of 5km of an area of a SANGalthough developments of less than 10 dwellings do not need to be within a specified distanceof SANG. See Appendix 4 and the maps in Appendix 5 for SANGs catchment areas.

4.1.4 Regardless of the extent of any works and measures already undertaken at the nearestSANG, a developer will still be required to contribute as the need arises from the cumulativeeffect of many developments.

4.1.5 The identified SANGs require enhancement works to realise their potential to deflectvisits away from the SPA. To determine the extent of the works required, the following wereused:

survey information on: visitors; accessibility; parking; user perception and habitat/natureconservation qualities;the expertise of those with responsibility for open space management; andinformation from Natural England based upon its research.

4.1.6 The key enhancements are to improve accessibility, to provide well-designed circularwalks of more than 2.3 – 2.5km and to make semi-natural habitat more attractive as set out inthis Avoidance and Mitigation SPD and in line with research carried out by Natural England.Contributions accepted for enhancements to mitigating open spaces, which are also designatedas SSSIs (for example, Englemere Pond), will only be used to enhance the experience forvisitors. The funds will not be used for habitat management measures which are a statutoryrequirement of the SSSI landowner.

4.1.7 Contributions need to be in proportion to the proposed development and sufficient toavoid and mitigate adverse effects. The payment contribution in Table 5 is derived from thecost of open land enhancement works and sustainable management in perpetuity,(28)as wellas appropriate administration and education costs. This is in line with the approach and costingsset out in Appendices 3, 4 and 7.

28 In the Council's previous SPA Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy, the period for the maintenance of SANGs was set at 20years because this was the plan period. This SPD complies with South East Plan Policy NRM6 and the Thames BasinHeaths SPA Delivery Framework (2009) which states that mitigation measures must be provided ‘in perpetuity’. An ‘inperpetuity’ period of 125 years has been applied in this SPD in accordance with the legislation which defines the ‘in perpetuity’period (Perpetuities and Accumulations Act 2009). This has lead to an increase in contributions for the maintenance ofSANGs.


4.1.8 The Council pooling together developer contributions from different developments tofacilitate and implement enhancements and make the sites available for SPA mitigation purposesis clearly a constraint and commitment to maintain and manage land in a particular way. Toensure the availability of enhanced mitigation sites effectively in perpetuity requires a long-termcommitment to on-going maintenance and sustainable management.

4.1.9 Reflecting this and that almost all of the identified mitigation open sites are owned orleased to/by the Council, an additional sum set at 35% of the cost of SANGS maintenance isrequired and is included in calculating the payment contribution. The additional (+35%) sumfor the off-site provision of SPA avoidance and mitigation measures on land either owned, orleased to/by the Council will:

fund the cost of administering, co-ordinating and monitoring many contributions towardsthis SPD including ensuring clear linkages between contributing developments and specificmeasures (for example, regular monitoring reports to Natural England and the SAMMProject);provide resources to review and update regularly the SPD as circumstances change;ensure contributions are received and SPA avoidance and mitigation measures areimplemented.

4.1.10 Where contributions are due as development progresses, index-linking to relevantinflationary indices will be used to ensure the value of the contribution continues to reflect thecosts of mitigation. It is intended to review the contribution calculation from time to time to takeaccount of changes in circumstances and costs.

Table 5 Calculation of SANGs Contributions

FiguresCalculation Elements

Summary of Appendix 3

11,212 dwellingsTotal housing provision in Core Stratgy DPD Policy

CS15 plus a surplus of 432 dwellings(1)A

2,660 dwellingsDevelopments not likely to have significant effect(2)B

4,115 dwellingsDevelopments providing bespoke SANGs(3)(4)and 3large sites allocated for comprehensive development

in Core Strategy DPD(5)

C

4,437 dwellingsDwellings expected to contribute to strategic SANGs(2006 to 2026) (A-B-C)

D

(2010/11 costings)Summary of Appendix 7

In perpetuity(6)Period over which SPA avoidance and mitigationworks and measures to be met by contributions fromhousing developments

E

107.02haEstimated Area of SANGs Capacity AvailableF


FiguresCalculation Elements

£1,128,000SANGs Enhancement Works - estimatedG

£7,064,237Additional Annual Maintenance in perpetuityH

£550,000Administration and EducationI

£3,059,783Facilitation (35% contingency to facilitate proposals)J

£11,802,020Overall cost (G+H+I+J)K

£882Estimated Strategic SANGs cost per personL

1 bed = £1,3502 beds = £1,7703 beds = £2,4004 beds = £2,7305+ beds = £3,550

Cost per bedroom of strategic SANGsM

1. As shown in the Site Allocations DPD Draft Submission (November 2011).2. See Appendix 3 for a full explanation of development not likely to have significant effect.3. These developments will not be expected to contribute to strategic SANGs but will provide bespoke SANGs as well as

contributing to the SAMM Project.4. Due to their size, the urban extensions identified in the Site Allocations DPD will be expected to deliver bespoke SANGs.

On adoption of the DPD, the number of dwellings on these sites will be removed from the calculation of total dwellingscontributing to strategic SANGs.

5. Land north of Whitegrove and Quelm Park (Warfield) (2,200 dwellings), land at Amen Corner (725 dwellings) and BracknellTown Centre (estimated 1000 net dwellings).

6. In the Council's previous SPA Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy, the period for the maintenance of SANGs was set at 20years because this was the plan period. This SPD complies with South East Plan Policy NRM6 and the Thames BasinHeaths SPA Delivery Framework (2009) which states that mitigation measures must be provided ‘in perpetuity’. An ‘inperpetuity’ period of 125 years has been applied in this SPD in accordance with the legislation which defines the ‘in perpetuity’period (Perpetuities and Accumulations Act 2009). This has, of course, lead to an increase in contributions for the maintenanceof SANGs.

4.2 SAMM Contributions

4.2.1 Provision of SANGs will be considerably more effective as an SPA avoidance andmitigation measure if undertaken alongside measures to manage visits to, and use of, the SPA.The Strategic Access Management and Monitoring (SAMM) Project has been set up to providea comprehensive visitor access management and monitoring service for the purpose of mitigatingthe effects of new residential development on the Thames Basin Heaths SPA.

4.2.2 The JSPB has agreed that the SAMM contribution should be applied on a 'per bedroom'basis. As there are no reliable figures for occupancy rates in Bracknell Forest, no localoccupancy rates have been applied and sub regional averaged figures have been used tocalculate the SAMM contributions. This is based on a programme of access management andmonitoring measures set out in Thames Basin Heaths Strategic Access Management andMonitoring Project: Tariff Guidance, March 2011 and can be found athttp://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/spa. The 'example' SAMM tariff set out in the guidance arethe tariffs which Bracknell Forest apply. See Appendix 7.



Table 6 Strategic Access Management and Monitoring (SAMM) Contributions

Tariff per dwellingDwelling Size

£3991 bedroom

£5262 bedrooms

£7113 bedrooms

£8074 bedrooms

£1,0525+ bedrooms

4.3 Summary of Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy

Table 7 Summary of SPA Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy

Total Tariff(1)(2)

(per dwelling)




RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT(3)

n/aPresumption against net increase in residentialdevelopment.

Net increase inresidentialdwellings within400m of SPA

£1,749£399£1,3501Net increase inresidential

£2,296£526£1,7702dwellingslocated between

£3,111£711£2,4003400m and 5km of

£3,537£807£2,7304the SPA (netincrease of less

£4,602£1,052£3,5505+than 109dwellings)

Costs ofbespoke SANG

£399Provision of abespoke SANGin accordance

1Large residential

developments(4)

located between £5262 + 'per bedroom'SAMMwith the

£7113400m and 5km ofthe SPA (net contributions

(dependent onhousing mix)

Avoidance andMitigation SPDand the Habitats

£8074increase of 109dwellings ormore) £1,0525+ Regulations and

in agreementwith NE andBFC.


Total Tariff(1)(2)

(per dwelling)




Subject to Habitats Regulations Assessment, in order to establish likelysignificant effect on the SPA. May be required to provide appropriatemitigation - considered on a case by case basis in agreement with NE.

Net increase ofmore than 50residentialdwellingslocated between5 - 7km of theSPA


C2 NursingHomes within400m of the SPA

A workable pet covenant enforceable by the accommodationmanagement company / organisation which precludes the keepingof cat and dogs on the premises; with the exception of assistedliving dogsThat the use class of the property is limited to that of C2, and theoccupants will only be of limited mobility and thus will not accessthe Thames Basin Heaths SPAMeasures are put in place to ensure that the car park cannot bemade available to the general public


C2 NursingHomes between400m and 5km ofthe SPA That the use class of the property is limited to that of C2, and the

occupants will only be of limited mobility and thus will not accessthe Thames Basin Heaths SPA

NON RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

Subject to Habitats Regulations Assessment screening in order toestablish likely significant effect on the SPA. May be required to provide

Non-residentialdevelopment

appropriate avoidance and mitigation measures. Considered on a case

by case basis in agreement with NE.(5)

1. Unless screening under Habitat Regulations 2010 Regulation 61(1) concludes no significant effect on the integrity of theSPA.

2. SANG and SAMM should ordinarily be applied unless it can be demonstrated that, through any other package of avoidanceand mitigation measures put forward, the development will lead to no significant adverse effect on the integrity of the SPAin accordance with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010. In accordance with this legislation, thelocal authority must adopt a precautionary approach and any avoidance and mitigation measures must be agreed in advancewith the Council and Natural England.

3. Including new build, redevelopment, mixed use schemes, changes of use, conversions, affordable housing, planningapplications for approval of reserved matters (where no avoidance or mitigation measures have been secured at outlinestage) (including flats, apartments and houses)

4. Comprehensive development (or part thereof) including, but not limited to, sites identified by Policies CS3, CS4 and CS5in the Council’s Core Strategy DPD, urban extensions agreed through the adoption of the Site Allocations DPD and othermajor sites.

5. See section 2.3.


4.4 Timing of Contribution

4.4.1 If appropriate, planning permission will be granted subject to conditions. Where planningobligations are required, these are to be agreed and entered into, prior to the determination ofa planning application. Any payments to be made to the Council are to be secured by planningobligations and paid no later than the commencement of the development. If the developmentis likely to be built in major phases, payment by instalment will be considered.

4.4.2 Where specific measures and/or works (by the developer or, by others who are betterplaced to provide) are needed to avoid and mitigate the effect that occupiers of a developmentwill have on the SPA, these should be undertaken and in place before those occupiers movein. Consequently in some cases, the Council will, by planning condition or obligations, restrictthe occupation of a development until related avoidance and mitigation measures and/or worksare complete.The Council will need a reasonable period of time in which to spend these monies.The Council will consider pump priming works to SANGs to enable early occupation ofappropriate schemes.

4.5 Monitoring

4.5.1 Monitoring the implementation of the SPD will be included within the Annual MonitoringReport (AMR). An appropriate set of indicators will be incorporated into the AMR to accuratelydetermine the effectiveness of the strategy and avoidance and mitigation measures. This willalso assist in reviewing the strategy if necessary.

4.5.2 Monitoring will also take place as part of the SAMM project.(29) The indicators will cover,for example:

Visitor usage of the SPAVisitor usage of SANGs following on from the baseline data collected in 2006 and 2008.Incidence of fire setting on SPA to monitor educational strategies.Incidence of fly tipping on SPA to monitor educational strategies.Bird populations.

4.5.3 This monitoring is crucial in providing a method of fine-tuning of the avoidance andmitigation measures to increase their effectiveness and maximise benefits. In addition to theOpen Space Management Plans being produced, the whole strategy will be reviewed for itseffectiveness at least every 5 years or sooner if new evidence emerges or monitoring resultsindicate a more urgent review is required. The Council is confident that the measures areeffective and will deliver the level of mitigation needed to offset the predicted effects of the CoreStrategy housing figures; however if for some reason specific measures are not found to beworking, these will be readdressed.

4.5.4 Where contributions are secured and paid under an Agreement with the Council, thereceipt and use of contributions can be tracked and information on spending will, on requestfrom a contributing developer, be made available subject to the Council’s reasonable costsbeing met.

4.5.5 In some cases it may be appropriate for conditions to be imposed when planningapplications are determined to ensure a development makes provision for the implementationof related SPA avoidance and mitigation measures. However in most cases where a29 See http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/spa for SAMM Monitoring Strategy.



development proposes some in-kind SPA avoidance and mitigation measures, or a financialcontribution is involved, the Council will seek to secure provision by planning obligations andwill monitor compliance to ensure that what is promised is delivered. If necessary the Councilwill use legal remedies to enforce obligations.


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(SPA

)


Appendix 2: Consideration of DevelopmentProposals Affecting InternationallyDesignated Sites


Appendix 3: Residential Development likelyto have a Significant Effect on the SPA1. A total of 343 dwellings were approved prior to SPA designation.

2. There are also a number of sites with permission which have already, or have capacityto, provide a bespoke avoidance and mitigation solution. This includes the following largesites (2,223 in total) with full permission, plus others:

The Parks at RAF Staff College (605 net dwellings) - outline and reserved mattersapplications approved, permission falls to be reviewed under Regulation 63 and, shouldmitigation be required, the Council will work with the developers to provide a bespokesolution;Jennetts Park, also known as Peacock Farm (1,350 net dwellings) - outline approved anda bespoke solution is now approved;Celsius, London Road, Bracknell (268 net dwellings).

3. A total of 2,566 dwellings in the housing trajectory are sites with permission which haveprovided a bespoke solution, or sites which will be reassessed on their own merits at alater date as part of a Regulation 63 review, therefore should not be considered further inthis strategy.

4. Since the beginning of the plan period, some development, not likely to have a significanteffect on the SPA (mainly by virtue of its location more than 5km away from the SPA), hasbeen permitted. These permissions total 94 dwellings.

5. The Core Strategy housing provision can therefore be broken down into two parts: onewhich is not likely to have a significant effect on the SPA (large sites with bespoke solutionsand permissions granted which are not likely to have a significant effect [2,566 + 94 =2,660]) and one part which is likely to have a significant effect.

Table 8 Breakdown of Proposed Housing

Number ofDwellings

11,212 dwellingsTotal housing provision in Core Strategy DPD Policy

CS15 plus a surplus of 432 dwellings(1)A

2,660 dwellingsDevelopments not likely to have a significant effectB

8,552 dwellingsHousing provision likely to have a significant effect(all expected to provide SPA avoidance andmitigation measures) in line with the SPD(2006-2026) (A-B)

C

4,115 dwellingsDevelopments Providing Bespoke SANGs(2) =

dwellings on three large sites(3) allocated forcomprehensive development in Core Strategy DPD

D


Number ofDwellings

4,437 dwellingsTotal no. of dwellings contributing to strategicSANGs (2006-2026) (C-D)

E

1. As shown in the Site Allocations DPD Draft Submission (November 2011).2. Due to their size, the urban extensions identified in the Site Allocations DPD will also be expected to deliver bespoke SANGs.

On adoption of the DPD, the number of dwellings on these sites will be removed from the calculation of total dwellingscontributing to strategic SANGs.

3. Land north of Whitegrove and Quelm Park (Warfield) (2,200 dwellings), land at Amen Corner (725 dwellings) and BracknellTown Centre (estimated 1000 net dwellings).

6. This shows the total number of dwellings (2006-2026) in the Core Strategy DPD provisionlikely to have a significant effect is 8,552. All these dwellings will be expected tocontribute to the SAMM Project and provide SANGs unless a Habitats RegulationsAssessment concludes no significant effect on the integrity of the SPA as agreedby BFC, in agreement with Natural England .

7. Some developments, because of their size, will be expected to provide bespoke SANGs.These are dwellings on three large sites allocated for comprehensive development in CoreStrategy DPD (totalling 4,115). These are therefore removed from the calculation of thecontributions to strategic SANGs.(30) As stated previously, these developments will beexpected to contribute to the SAMM Project.

8. A total number of 4,437 dwellings will be expected to contribute to strategic SANGsbetween 2006 – 2026.

30 Due to their size, the urban extensions identified in the Site Allocations DPD will also be expected to deliver bespoke SANGs.On adoption of the DPD, the number of dwellings on these sites will be removed from the calculation of total dwellingscontributing to strategic SANGs.


Appendix 4: The Identification of StrategicSANGsThis is taken from Section 20 of the Technical Background Document to the Core StrategyDPD (2007) and updated, where relevant.

1. Focus groups of local residents, carried out for the BFC Parks and Open Spaces Strategy(2002), supported the concept of strengthening facilities at particular parks to serve thepurpose of district parks, and reduce the number of visitors to the Look Out (adjacent tothe Special Protection Area).

2. In addition to the above work, an independent study evaluated several areas of open spacewithin the borough using a criteria-based approach. There were some generic issuesidentified by the study as potential reasons that visitor expectations were not being met:

Weaknesses in respect of welcoming, in particular in respect of the entrances.Poor on-site information.Poor nature of ponds and riverside areas.Poor levels of furniture provision.Failure to provide surfaced paths to accommodate circulation and through-route needs.

3. This implies that enhancing these specific areas, amongst others, would increase theattractiveness of the site to existing and new visitors and could encourage use of thesesites over the SPA.

4. The first stage in the assessment of potential alternative open space provision was theidentification of sites. This was carried out in the following way.

5. A review of existing open space of a strategic size was carried out in order to identify areaswhere enhancement may be possible to increase visitor capacity. The starting point forthis was the PPG17 audit, which identified all areas of publicly accessible open space bytypology (for example, woodland, amenity park etc.). Sites over 5 hectares with typologiesParks & Gardens (A), Natural and Semi-Natural Greenspace (D), Urban Woodlands (E)and Green Corridors (F) were considered suitable for potential enhancement, obviouslyexcluding the SPA itself. In addition, smaller sites of these typologies were also consideredif they were close to and had good links to other smaller sites, to form a larger total area.Sites of Amenity Greenspace (B) over 10 hectares were also considered.

6. Natural England proposes access agreements or compulsory purchase could be exploredif an area of privately owned greenspace was considered of strategic importance to thenetwork of open space. However, as part of this review no privately-owned land was putforward to the Council as having potential as mitigating open space. As a result, at thisstage no privately owned land was considered suitable for inclusion within the suite ofSANGs.


7. From this initial list certain areas of open space were removed, which would almost certainlybe undeliverable as an avoidance measure, for example because of established useswhich would conflict with the purpose of SANGs.

8. This exercise concluded there were 17 individual areas of open space of a suitable sizewith the potential to avoid use of the SPA. Their suitability is subject to there being sparevisitor capacity and the potential for enhancements to be carried out. The following sitesmet the criteria for further assessment of suitability:

Jock's Copse / Tinker's Copse / The Cut (south)Clintons HillEnglemere PondGreat Hollands Recreation GroundHorseshoe LakeLily Hill ParkSandhurst Memorial ParkShepherd MeadowsSwinley ParkSilver Jubilee Field / Wicks Green, BinfieldSouth Hill ParkEdgbarrow HillAmbarrow Court / Ambarrow HillGarth MeadowsLarks HillPiggy WoodLonghill Park / Milman Close / Beswick Gardens Copse

9. A land identification exercise on a regional level for SEERA, carried out by Land UseConsultants(31) concluded some similar results and many of the sites in this study havebeen analysed in more detail. The sites included in the SEERA study, which were notassessed further, are listed below with reasons for their exclusion.

Table 9 Sites Excluded from the Regional Open Space Review

Reason for ExclusionSite

This was not considered in the review as it is amenity openspace (typology B). This area does contain an element of

Mill Park

suitable dog-walking open space, but much of the site consistsof sports pitches and a skate-ramp.

Available capacity was already reserved via SPA avoidance

and mitigation package agreed for Bracknell Town Centre.(1)Bill Hill

The ownership of this site is unknown.Allsmoor Wood

31 Thames Basin Heaths SPA: Audit and assessment of land to mitigate effects of housing development. Available at:http://www.eipsoutheast.co.uk/downloads/documents/20070126123933.pdf


http://www.eipsoutheast.co.uk/downloads/documents/20070126123933.pdf

Reason for ExclusionSite

This is within private ownership and deliverability is unknown.Land to the north ofShepherds Meadows

Much of the land is within private ownership and deliverabilityis unknown.

Further land around ChurchFarm / Grove Farm lakes

Much of the land is within private ownership and deliverabilityis unknown. The further investigation referred to in Policy R7

Land south of Hayley Green/ west of Chavey Down

of the Local Plan has not been carried out and this area ofopen space is not being carried forward into the Core StrategyDPD.

1. A new Appropriate Assessment undertaken in June 2010 in respect of the application 10/00434/EXT (an application of newplanning permission for the Bracknell Town Centre redevelopment with periods for implementation extended from that underthe existing planning permission) did not include Bill Hill as part of the bespoke SANGs solution due to a change in themitigation standards from 12ha/1000 population to at least 8ha/1000 population as set out in the Thames Basin HeathsSPA Delivery Framework JSPB (2009). In agreement with Natural England, Bill Hill is now included as part of a bespokesolution for larger development sites within its catchment, as identified in the Site Allocations DPD Draft Submission.

10. Next, additional information was collated on the suitable sites (or groups of sites) in orderto identify the habitat and potential for enhancement.

11. The first stage in assessing the suitability of land for impact avoidance purposes is toaddress its quality and suitability to provide an area equally as attractive as the SPA toencourage new residents to visit this different area as opposed to the protected site.

12. During a project level appropriate assessment, the advice from Natural England(32) was,“…an area of greenspace is suitable as mitigation where it is self evident that thegreenspace is suitable in terms of size, quality, capacity and location. As a general rule,where greenspace is of questionable value as mitigation, we would expect the local authorityto seek evidence to satisfy itself that the land is, or could be made, suitable.” They go onto suggest the following examples of what could be sought as evidence:

The site is located in a place which would make it attractive to the particular people mostlikely to visit the SPA.The site is, or could be, of a type which is attractive in terms of its appearance and facilities.The site is not heavily used and has the capacity to attract more people of the type whowould visit the SPA.

13. Research by Natural England(33) has been carried out to understand why people chooseto visit particular sites. This provides an idea of the type of alternative sites which wouldbe attractive to visitors of the SPA and what may deter visitors from certain areas. Thefollowing emerged as major features which would attract SPA users to a site:

Ability to let the dog off the lead.Safety on site.A quick journey time and convenient access from home.

32 A letter dated 24 February 2006 from English Nature regarding ‘Mitigation for the impacts of residential developments onthe Thames Basin Heaths SPA: developments close to Lily Hill Park’.

33 Liley, Mallord & Lobley, 2005.


Provision of parking.Presence of way-marked paths.Presence of water on-site.Presence of view points.Gravelled, relatively thin paths through deciduous woodland.Variety of semi-natural habitats and varied topography.

14. Research undertaken on the distance covered by SPA visitors(34) found dog walkers walkedan average of 2.5km, penetrating a mean of 760 metres onto the heath. This underpinsNatural England’s guidelines for the creation of SANG(35) and provides a transparent andclear way of ensuring that the enhanced semi-natural open space meets the requirementsof a SANG. It should be noted that there are separate requirements for those SANGsprovided as part of a suite and an individual SANG provided as part of a bespoke solution.

15. The agreed Thames Basin Heaths SPA Delivery Framework(36) also contains someguidelines for the provision of SANGs. These include delivery of SANGs in advance ofoccupation, maintenance of the SANGs in perpetuity, protection of the nature conservationinterest of SANGs, catchment areas, the need to have regard to NE’s SANGs QualityGuidance and the potential to uncouple small developments (less than 10 dwellings) fromSANGs catchment areas.

16. As a result of the above findings, a considerable amount of research was carried out toestablish the ability of each potential area of mitigating open space to meet NaturalEngland's criteria, subject to enhancements to the open space. This included:

Visitor counts and surveys at each of the sites. Visitor counts were carried out for a totalof 24 hours at each site, covering 6 different time periods during mornings, afternoons andevenings in the week and on the weekend. 683 surveys were carried out in 2006 and in2008 (Leisure-net, 2006 & 2008).A review of the access on each site, including location of car parks, number of parkingspaces, formal and informal entrances, length of footpaths (Strategic Leisure, 2006).A review of the accessibility to each site, including travel times by car and on foot, usingthe computer model Accession (Integrated Transport Planning Ltd, 2006).A review of legislation covering each site and nature conservation interests (severalsources, including Bracknell Forest Council Parks and Countryside Service).A review of other research carried out on each site from other available information sources.

17. Appendix 5 provides a summary of how analysis of the information collected has beenused to establish whether the site meets the criteria to provide SANG.

34 Liley, Jackson & Underhill-Day, 200535 Natural England's SANGs Quality Checklist can be found on the Council's website at http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/spa36 See the Council's website at http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/spa




18. This exercise identified the following areas of open space (see Table 10), which could besecured and enhanced to provide suitable alternatives to use of the SPA over the lifetimeof the development. A full description of why these sites were chosen and why others wererejected is detailed in Appendix 5.

19. A SANG catchment area (the area within which a development needs to be located inorder to use a particular SANG as an SPA avoidance measure) will depend on the individualsite characterstics and location, and its location within a wider green infrastructureframework. An indicative guide to the size of such catchments is given in the ThamesBasin Heaths SPA Delivery Framework (2009). Table 10 shows the catchment areas thathave been agreed with Natural England:

Table 10 Suitable Areas of Strategic SANGs

CatchmentArea

Estimated AreaOpen Space Site(1)

5km22.64haThe Cut Countryside Corridor:

Jocks Copse, Tinker's Copse, & The Cut (south)(5.88ha) / Garth Meadows (7.12ha) / Larks Hill(7.58ha) / Piggy Wood (2.06ha)

5km33.74haShepherd Meadows

5km27.59haEnglemere Pond

4km19.44ha(2)Horseshoe Lake

5km37.03haLonghill Park Group:

Longhill Park (9.31ha) / Milman Close (0.53ha) /Beswick Gardens Copse (0.54ha) / Clintons Hill(3.91ha) / Lily Hill Park (22.74ha)

4km13.73haAmbarrow Court / Hill

2km4.78haPart of Great Hollands Recreation Ground

1. In 2007, South Hill Park was identified as an area of open space which had the potential to be a SANG. Due to its limitedcatchment (400m) it would however in practise only provide mitigation for residential developments of less than 10 dwellings.For such developments, the Council has SANGs in the south of the Borough. The site has therefore been removed fromthe Council's suite of SANGs through this SPD.

2. 10.07 excluding the lake, island and watersports centre.

20. These SANGs catchment areas cover the entire borough with the exception of a very smallnorth-east section; however this area is predominantly designated as a Special Area ofConservation and owned by the Crown Estate so development proposals are highly unlikelyto come forward in this area. A map showing the catchment areas in more detail is providedfor each SANG in Appendix 5. This will aid implementation and link development proposalsto a particular SANG.


21. The Delivery Framework (JSPB 2009) states that SANGS on existing, publicly accessiblesites is appropriate where there will be no harm to nature conservation interest and thereis capacity and potential for improvement. This is subject to meeting the Natural England’sQuality Standards.

22. Any deficits in provision or quality of each potential SANG were established by the collectionof data in earlier stages of the assessment (shown in Appendix 5). This information, inaddition to the professional expertise of employees with responsibility for managing openspace within the borough, was then used to collate a schedule of specific improvementsto individual sites, which would ensure that the sites can comply with the relevant SANGSquality standards.The key elements of these enhancements were to increase accessibilityof the sites and to provide a well-designed circular walk (preferably way-marked) of 2.3 –2.5km.

23. Once areas were identified as potentially suitable to provide a function as alternative openspace, the capacity of this existing open space must be established in order to ensurethey have potential to absorb new visitors. An area will only be suitable as a SANG if eitherexisting capacity can be identified, or if capacity can be increased.

25. Studies by Leisure-net (2006 & 2008) established the total number of annual visits to theproposed SANGs and adjusted this to account for seasonality. The surveys were conductedover 450 hours of visitor usage data at 18 parks, over the time period 7am to 7pm onweekdays and weekends. In addition, 861 people were interviewed in more depth. Datawas also collected on the frequency of people’s visits to estimate the number of peopleusing each site. This data on local frequency of visit relates well to national benchmarks.

Table 11 Calculation of Open Space Use

Visits per personper year

Visits per person perweek

Frequency (visits perweek)

% of PeopleVisiting

1152.216.50 (either 6 or 7)34%

140.274.50 (either 4 or 5)6%

280.532.50 (either 2 or 3)21%

7.50.141.00 (once a week)14%

40.080.30 (less than once aweek)

25%

168 (# of visits peryear by averagevisitor)

3.22 (# of visits perweek by averagevisitor)

100%

Source: Leisure-net (June 2006) Parks and Open Spaces Users Survey


31. This shows that one person who regularly visits the open space, on average, visitsapproximately three times a week and makes 168 visits per year. This figure can then beused to establish the number of people in the locality who use each area of open space;this is calculated in the table below.

32. The overall carrying capacity of each site can be calculated with reference to the standardof at least 8ha/1000 population set out in the Thames Basin Heaths Delivery Framework.However, as demonstrated by the visitor surveys, all of the potential SANGs have a levelof existing visitor use. The actual mitigation capacity of each site is the difference betweenthe overall carrying capacity (based upon the standard of at least 8ha/1000 population)and the current visitor use, as demonstrated in the table below. It should be noted thatthe figures are rounded.

Table 12 Mitigation Capacity of SANGs

G.Residualarea ofSANGcapacityavailable(F / 1000 x8)

F.ResidualMitigationCapacity(E - C)

E.CapacitytoMitigate(D / 8 x1000)

D.EstimatedArea

(ha)(3)

C.Equivalentno. ofvisitors

p.a(2)

B.Totalvisits perannum to

SANGs(1)

A. SANGs

17.12ha2,139persons

2,830persons

22.64ha691116,000The CutCountrysideCorridor:(Jocks Copse/Tinker'sCopse/ TheCut (south)/GarthMeadows/Larks Hill/Piggy Wood)

12.53ha1,566persons

1,787persons

14.29ha22137,000The LonghillPark Group:

Longhill Park/Milman Close/BeswickGardensCopse/ClintonsHill/Lily HillPark(4)


G.Residualarea ofSANGcapacityavailable(F / 1000 x8)

F.ResidualMitigationCapacity(E - C)

E.CapacitytoMitigate(D / 8 x1000)

D.EstimatedArea

(ha)(3)

C.Equivalentno. ofvisitors

p.a(2)

B.Totalvisits perannum to

SANGs(1)

A. SANGs

18.65ha2,331persons

2,843persons

22.74ha51286,000Lily Hill Park

27.06ha3,382persons

3,442persons

27.53ha6010,000EnglemerePond

8.64ha1,080persons

1,259persons

10.07ha17930,000HorseshoeLake

29.46ha3,682persons

4,218persons

33.74ha53690,000ShepherdMeadows

12.21ha1,526persons

1,717persons

13.73ha19132,000AmbarrowCourt/ Hill

3.9ha484persons

5984.78ha11419,000Part of GreatHollandsRecreationGround

129.57ha16,190persons

TOTAL

1. See Open Spaces Study - Parks and Open Spaces Users Survey Leisure-net (June 2006)2. Calculated by dividing the number of visits to the site per annum, by the average number of visits made by users per year

[see Table 12]. This methodology has been approved by Natural England.3. See Table 11.4. Lily Hill Park is part of the Longhill Park Group SANG. This is however shown separately in the row below as SANGs

capacity on this site has been reserved for the Bracknell Town Centre Redevelopment and is not included in the costcalculations for the strategic SANGs.

33. Therefore it is estimated that the open spaces listed above have the capacity to mitigateagainst a total of 16,190additional people if enhancements are implemented.

34. The total costs of enhancements presented in Section 4 and Appendix 7 will be includedin the total mitigation package, which will be funded by proportional developers’contributions.

33. The broad enhancements to various areas of open space are provided in Appendix 6.This will be implemented as a rolling programme of works as development occurs fundedby developer’s contributions.


34. Due to the strategic nature of additional housing development required to be delivered upto 2026 (the plan period), it is difficult to anticipate all the additional works which may berequired to maintain SANGs in suitable condition. Future monitoring and surveys mayindicate additional works or improvements that could improve suitability as SANGs.

35. This SPD sets out the avoidance and mitigation principles and identifies SANGs, whilst aOpen Space Management Plan will give full details of the exact works to be carried out ateach site over a 5 year period.The Open Space Management Plans will be reviewed every5 years in agreement with Natural England, in consultation with other partners whererelevant.


Appendix 5: Full Assessment of SANGsFigure 4 Strategic SANGs in Bracknell Forest


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The Cut Countryside Corridor SANG is a group of sites which include Jock's Copse, Tinker'sCopse, The Cut (south), Garth Meadows, Larks Hill and Piggy Wood. These are connectedby other sites (referred to as link sites) and these are shown in the Open Space ManagementPlan at http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/spa

Jock's Copse / Tinker's Copse / The Cut (south)

OS Coordinates: SU 857 704Area: 5.88 hectaresTypology: E / F (urban woodland / green corridor)Ward: Binfield With WarfieldPPG17 Ref No’s: 70, 141, 135PPG17 Audit: Jock's Copse – 40% Average, Tinkers Copse – 45% Average, The Cut(South) – 39% Average

A generally naturalistic site (Bracknell Forest Borough Council, 2002) comprising a small copse(100% wooded cover) in a residential area combined with linear open space alongside the Cutriver corridor (40% wooded). Both Tinkers Copse and Jock’s Copse consist of areas of ancientwoodland which used to be set in an open rural farmland landscape. House building in the1990s enclosed the copses, which had been derelict and unmanaged for quite some time priorto this.

Nature Conservation Interests

The area now provides a valuable wildlife oasis within the urban area, with primroses andcarpets of bluebells in the spring. There are nesting species of woodpecker and tits presentalong with hazel coppice and woodmice also frequent the copse.

Legislation Covering the Site

Both Jock's Copse and Tinker's Copse are Local Nature Reserves and Local Wildlife Sites(formerly Wildlife Heritage Sites).

Visitor Usage

69% of visitors usually use this open space, with the remainder visiting other spacesincluding: Jock’s Lane, Englemere Pond, Lily Hill Park, Sandhurst Memorial Park andAmbarrow Court. The users visit on a relatively frequent basis, with a quarter of peoplequestioned visiting more than 5 times a week.

The main reason given for visiting the site (53%) was for the children’s play area, whichis adjacent to the copses. Other reasons were given for dog walking (14%) and for acut-through (14%).

94% of respondents always or usually felt safe when visiting.

81% of respondents thought this was a busy site although 50% of people would continueto use the site if the visitor numbers doubled. Only 14% would go to other areas of openspace or stop using sites altogether.



Visitor Numbers

Annual visitor projection – 52,000.

Accessibility

50% of people arrive by car, and 44% by foot. All visitors have travelled within 5 kilometres,with the majority travelling less than 10 minutes to get to the site.

Length of Footpaths

There are 3 main footpaths covering a total length of 734 metres.

Entrances and Car Parks

There is no car park specifically for the woodland sites, but there is a formalised, tarmac carpark for Jock's Lane open space, which is next to the wooded areas. There are 14 formal andinformal entrances on foot. The visitor survey found that the car park availability of spaces,quality and convenience were good, and nobody questioned thought car parking provision wasquite poor or very poor.

Linkages to Other Sites

This area could provide part of a larger route using the Cut Riverside Path and Garth Meadows.

Jock's Copse / Tinker's Copse / The Cut (south) - Potential as Impact Avoidance Measure

In general this site was used by people using the park’s facilities such as the play area,coffee shop and toilets, which lead to the site being busy in actual and perceived numbers.However, the semi-natural element of the site is quieter and has the potential to beincreased in quality according to the PPG17 audit. In isolation Jock's Lane,Tinker'sCopse and The Cut (south) may not provide suitable impact avoidance for the SPA, butthe location of these sites in relation to other sites and the good parking facilities meanthis area could potentially provide a good link as part of a circular walk including othersites.

Garth Meadows

OS Coordinates: SU 861 704Area: 7.12 hectaresTypology: D (natural & semi-natural green space)Ward: Warfield Harvest RidePPG17 Ref No’s: 58PPG17 Audit: 49% Average

Features

This is identified in the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy (2002) as a site with some naturalfeatures and 5% of the site is covered with woody planting. The remainder is open grasslandgrazed by cattle.



Managed as pasture to encourage wildflowers and typical farmland species, hedgerows aroundthe site provide habitat for a variety of wildlife. The Cut river adjoins the south boundary of thesite where riverside trees and banks support riparian habitats.


None identified.

Visitor Usage

89% of all visitors surveyed stated this was the open space they regularly visited, whichindicates a high proportion of local users. Other sites visited are Jocks Lane, AmbarrowCourt and Larks Hill.

A large proportion of visitors (68%) visit more then 5 times per week, which is a higherpercentage than for any other area of open space, and a further 9% visit 4 or 5 times aweek.

Garth Meadows has a high proportion of dog walkers (89%) with other uses being walking(7%), jogging (%) and using it as a cut-through (2%).

The length of visit tends to be shorter for this site than for others, with 32% of peoplestaying less than 30 minutes and a further 61% staying between 30 minutes and 1 hour;none of the visitors questioned stayed for longer than 2 hours on site. This highlights thefunction of this site as a local area of open space for short visits.

98% of respondents felt safe when visiting the site.

55% of people rated the site as busy, although only 7% stated it was always busy, and32% rated it as not busy. Nearly all visitors surveyed (98%) stated they would continue touse the site, either at the same time or a different time, if visitor numbers doubled.

Visitor Numbers


Accessibility

The majority of visitors (89%) walk or run to the site, with only 11% of people arriving by car.Correspondingly over three quarters of visitors have travelled less than 1 kilometre and allvisitors came from within 5 kilometres of the open space. 84% travelled less than 10 minutesto reach the site.

Length of Footpaths

No all-weather footpaths were identified.


There is no parking provision to these meadows and 3 formal entrances on to the site.



This area could provide part of a larger route using the Cut Riverside Path and Jock'sCopse/Tinker's Copse/The Cut.

Garth Meadows - Potential as Impact Avoidance Measure

This is a semi-natural site which already provides predominantly for dog walkers, whotend to walk to the site and visit frequently.There is some perceived ‘busy-ness’ butvisitor numbers are relatively low, so providing some screening could increase thecapacity.There is potential for enhancements to include this as part of a larger area ofalternative open space, including adjacent sites.

Larks Hill

OS Coordinates: SU 870 709Area: 7.58 hectaresTypology: D (natural & semi-natural green space)Ward: Binfield with WarfieldPPG17 Ref No’s: 82PPG17 Audit: 72% Average

Features

Larks Hill is a public open space situated off Harvest Ride in Warfield, north of Bracknell.The site was adopted by Bracknell Forest Borough Council in 1995, having been providedas part of the open space provision for the Quelm Park housing area.

Larks Hill was named due to the presence of skylarks and other farmland birds on the site.It now forms an important countryside link between the town and rural parishes, with fineviews over the surrounding countryside. The site is a naturally regenerated grasslandsurrounded by a recently established ditch and hedge system, and contains young fieldtrees and an orchard of apple, pear and plum trees.

Popular with local residents, dog-walkers and horse-riders, the Larks Hill car park is thebeginning of one of a series of four Accessible Rural Routes around Bracknell, which is 2kilometres long.

This is identified in the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy (2002) as a very naturalistic sitewith a fifth of the site being covered with woody planting.


The following species from the Bracknell Biodiversity Action Plan have been found at the site,illustrating its importance as a green space on the edge of Bracknell's built-up area:

BullfinchBarn owlHobby


CowslipWild service tree

Larks Hill contains two grazing paddocks which contain cows between July and October. Thisavoids the majority of the nesting season and the cows are moved elsewhere before the siteis overgrazed, leaving suitable ground cover for the birds. The spring barley compartmentprovides an agricultural habitat of value to the key farmland songbirds, including skylarks andwintering flocks of buntings and finches. A colourful show of the traditional annual flora of arablefarmland is also produced, including corn marigold, corncockle, corn chamomile and cornflower.


No designations were identified.

Visitor Usage

84% of all visitors surveyed stated this was the open space they regularly visited. Othersites visited are Jocks Lane, Englemere Pond, Lily Hill Park, Garth Meadows andWestmorland Park.

A relatively high proportion of visitors (58%) visit very regularly, more then 5 times perweek.

Larks Hill has a high proportion of dog walkers (63%) with another main use being walking(18%).

84% of people stay less than an hour and none of the visitors questioned stayed for longerthan 2 hours on site.


55% of people rated the site as busy and 29% rated it as not busy. 89% of visitorsquestioned stated they would continue to use the site, either at the same time or a differenttime, if visitor numbers doubled.

Visitor Numbers


Accessibility

The majority of visitors arrive by car or van (87%) and only 13% arrive on foot. Most visitors(92%) have travelled less than 5 kilometres and 90% of visitors travelled less than 10 minutesto reach the site.

Length of Footpaths

6 all-weather footpaths provide a distance of 1242 metres of pathways.



Larks Hill is open to the public and a tarmac car park with 8 bays is available at the site. Sixfurther formal pedestrian access points lead onto Larks Hill's hoggin paths which arepredominantly suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs (although some may become soft inwet weather). The number and availability of parking spaces does not score so well, with 20%of visitors rating this as poor. Quality and convenience score slightly better although 9% ratethe safety of the car park as poor.


This site is in close proximity to Piggy Wood and there is the potential for links for Jock'sCopse/Tinker's Copse/The Cut and Garth Meadows.

Larks Hill - Potential as Impact Avoidance Measure

As a very generic overview Larks Hill is used by local dog walkers, who drive to the siteon a regular basis for shorter visits.The site is already well used and more visitorsperceived the site to be busy at the existing level of use. In isolation Larks Hill does notappear to have potential for enhancements, with the site already being semi-natural innature and an existing car park, although there does appear to be scope to increase thecapacity of the car park. However, this site could potentially provide a good link as partof a circular walk including other sites.

Piggy Wood

OS Coordinates: SU 872 707Area: 2.06 hectaresTypology: D (natural & semi-natural green space)Ward: Warfield Harvest RidePPG17 Ref No’s: 103, 104, 105PPG17 Audit: 60%

Features

This is a ‘natural’ site (Bracknell Forest Borough Council, 2002) with 100% wooded cover.Once surrounded by open agricultural land, the wood and wildlife corridor are now enclosed inresidential housing developed in the mid 1990's. The site was adopted by the Borough Councilin 1998.


Spring flowers including bluebells, wood anenome and wood avens, and cowslip and devils bitscabious have also been seen. Damsel and dragonflies are present due to the tributary of theCut.


Piggy Wood is a designated Local Wildlife Site (formerly Wildlife Heritage Site) and a LocalNature Reserve (LNR).


Visitor Usage

83% of all visitors surveyed stated this was the open space they regularly visited, withSwinley Park and Larks Hill being the other sites frequented.

There is a range of visitor frequency, with a quarter visiting more than 5 times a week anda quarter visiting less than once a week.

Piggy Wood is mainly used for exercising the dog (50%) and a quarter of all users werecutting through this site on the way to somewhere else and 17% using the open space forjogging. A smaller proportion (8%) used the site for walking.Visits tended to be short, with67 staying less than 30 minutes and no visitors staying more than 2 hours.

100% of respondents said they felt safe when visiting the site.

It was deemed to be a quiet area, with all respondents rating it as ‘not busy’ and 42% saidit was always quiet. As a result of this, all visitors said they would continue to use the parkas the currently do if visitor numbers doubled.

Visitor Numbers


Accessibility

The majority of visitors arrive on foot (75%) with a low percentage of visitors arriving by car(8%) and a higher than average percentage arriving by bus (8%). There appears to a highproportion of local visitors (75%) who travel less than 1 kilometre to reach the site. Thiscorresponds with a shorter travel time than average, with two thirds of visitors travelling lessthan 5 minutes.

Length of Footpaths

Four all-weather paths cover a distance of 483 metres.


There is no car park but 2 formal entrances to the wood by bicycle or on foot.


The site is linked to Quelm Laneand in close proximity to Larks Hill. There is potential for linksto Jock's Copse/Tinker's Copse/The Cut (south) and Garth Meadows.

Piggy Wood - Potential as Impact Avoidance Measure

As a very generic overview Piggy Wood is used by dog walkers, who walk short distancesto reach the site.The site is poorly used and the perceived use is also very low. Therefore,in isolation Piggy Wood has capacity and a suitable habitat to be used as impactavoidance.This site could potentially provide a good link as part of a circular walkincluding other sites.


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Shepherd Meadows

OS Coordinates: SU 845 607Area: 33.74 hectaresTypology: D (natural & semi-natural green space)Ward: College TownPPG17 Ref No’s: 122PPG17 Audit: 78% Very Good

Features

Shepherd Meadows, a nature conservation site named after wildlife artist David Shepherd, isa Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the south of the Borough. The site covers about100 acres of wet wildflower meadow and woodland straddling the River Blackwater at the pointwhere the counties of Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey meet. Acquired by Bracknell ForestBorough Council in 1990, the site is managed for its nature conservation importance and itsrecreational and landscape value.

Shepherd Meadows and Sandhurst Memorial Park have received a Green Flag Award everyyear since entering in 2004. The Civic Trust's Green Flag Award Scheme is a national standardfor the quality of public parks and green spaces in England and Wales. Sites are judged oneight criteria:

1. A welcoming place2. Healthy, safe and secure3. Well maintained and clean4. Sustainability5. Conservation and heritage6. Community involvement7. Marketing8. Management.

In 2004, Bracknell Forest Borough Council teamed up with Sandhurst Town Council to enterSandhurst Memorial Park and Shepherd Meadows into the scheme - resulting in the first everjoint application Green Flag Award. A management plan for the sites was developed inconjunction with BBOWT (Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust) and the Blackwater ValleyCountryside Partnership. Shepherd Meadows and Sandhurst Memorial Park received a GreenFlag Award again in 2005/06.

This is identified in the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy (2002) as a natural site and 20% ofthe site is covered with woody planting.


Flower-rich meadows are now rare and about one quarter of the species associated withherb-rich grassland in Berkshire can be found at Shepherd Meadows.


The woodland at Shepherd Meadows, dominated by oak, ash, and alder coppice, includesSpring displays of wood anemone and dog violets. The meadows are also rich in animallife with over 600 species of insects. During the spring the orange tip butterfly darts lowover the vegetation in search of the cuckoo flower on which it lays its tiny orange eggs.Damsel and dragonflies breed in the ditches and along the riverbanks, and in late summerthe meadows echo to the sound of grasshoppers and bush crickets.The meadows becomea carpet of wildflowers and plants during the spring and summer months, with goldenmeadow buttercups, blue devil’s-bit scabious, purple meadow thistle and the yellowbirds-foot trefoil. In July and August the sweet scent of meadowsweet blossoms producesa heady aroma.

Bird life at Shepherd Meadows includes flocks of siskins, meadow pipits and thrushes inwinter, while in summer the site is home to breeding kestrels, warblers, the spottedflycatcher and woodpeckers. The River Blackwater and the feeder channels attract manywaterfowl and wading birds.


The majority of Shepherd Meadows is designated as part of the Blackwater SSSI with an areain the south designated a Local Wildlife Site (formerly Wildlife Heritage Site).

Visitor Usage

78% of all visitors surveyed stated this was the open space they regularly visited, withWildmoor Heath the other site most visited.

There is a high proportion of very frequent users, with 41% visiting more than 5 times aweek and only 6% visiting less than once a week.

Shepherds Meadows is mainly used for exercising the dog (60%) with the remainder ofpeople using the site for used for walking (12%), cycling (6%) and relaxing / atmosphere(6%). Visits are predominantly more than 30 minutes and over a quarter of visits arebetween 1 and 2 hours.

93% of respondents felt safe when visiting the site. 65% of people rated the site as busy;however, 92% of visitors surveyed would continue to use the site if visitor numbers doubled.

Visitor Numbers


Accessibility

The majority of visitors arrive on foot (51%) and the remainder by car (38%) or bike (7%). Asa result of this a high proportion of visitors travel from within 1 kilometre (57%) and few travellonger distances (7% travel over 5 km). The journey time for most visitors (81%) is less than10 minutes.

Length of Footpaths

5 all-weather footpaths cross the meadows providing a total of 1,621 metres of pathways.



Two car parks provide parking for 25 vehicles and cycle parking for 7 bicycles. There are 10formal entrances into the open space.

74% of visitors rated the number and availability of spaces as very good or quite good, althoughsome (7%) did score this as quite poor. In addition 19% rated the safety as quite poor.


The site is part of the Blackwater Valley Path, a 23 mile long distance path following theBlackwater River. Shepherds Meadows and Sandhurst Memorial park are adjacent and haveexcellent pedestrian linkages between them.

Shepherds Meadows - Potential as Impact Avoidance Measure

Visitors to this semi-natural site tend to visit frequently and walk to the site for dogwalking or other recreational purposes. It is a suitable site as an alternative to the SPA,as visitors to Shepherd Meadows also visit Wildmoor Heath. Improvements would benecessary to achieve potential capacity as the site is well-used. Car parking could beimproved to encourage visitors from further afield. Improvements to, and links with theBlackwater Valley path could extend the effectiveness of the site.


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Englemere Pond SANG

OS Coordinates: SU 905 686Area: 27.53 hectaresTypology: D (natural & semi-natural green space)Ward: AscotPPG17 Ref No’s: 46PPG17 Audit: 41% Good

Features

The land was once part of the royal hunting forest which surrounded Windsor Castle, and it isstill owned by The Crown Estate and managed by Bracknell Forest Council. The site’s mainfeature is the shallow acidic lake which offers a wide range of habitats from open water tomarsh, all of which is surrounded by commercial forest and heathland areas. Each of theseareas provides its own variety of plant species and a home for many birds, insects and animals.


A large pond surrounded by a wide fringe of reed swamp dominated by common reedPhragmites australis. Away from the open water the reed swamp grades into an interestingplant community typical of base-poor conditions. The transition from open water throughbase-poor wetland to dry ground is an exceptionally good example of this type of habitatwhich is relatively scarce in the lowlands.

The species present in the reed swamp include bog mosses Sphagnum spp., sundew (aplant species of boggy areas which is listed on the Borough Council’s Biodiversity ActionPlan), spike-rush, bog pond weed and bog St John's wort. Cotton grass and lesser reedmace are locally dominant. The western margin of the pond exhibits a transition intoswampy woodland carr dominated by alder. The open water plant community is relativelyspecies-poor with much bulbous rush, but the invertebrate community is of considerableinterest with a rich dragonfly fauna. The reed swamp supports an interesting communityof breeding birds, including reed warblers sedge warblers and reed bunting.

The site includes a catchment area of secondary woodland, large pine, birch and oak onacid soils, together with a small fragment of heathland.

The woodland is predominantly Scots Pine with patches of heather; including ling, bellheather and cross-leaved heath, in the forest clearings. Oak, mountain ash, willow andsilver birch are also to be found here, and the alder trees are a favourite haunt of winteringmigrant birds such as siskins and Redpolls which feed on the seeds.


Englemere Pond is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) and a Local Nature Reserve (LNR).


Visitor Usage

75% of visitors usually use this open space, with the remainder visiting other spacesincluding: Swinley Park, Longhill Park, LilyHill Park and Jocks Lane.

64% of users visit the site more than 4 times a week.

The main reason given for visiting the site (82%) was to walk their dogs, with 7% forchildren’s play and 7% for a walk.

Visits were slightly longer than average, with 61% of people staying between 30 minutesand 1 hour.

78% of visitors always or usually felt safe when visiting.

Only 18% of respondents thought this was a busy site and 72% thought it was usually oralways quiet. All of the people questioned would continue to use the site, either at thesame or a different time if the visitor numbers doubled.

Visitor Numbers


Accessibility

79% of visitors arriving by car with the remainder walking to the site. 93% of visitors travelledless than 5 kilometres and nobody travelled more than 10 minutes to get to the site.

Length of Footpaths

There is one main all-weather footpath which extends to 69 metres, however the informalfootpath network and way-marked signs provides for a circular walk of approximately 1,600metres.


There is a small, tarmaced car park for approximately 14 cars, which provides 1 of the 5 formalentrances around the site. There may be some scope to improve the car park as 19% ofrespondents rate the availability of parking as satisfactory (as opposed to quite good or verygood) and 14% rate the quality and convenience as satisfactory. 14% of visitors found thesafety of the car park to be poor.


This site is adjacent to Swinley Park.

Englemere Pond - Potential as Impact Avoidance Measure

Englemere Pond generally attracts dog walkers who visit quite frequently and arrive bycar.The site is suitable SANGs due to the varied nature of the habitats, meeting manyof the points raised in Natural England’s quality guidelines. It is also deemed a quiet siteby current users and capable of taking more visitors, as all would continue to use the


site if the user numbers doubled.The necessary enhancement works include the pathnetwork and parking safety.The amount of visitors the site could take may be restricteddue to the nature conservation value.


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Horseshoe Lake SANG

OS Coordinates: SU 818 622Area: 19.44 hectares (10.07ha excl. lake, island and water sports centre)Typology: D (natural & semi-natural green space)Ward: Little Sandhurst And WellingtonPPG17 Ref No’s: 69PPG17 Audit: 65% Very Good

Features

Horseshoe Lake lies about half a mile to the west of Sandhurst. Originally part of an extensivenetwork of working gravel pits that have now been flooded, this site now occupies an attractivesetting in the Blackwater Valley and is a popular venue for those who enjoy dinghy sailing,windsurfing, canoeing, birdwatching and walking. A bridleway runs along the northern boundaryand a clear path circumnavigates the lake, providing very pleasant views of the site and thesurrounding countryside. Horseshoe Lake also has a well resourced watersports centre,provided by Bracknell Forest Council and managed by Freetime Leisure.


Site surveys carried out at Horseshoe lake in recent years have confirmed that the site ishome to a wide variety of birds, including winter visitors and breeding birds. mallard,gadwall, pochard, tufted duck, goosander, wigeon, teal, shoveler, Canada goose, muteswan, great crested grebe, little grebe, coot, lapwing, common tern, redshank, ringedplover and little ringed plover.

House martins, swallows and swifts can be seen swooping for insects, and the barn owlis also known to inhabit the site.

Other wildlife includes several species of grasshoppers and crickets, twelve species ofdragonflies and eighteen species of butterflies. These invertebrates depend on the rangeof habitats present, including open water, marginal shallows, shingle, bare ground, roughgrassland and patches of developing scrub. Cattle graze on the banks of the lake at certaintimes of year, and, as part of the restoration programme, some tree planting has also takenplace.


None identified.

Visitor Usage

82% of all visitors surveyed stated this was the open space they regularly visited, withSandhurst Memorial Park, SouthHill Park and the Look Out being other sites frequented.

Visitors tend to visit on a less frequent basis with 44% visiting less than once a week andonly 8% visiting more than 5 times a week.


Horseshoe Lake is used for a wide range of purposes, including exercising the dog (31%),walking (28%), organised sport (13%), relaxing (8%) and enjoying the wildlife (8%). Visitstended to be long, with 41% between 1 and 2 hours and 10% over 2 hours.

It was not deemed to be a crowded area, with 72% of respondents rating it as ‘not busy’and nobody stating it was always busy. 92% of visitors would continue to use the park ifvisitor numbers doubled.

Visitor Numbers


Accessibility

The majority travel by car (69%) and the remainder by walking (26%) or cycling (5%). Thereappears to be fewer very local visitors than average, with only 8% from within 1 kilometre andthe majority (72%) travelling between 1 and 5 kilometres. This corresponds with slightly longerthan average journey times with 31% travelling between 11 and 20 minutes and 6% travellingover 20 minutes.

Length of Footpaths

There are 4 all-weather footpaths running around and close to the lake, providing a total lengthof 1,490 metres of path.


A 40 space car park is provided for recreational purposes and the watersports centre and thesite can be accessed by 7 formal entrances including the car park. 62% of visitors surveyedused the car park. 29% of these thought the number of spaces was only satisfactory (as opposedto quite good or very good) and 21% thought the quality was satisfactory. In general the locationwas thought to be convenient, with 82% of users rating the convenience as very good or quitegood. Safety of the car park could be improved as 8% of visitors rate this as poor and 46% ratethe safety as satisfactory.


The path around the lake is part of the Blackwater Valley path which is a 23 mile long distancepath following the Blackwater River.

Horseshoe Lake - Potential as Impact Avoidance Measure

This site is an excellent SANGs, as it has a large catchment of visitors, travelling by carfor recreational purposes and dog walking. It has been identified by the current usersas not a busy area and this belief is borne out by the low visitor numbers collected. It isa semi-natural site with good links and a range of habitats, which could be enhanced toencourage additional visitors away from the SPA as existing users go to these areastoo.


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Lily Hill Park

OS Coordinates: SU 885 692Area: 22.74 hectaresTypology: A (parks and gardens)Ward: BullbrookPPG17 Ref No’s: 83PPG17 Audit: 81% Very Good

Features

Lily Hill Park is one of the parks within the Borough with the coveted Green Flag Status. Thepark forms part of the estate originally belonging to Lily Hill House and consists of parkland,woodland, and formal gardens. It is the focus of a £1.2 million restoration project supported bythe Heritage Lottery Fund. The House and Park were originally formed as a 19th century'gentleman's residence'.William Vincent built Lily Hill House between 1849 and the early 1850'swith the park developed in phases over the next 30 years. Many mature specimens of exoticpines and ornamental rhododendrons remain, however, the original design and 'feel' of the parkhad gradually been lost because of extensive natural birch regeneration. Removing much ofthis has reinstated vistas and views and to allow restoration the wildflower meadows that areimportant for butterflies.

An application was submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund in August 2000 for a capital grantto help fund a basic restoration programme. In July 2001 the Heritage Lottery Fund awardedBracknell Forest Borough Council a grant for £113,000 towards developing a detailed designand restoration plan. Specialist consultants and the full-time Project Officer developed a detaileddesign and financial plan. This resulted in an award in March 2003 of a further £964,000 forrestoring the site, forming Stage Two of Phase One of the restoration works.

Phase One of the restoration project is complete, returning the eastern half of Lily Hill Park toits former glory. Restoration work included tree work and shrub management, reinstating thehistoric path system, central ditch and drainage. While some tree felling is necessary to ensurea healthy mixed-age woodland, new tree planting will provide for the eventual demise of thepresent trees, and other areas have been planted up with non-invasive shrubs. Site furniture,including benches and tables, have also been installed, as well as interpretation boards toprovide information about the site.

This is identified in the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy (2002) as a site which is predominantlynaturalistic, as opposed to amenity open space, and 60% of the site is covered with woodyplanting.


Approximately 17 hectares of the site is designated a Local Wildlife Site (formerly WildlifeHerbage Site) because it provides a large area of open space comprising a mosaic of habitatsin an otherwise urban area. In 1997 the following Bracknell Forest BAP species were recorded:Cowslips, Ragged Robin, Stag Beetle, Bullfinch, Hobby and Noctule Bat. The site was thensurveyed by BBOWT on 1 September 1998 and 142 different species were identified.


An ecological survey undertaken by Scott Wilson Consultancy Group (2002) has identified 5elements in the park:

Semi natural plantation broadleaf woodland (this is the predominant habitat).Scattered ruderals/bracken.Semi-improved rural grassland.Cultivated grassland.Marshy grassland.

The mix of tree cover and grass meadows creates a haven for a wide variety of other wildlife,including birds such as the bullfinch, jay, woodpecker, nuthatch, wren, dunnock and the spottedflycatcher. The meadows are rich in wild flowers, which provide colour throughout the summermonths. Cowslips, ladies' smock, ragged robin and even the common spotted orchid help makepart of Lily Hill Park one of the more diverse Local Wildlife Site (formerly Wildlife Heritage Site)sin the Borough.

The large number of over mature trees provides opportunities for specialist invertebrates suchas dead-wood beetles, as well as offering holes and cracks for roosting bats and nesting birdssuch as woodpeckers. A full list of species can be found in the Heritage Lottery FundingApplication (July 2002).


Lily Hill Park is a locally designated Local Wildlife Site (formerly Wildlife Heritage Site).

Visitor Usage

A visitor survey carried out in 1998 (details given in the Management Plan, 2002) gave anindication that the park was used by local people who made frequent visits. There was areasonable mix of male and female visitors, adults and children and group / lone visitors.The most significant use of the park was for walking, including dog walking, and peaceand quiet, seclusion, fresh air, the countryside nature and to experience wildlife. The levelof use of the park is considered to be reasonably steady throughout the day and throughoutthe week. 85% of visitors had heard about the area through local knowledge ofword-of-mouth and 86% thought the park was peaceful. 98% of visitors stayed for morethan 30 minutes.

A public consultation in March 2002 demonstrated the need for the park to be restoredand upgraded, with 91% of people questioned (sample size 3400 residents) stronglysupporting the scheme.

Due to the overgrown nature of much of the park, visitor pressure tended to focus on justa few areas. As a result some areas, in particular Forester’s Hill, were relatively heavilyused in comparison with the rest of the park, therefore subject to disturbance and erosion.

Quotes from press cuttings illustrate the nature of the park prior to works commencing.“Helen Tranter, head of culture and visual environment, said the park was overgrown withrhododendrons and “quite creepy” for visitors before work was started to clear up its easternsection in 2003. She said this phase, due to be completed in March, has now made thepark much more open and attractive” page 10, Bracknell News, Thursday, January 13,2005.


In the Leisure-net Solutions study (2006), 79% of all visitors surveyed stated this was theopen space they regularly visited, with Jocks Lane, Swinley Park, South Hill Park,Crowthorne Woods and Popes Meadow being other sites frequented.

There is a mix of frequent and infrequent users, with 39% visiting more than 5 times aweek and 23% visiting less than once a week.

Lily Hill Park is used for a wide range of purposes, mainly exercising the dog (60%), butalso relaxing (19%), walking (14%), jogging (4%), and enjoying the wildlife (2%). Visitstended to be of average length, with 63% between 1 and 2 hours and no visits over 2hours.


Slightly more respondents rated the park as not busy than busy, within only 4% stating itwas ‘always busy’, 37% stating it was usually busy and 39% stating it was usually quiet.However, 97% of visitors surveyed would continue to use the site if visitor numbers doubled.

Visitor Numbers


Accessibility

The majority of visitors travel by car (65%) and the remainder by walking (33%) or cycling (2%).30% of visitors travel from within 1 kilometre and the majority (54%) travel between 1 and 5kilometres. The journey time for nearly all visitors (90%) is less than 10 minutes.

Length of Footpaths

12 footpaths were identified as of Spring 2006, covering a total distance of 2,781 metres. Thisis set to increase as a result of ongoing works on site.


The car park has recently increased to include 56 spaces. There are a total of 16 entrances tothe park, predominantly formal entrances. 67% of visitors surveyed used the car park and thiswas rated very well regarding number and availability of spaces, quality and convenience withno respondents scoring these as poor. Safety could be improved slightly however as 5% of carpark users rated this as poor.


This is very close to Longhill Park; therefore semi-natural pedestrian linkages between theseareas could be enhanced to create a more coherent area of open space.

Lily Hill Park - Potential as Impact Avoidance Measure

The potential for this site to provide an alternative area of open space to the SPA hasbeen accepted via a project level Appropriate Assessment for Bracknell town centreredevelopment (Bracknell Forest Borough Council, 2006a). It is a semi-natural park,which attracts visitors which also regularly visit the SPA.The site is generally deemed


as not busy by visitors, therefore there is potential to increase capacity. Although thisis acceptable on its own merits, when viewed alongside adjacent areas of Longhill Parkand Clintons Hill this becomes a considerably sized area of alternative open space.

Clinton's Hill

OS Coordinates: SU 888 693Area: 3.91 hectaresTypology: E (urban woodland)Ward: BullbrookPPG17 Ref No’s: 32PPG17 Audit: 59% Good

Features

This is identified in the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy (2002) as a naturalistic site and 90%of the site is covered with woody planting. It is an area of urban woodland.


Clintons Hill is a locally designated Local Wildlife Site (formerly Wildlife Heritage Site).

Visitor Usage

78% of visitors usually use this open space, with the remainder visiting other spacesincluding: Lily Hill Park and Garth Meadows.

The main reason given for visiting the site (44%) was as a cut-through or to use thechildren’s play area (22%), with other users exercising the dog (11%), walking (11%) ormeeting people (11%).

Only 22% of visitors always felt safe when visiting, which is considerably lower than anyother sites.

Visits were usually short, with two thirds being less than 30 minutes.

Only 11% of respondents thought this was a busy site and 89% of people would continueto use the site if the visitor numbers doubled. Only 11% would go to other areas of openspace or stop using sites altogether.

Visitor Numbers


Accessibility

It appears to be a locally used site with 78% of visitors arriving by foot; this may be as a resultof there being no formal parking. In addition, 89% of visitors travelled less than 1 kilometre andit took them less than 10 minutes to get to the site.



There are 4 entrances to the open space, providing a mix of formal and informal access points.

Linkages to other sites

This is adjacent to Lily Hill Park and Longhill Park.

Clinton's Hill - Potential as Impact Avoidance Measure

In general this site currently attracts visitors on foot using the site as a cut-through. Itis deemed to be a quiet site where people may not always feel safe.The site is of thesemi-natural nature required by Natural England’s quality guidelines and there isconsiderable scope for increasing the accessibility and attractiveness of this site toencourage additional visitors.This could be part of a larger area of impact avoidanceopen space proposed, along with adjacent sites.

Longhill Park / Milman Close / Beswick Gardens Copse

OS Coordinates: SU 892 694Area: 10.38 hectaresTypology: B / E (amenity greenspace, natural & semi-natural greenspace)Ward: AscotPPG17 Ref No’s: 86, 90, 292PPG17 Audit: Longhill Park– 73% Very Good, Milman Close – 41% Good, BeswickGarden Copse – 21% Poor

Features

Longhill Park is a 9.31 hectare site in the Parish of Winkfield, east of Bracknell town. It is,between Long Hill Road and Harvest Ride. The site has both open and wooded areas and ispopular with dog walkers, families and children with a play area and benches provided. Thisarea is a former refuse site which has been reclaimed for wildlife and public recreation.

The main car park for the site is accessed from Long Hill Road. There are four pedestrianaccess paths to Longhill Park, as follows:

At the junction of Long Hill Road / Harvest RideThe northern point of Harvest RideThe rear of Timline GreenThe rear of Milman Close.

Milman Close (0.53 hectares) is identified in the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy (2002) asa naturalistic site with 100% wooded cover and Longhill Park is predominantly naturalistic with70% wooded cover. Beswick Garden Copse is a 0.54 hectare site adjacent to Longhill Park.



The main open area of Longhill Park is managed as a hay meadow with a wide range of floraand fauna, whilst other areas include scrub, valuable old hedgerows and oak woodland at thewestern edge. At the last wildlife survey in 2003, 111 species were recorded at the site, includingthe bullfinch, one of Bracknell Forest's Biodiversity Action Plan species.


Beswick Garden Copse and Longhill Park are locally designated Local Wildlife Site (formerlyWildlife Heritage Sites).

Visitor Usage

71% of all visitors surveyed stated this was the open space they regularly visited, whichis lower than average for the parks surveyed. Lily Hill Park is the other site mainly visitedby respondents, with many also visiting the Look Out and Crowthorne Woods, amongstother sites. Visitors tend to visit relatively frequently basis with 40% visiting more than 5times a week. In addition, 23% travel less than once a week.

These sites are predominantly used for exercising the dog (69%) and 17% of visitors cameto relax and enjoy the atmosphere. A third of all visitors questioned stayed less than 30minutes, but half stay between 30 minutes and an hour. 10% of visitors stay for longerperiods of over 2 hours. 94% of visitors feel safe when using the sites.

It was not deemed to be an especially busy area, with 38% of respondents rating it asbusy and 40% rating it as ‘not busy’. 88% of visitors would continue to use the parks ifvisitor numbers doubled.

Visitor Numbers


Accessibility

The majority of visitors travel by car (83%), 10% walk and 2% cycle. 33% of visitors travel lessthan 1 kilometre and 52% travel between 1 and 5 kilometres. 77% of people travelling less than10 minutes to get to the site and 94% of people came from within 20 minutes travelling time.The site is generally flat and reasonably accessible for the mobility-impaired. Cycling is permittedalong the track to the SW of the site.

Length of Footpaths

There is 1 all-weather footpath which is 119 metres in length. There are a total of 13 accesspoints onto the sites, with 7 informal and non-defined.


A car park with 18 spaces provides for all 3 areas of open space. Safety of the car park scorespoorly with 19% of users rating this as poor; considerably lower than other sites.



This is adjacent to Lily Hill Park and in close proximity to Clintons Hill; therefore semi-naturallinks could make a larger contiguous area of alternative open space.

Longhill Park / Milman Close / Beswick Gardens Copse - Potential as Impact AvoidanceMeasure

This has good potential as SANGs, indicated strongly by the existing visitors who useboth this site and the SPA for recreation, indicating a similar experience.The predominantuser group is dog walkers who have travelled a relatively short distance by car to reachthe site. It is not rated as a busy site and most visitors would continue to use these sitesif numbers doubled.There is a poor path network and parking facilities therefore scopefor improvement.This could be part of a larger area of impact avoidance open spaceproposed, along with adjacent sites.


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Part of Great Hollands Recreation Ground

OS Coordinates: SU 851 665Area: 4.78 hectaresTypology B: (amenity green space)Ward: Great Hollands SouthPPG17 Ref No’s: 62PPG17 Audit: 71% Good

Features

The woodland plantation area to the south of the recreation ground has a number of unmadepaths including a cleared ride from east to west. In some areas the rhododendron is kept lowwhich in combination with the tall conifers provides a sense of space. Although the site is listedas amenity green space, the area to be used as SANGs, is composed of woodland.


None identified.


None identified.

Visitor Usage

59% of visitors usually use this open space, with the remainder visiting other spacesincluding: the more formal part of Great Hollands Recreation Ground, SandhurstMemorialPark and Jocks Lane.

People tend to visit this site less frequently than average, with 43% of respondents visitingless than once a week, however 30% of respondents visiting more than 5 times a week.

The main reason given for visiting the site (33%) was for dog walking, with 25% visitingfor children’s play.

Visits were slightly longer than average, with 23% of people staying more than 2 hoursand 8% staying between 1 and 2 hours.

99 % of visitors always or usually felt safe when visiting.

38% of respondents didn’t think this was a busy site and 89% of respondents wouldcontinue to use the site if the visitor numbers doubled.

Visitor Numbers



Accessibility

51% of visitors arriving by car and 47% walked to the site. 47% of visitors travelling less thana kilometre, whilst 17% travelled further than 5km. .This is reflected in the travel time with 62%of people travelling between 1 and 5 minutes to reach the site.

Length of Footpaths

There are several interconnecting unmade paths estimated length 500 metres of which thecleared ride forms 190m. A circular route of 0.8km could be created by connecting and creatingpaths.


There is a macadam car park providing for 60 cars whilst footpaths provide access to the sitefrom surrounding residential areas via the recreation ground. 49% of all visitors surveyed usedthe car park and there is some scope for improvement as 10% of users rated it as satisfactoryonly.


The woodland area is connected to the more formal part of Great Hollands recreation groundextending to the north.

Part of Great Hollands Recreation Ground - Potential as Impact Avoidance Measure

This site provides a small but attractive semi-natural environment, with dog walkingbeing the main reason for visiting.The visitors in general appear to visit other amenityopen space in addition.They tend to stay longer than at other sites.The site is not ratedas busy and, with enhancements, could attract a higher number of visitors.


Ambarrow Court / Hill SANG

Figure 17 Ambarrow Court / Hill SANG


Ambarrow Court / Hill SANG

OS Coordinates: SU 824 628Area: 13.73 hectaresTypology: D (natural & semi-natural green space)Ward - Little Sandhurst And WellingtonPPG17 Ref No’s - 6, 7PPG17 Audit - Ambarrow Court - 82% Good, Ambarrow Hill - 59.2% Good

Features

Ambarrow Court is an 8.7ha site located in Little Sandhurst between the A321 and theReading-Guildford railway line. It forms the lower slopes of Ambarrow Hill (5ha), which joins tothe north of the site and is owned and managed by the National Trust. A Local Nature Reserveand Local Wildlife Site (formerly Wildlife Heritage Site); Ambarrow Court contains a range ofhabitats including ancient woodland, birch and hazel coppice, marshes, ponds and pools, anda meadow.

Much of the site was once managed as a Victorian country estate, although the original houseof 1855, has since been demolished. Remnants of this era exist through the exotic speciessuch as bamboo, large specimen trees and yew hedges. A nature tail runs through the siteand an interpretation board is located at the site car park.


An extensive species list has been recorded at the site, with notable plants including bluebellsand other spring woodland flowers, cuckoo flower, yellow rattle and mature specimen treessuch as cedar and Douglas fir. Important animals recorded include the stag beetle, noctule batand glow worm, which appear in the Bracknell Forest Biodiversity Action Plan.


Ambarrow Court is a Local Nature Reserve.

Visitor Usage

72% of all visitors surveyed stated this was the open space they regularly visited, withHorseshoe Lake and Wildmoor Heath the other sites predominantly visited.

There is a spread of both frequent and infrequent users, with 26% visiting more then 5times a week and 28% visiting less than once a week.

Ambarrow Court is predominantly used for exercising the dog (52%) with other uses beingwalking (17%), jogging (7%) and relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere (7%). The lengthof visit tends to be shorter for this site than for others, with 39% of people staying less than30 minutes and a further 50% staying between 30 minutes and 1 hour. This highlights thefunction of this site as a local area of open space for short visits.



20% of people rated the site as busy and 61% rated it as not busy. 83% of visitors surveyedwould continue to use the site if visitor numbers doubled.

Visitor Numbers


Accessibility

The majority arrive by car (76%) and the remainder on foot (22%) or bike (2%). A higher thanaverage proportion of visitors (7%) had travelled more than 20 kilometres to reach the site,which corresponds with 7% having a journey time of 30 minutes or more. However 81% ofvisitors still travelled less than 5 kilometres and took less than 10 minutes to reach the site.

Length of Footpaths

Two all-weather footpaths cover a distance of 1,064 metres. Footpaths run near to three sidesof the site, with the northern boundary linked to the Ramblers Route in this way. A disabledaccess path runs through Ambarrow Court, including handrails and passing places to allowwheelchair and mobility impaired users to access the range of habitats found throughout thesite.


The car park is accessed off the A321 which forms part of Ambarrow Court. Pedestrians canenter Ambarrow Hill from the north via Ambarrow Corner, from the Right of Way centred betweenthe two sites, from the car park and from the south which connects to Ambarrow Crescent.There are 7 formal entrances and the small car park provides parking for approximately 17cars. The availability, quality and convenience of parking spaces scores well, with 86% ofvisitors rating them as very good. However, some rate safety as poor (6%) or satisfactory (19%).


These sites are adjacent to Edgbarrow Hill.

Ambarrow Court / Ambarrow Hill - Potential as Impact Avoidance Measure

These sites are semi-natural and provide a good alternative to the SPA, indicated byvisitors who visit both sites.The majority of visitors travel by car from within a smallcatchment for recreation and dog-walking. It is not perceived as a busy site and this iscorroborated by low visitor numbers.The National Trust, who own part of the site, havebeen approached and have agreed that the site can be used as a SANGs.


Sites Not suitable for Alternative Open Space

Edgbarrow Hill

OS Coordinates: SU 833 637Area: 61.5 hectaresTypology: D (natural & semi-natural green space)Ward: Little Sandhurst And WellingtonPPG17 Ref No’s: 278PPG17 Audit: 45% Average

Features

Edgbarrow Hill & Heath consist of woodland (Scots pine & sweet chestnut plantation) with areasof open heathland. Heathland vegetation mainly thrives in the land cut underneath the highpower electricity lines. The site contains Wellington College Bog SSSI.


Wellington College Bog SSSI supports just over 6ha of lowland heathland. Small numbers ofsilver-studded blue butterfly recorded on Edgbarrow Hill and Heath. This site appears to havesuffered a decline in silver studded blue numbers over the last 10-15 years thought to be causedby a decline in the availability of early succession heather.


Wellington College Bog, within the site, is a SSSI and Edgbarrow Hill and Heath are locallydesignated Local Wildlife Site (formerly Wildlife Heritage Sites).

Visitor Usage

77% of all visitors surveyed stated this was the open space they regularly visited, thereforenearly a quarter of visitors regularly visit other areas of open space. These includeShepherds Meadows, Wildmoor Heath, Sandhurst Memorial Park, Ambarrow Court andWestmorland Park.

The predominant user group (40%) is regular users visiting more than 5 times a week;however in addition to this 34% visit less frequently, either once a week or less than oncea week.

Edgbarrow Hill is mainly used for exercising the dog (57%) with other major uses beingas a cut-through to reach another destination (17%) and for walking (11%). The length ofvisit tends to be shorter for this site than for others, with 40% of people staying less than30 minutes and a further 49% staying between 30 minutes and 1 hour. This highlights thefunction of this site as a local area of open space for short visits.



49% rated the site as busy, although only 3% rated it as ‘always busy’. 34% rated it as notbusy and 9% said it was always quiet. 89% of visitors surveyed would continue to use thesite if visitor numbers doubled.

Visitor Numbers


Accessibility

Just over half of visitors (51%) walk to the site and 40% travel by car. 37% of all visitors surveyedhad travelled less than 1 kilometre to reach Edgbarrow Hill and a further 54% had travelledbetween 1 and 5 kilometres. The journey time for the majority of visitors (77%) is less than 10minutes.

Length of Footpaths

No all-weather paths were identified.


There is no car park linked to the site but there are 11 entrances for pedestrians into the site.


The site is adjacent to Ambarrow Court and Ambarrow Hill.

Edgbarrow Hill - Potential as Impact Avoidance Measure

In general visitors to this site tend to be regular, local users visiting for shorter periodsof time to walk their dogs or as a cut through. It was rated as a quiet site, and hadcorrespondingly low levels of visitors.The semi-natural and quiet nature of the siteindicate this would make a suitable alternative to the SPA, however the site is not withinthe Borough Council’s ownership, and there have been indications that the public accessto this site is to be restricted because of security measures rather than extended.Thereis a public right of way across the site, but the additional access required to attractpeople from the SPA is unlikely to be secured.

Sandhurst Memorial Park

OS Coordinates: SU 842 612Area: 27.26 hectaresTypology: H (outdoor sports facilities)Ward: Central SandhurstPPG17 Ref No’s: 118PPG17 Audit: 81% Very Good


Features

This park, which is accessed off the A321 Yorktown / Marshall Road, is open to the public andprovides a range of facilities and attractions for a variety of formal and informal activities.Covering approximately 28 hectares, this site, managed by Sandhurst Town Council, hasbecome one of the premier recreational sites in Bracknell Forest.

The Civic Trust's Green Flag Award Scheme is a national standard for the quality of publicparks and green spaces in England and Wales. Sites are judged on eight criteria:

1. A welcoming place2. Healthy, safe and secure3. Well maintained and clean4. Sustainability5. Conservation and heritage6. Community involvement7. Marketing and8. Management.

In 2004, Bracknell Forest Borough Council and Sandhurst Town Council entered SandhurstMemorial Park and Shepherd Meadows into the scheme - resulting in the first ever jointapplication Green Flag Award. A management plan for the sites was developed in conjunctionwith BBOWT (Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust) and the Blackwater Valley CountrysidePartnership. Shepherd Meadows and Sandhurst Memorial Park received a Green Flag Awardagain in 2005/06.

Since its modest beginning in 1949 when 2.4 hectares of land known as Brookside Field werepurchased by Sandhurst Parish Council "for the purpose of a public recreation ground for thebenefit of the inhabitants of the Parish of Sandhurst", successive Parish/Town Councils havegained the rights over adjacent farm and woodlands to make the Memorial Park what it is today.This is identified in the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy (2002) as a site with slightly moreamenity value than natural features, and 10% of the site is covered with woody planting.


None identified.


None identified.

Visitor Usage

78% of all visitors surveyed stated this was the open space they regularly visited, with theLook Out the other site most visited.

There are fewer than average very frequent users, with only 9% visiting 4 or more timesa week and 65% visiting once a week or less.


Sandhurst Memorial Park is used for a wide range of purposes, with the main use beingchildren’s play (44%). Other main reasons for visiting are to meet people / socialise (15%),exercise the dog (12%) and walk (10%). Visits are predominantly more than 30 minutesbut less than 2 hours (83%).


44% of people rated the site as busy and 44% rated it as not busy. However, 93% ofvisitors surveyed would continue to use the site if visitor numbers doubled.

Visitor Numbers


Accessibility

The majority travel by car (61%) and the remainder by walking (34%), cycling (2%) or bus (2%).29% of visitors travel from within 1 kilometre and the majority (49%) travel between 1 and 5kilometres. The journey time for nearly all visitors (98%) is less than 20 minutes.


63% of visitors surveyed use the car park and a high percentage of respondents rated the carpark size, quality, convenience and safety as very good or quite good.


This is adjacent to Shepherds Meadows.

Sandhurst Memorial Park - Potential as Impact Avoidance Measure

Many of the visitors to the Memorial Park also visit the Look Out, but they did not specifywhether this was for the children’s play area as opposed to the natural areas. Visitornumbers on this site are already high, although the same number of people rated thesite as ‘busy’ and ‘not busy’. People visited less frequently and stayed longer, whichmay be a result of the type of user, visiting for the play area rather than daily dog walking.As the site already scores highly in the PPG17 audit, there is little scope for improvement,and the site because of its amenity nature does not currently attract large number ofdog walkers. As a result there is little or no potential for this to be converted intoalternative open space to attract users of the SPA.

Swinley Park

OS Coordinates: SU 833 637Area: 267.55 hectaresTypology: D (natural & semi-natural green space)Ward: AscotPPG17 Ref No’s: 132PPG17 Audit: 47% Good


Features

Swinley Park is an area of the Windsor Estate between Bracknell and Bagshot to the west ofthe A322. Owned and managed by The Crown Estate, it comprises over 260 hectares of mainlyScots Pine woodland.


This park includes the most important concentration of ancient broadleaved trees remaining inthe southern sector of Windsor Forest. Most of the area consists of conifer plantation withpatches of broadleaves, but scattered throughout are a number of ancient oaks, beech Fagussylvatica and sweet chestnut Castanea sativa, notably along the rides and edges of forestcompartments. Some of the oaks are pollards of great age and, although partially shaded byconifers, the decaying hulks of these ultra-mature trees provide habitats now rare in woodland.Many rare species of insect requiring dead and decaying large timber are known to be present.The area is also of interest for its birds, both hole-nesting species and birds of prey. An avenueof lime trees Tilia europaea supports a good local population of mistletoe Viscum album.

The site also includes Swinley Brick Pits, an area of old clay pits now much overgrown by birch,pine and rhododendron and including a number of small pools providing ideal habitat for severalspecies of dragonflies, Odonata, and secluded cover for waterfowl, as well as breeding sitesfor all three species of newts.

Locally, where the ground is too wet for the proper establishment of coniferous trees, a wetheath flora has developed. A small colony of marsh clubmoss Lycopdiella inundata, rare inBerkshire, occurs in the brick pits area.


This large area of private land is both a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Visitor Usage

78% of all visitors surveyed stated this was the open space they regularly visited, withEnglemere Pond and the Look Out the other sites most visited.

There is a wide spread of frequency of user with a third of respondents visiting more than5 times a week, but also nearly a quarter visiting less than once a week.

Swinley Park is used for a wide range of purposes, with the main use being exercising thedog (54%). Other main reasons for visiting are cycling (19%), walking (11%) and jogging(8%). No visits are less than 30 minutes and the vast majority (47%) are between 30minutes and 2 hours. In comparison to other sites a high proportion (14%) of visits arebetween 2 and 4 hours.


Only 19% of people rated the site as busy and 68% rated it as not busy. However, 95%of visitors surveyed would continue to use the site if visitor numbers doubled.


Visitor Numbers


Accessibility

The majority travel by car (81%) and the remainder by walking (44%) and cycling (5%).Thissite has a higher proportion of visitors from long distance; 14% of respondents had travelledmore than 20 kilometres and half of all users travelled between 1 and 5 kilometres. As a result16% of visitors have travelled more than 30 minutes to reach the site, which is the highest forall the sites surveyed. In addition 41% of people travelled less than 5 minutes.

Length of Footpaths

There are 8 all-weather footpaths providing a total distance of 8,348 metres of access aroundthe site.


There is a car park for 30 cars. There are 10 entrances around the site’s perimeter. Visitors tothe site do not rate the car park particularly well with 39% of respondents rating the quality asquite or very poor and only 16% rating the quality as very good or quite good.


Part of this site is adjacent to Englemere Pond.

Swinley Park - Potential as Impact Avoidance Measure

This site has all the characteristics of a suitable impact avoidance measure against theSPA, being of a suitable size, having the potential to upgrade access and being of a lowvisitor usage already, therefore having capacity to absorb more visitors as a result.However, the deliverability of this site as impact avoidance cannot be guaranteed orsecured as the Borough Council does not own or lease the land, and discussions withthe landowner have indicated that securing this land over the lifetime of the developmentsproposed in the DPD will not be possible. It is for this reason this site has not beenincluded in the Appropriate Assessment.

Silver Jubilee Field / Wicks Green

OS Coordinates: SU 839 709Area: 3.6 hectaresTypology: B (amenity green space)Ward: Binfield With WarfieldPPG17 Ref No’s: 149 / 182PPG17 Audit: 64% Very Good


Features

Open grassed site with children play area. This is identified in the Parks and Open SpacesStrategy (2002) as a site with some natural features and one fifth of the site is covered withwoody planting.


None relevant to this Appropriate Assessment.


There is no relevant legislation covering this site.

Visitor Usage

88% of all visitors surveyed stated this was the open space they regularly visited.

There is a spread of both frequent and infrequent users, with 34% visiting more then 5times a week and 31% visiting less than once a week.

This site is mainly used by people walking their dogs (47%), with the other key uses beingthe children’s play area (22%) and walking (13%). Over half of visits are between 30minutes and 1 hour, with 19% between 1 and 2 hours.


Only 22% of people rated the site as busy and 56% rated it as not busy and 85% of visitorssurveyed would continue to use the site if visitor numbers doubled.

Visitor Numbers


Accessibility

The majority of visitors walk to the site (84%) with 13% arriving by car and 3% cycling. Twothirds of visitors travel from within 1 kilometre and only a small proportion (6%) come from over5 kilometres. As a result 85% of the journeys took less than 10 minutes.

Length of Footpaths

2 all-weather footpaths provide a walking distance of 493 metres.


An informal parking area provides parking for approximately 12 cars. There are 6 formalentrances. Three quarters of respondents stated the car park was satisfactory as opposed togood or very good, therefore there is room for improvement. In addition, a quarter rated it asbeing poor quality with poor safety.



This site stands alone.

Silver Jubilee Field / Wicks Green - Potential as Impact Avoidance Measure

This site caters predominantly for local users with the majority of visitors arriving onfoot despite the provision of parking.The site is not deemed to be busy therefore hascapacity for further visitors. Although the site is only partially semi-natural, this has thepotential to provide for an element of the SPA users; people wanting to take their dogfor short local walks up to half a kilometre in length. Improvements to the car park andpath network could encourage this use. The Council has been unable to reach agreementwith Binfield Parish Council and is therefore unable to consider the site for SANGsprovision.


App

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Yes

No

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Notes: The reference to dogs being off the lead within this document does not exclude therequirements of other legislation, which requires dogs to be under close control at all times.Where potential for safety improvement is identified, this has been based on perceptions ofsafety from the current visitors surveyed during the site specific questionnaires.

The enhancements identified in the table above are required in order to bring each SANGs upto a suitable standard to provide an alternative to the SPA. Detailed works and costings, willbe provided along with the implementation of this plan, in an open space management plan.It is difficult to identity the specific improvement works which may need to be carried out at eachsite over the next 20 years, therefore the open space management plan will be updated every5 years.


Appendix 7: SPA Avoidance and Mitigation1. The following information summarises potential expenditure relating to delivery of the

Bracknell Forest Council Thames Basin Heaths SPA Avoidance and Mitigation SPD.

2. The measures identified are those which will require a lead role to be implemented by theParks and Countryside Service (part of Environment, Culture and Communities) and theStrategic Access Management and Monitoring (SAMM) Project. The focus is on landmanagement initiatives outside of the designated SPA as well as access managementand monitoring on the SPA.

3. It should be noted that mitigation proposals require the provision and management ofpublic open space at a level above and beyond that which is normally sought by developercontributions. The target Open Space of Public Value provision for Bracknell Forest is 4.3hectares per 1000 of population (including 2.3 hectares passive space).(37)

4. Englemere Pond and Shepherds Meadow include Sites of Special Scientific Interest(SSSIs) and it is a statutory requirement that the SSSIs are maintained in a favourablecondition by the landowners.Therefore, the financial contribution towards enhancing thesesites to provide an alternative to the SPA is in addition to the finances required formanagement of the interest features for which the SSSI is designated.

5. Relevant action can be broken down into three main activities:-

Enhancement of SANGS, as identified within the SPA Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy;Sustainable management of SANGS in perpetuity;Access management and monitoring within and/or directly relating to the Special ProtectionArea.

37 See Chapter 4 of Limiting the Impact of Development SPD (2007).


1. SANGs Contributions

a) SANGs Enhancement Works

Table 14 SANGs Enhancement Works (as estimated at 2010/11)

Cost (£)(2)ActionsSites(1)

25,000Habitat Management:1. The CutCountrysideCorridor including 190,000Access Management:

Jock's Copse,33,000Interpretation:Tinkers Copse, The

38,000Furniture:Cut (south), GarthMeadows, Larks Hilland Piggy Wood 286,000Total

(Link with BracknellTown Council)

18,000Habitat Management:2. ShepherdMeadows

43,000Access Management:(Link with SandhurstTown Council) 23,000Interpretation:

18,000Furniture:

102,000Total

106,000Habitat Management:3. Englemere Pond

87,000Access Management:(Link with The CrownEstate)

25,000Interpretation:

6,000Furniture:

224,000Total

23,000Habitat Management:4. Horseshoe Lake

106,000Access Management:(Link with BlackwaterValley CountrysidePartnership) 18,000Interpretation:

4,000Furniture:

151,000Total


Cost (£)(2)ActionsSites(1)

22,000Habitat Management:5. The Longhill ParkGroup(3)(4) includingLonghill Park, Milman 80,000Access Management:

Close, BeswickGardens Copse andClintons Hill

39,000Interpretation:

9,000Furniture:

150,000Total

45,000Habitat Management:6. Ambarrow Court/Hill

67,000Access Management:(Link with theNational Trust) 18,000Interpretation:

28,000Furniture:

158,000Total

£1,071,000Total

£1,128,000Total includingindexation

1. Part of Great Hollands Recreation Ground has also been identified as a SANG (see Appendices 4 and 5). This site hashowever not been brought into the cost calculations, since it is not required for mitigation purposes at this stage.

2. Baseline calculations are identified within relevant Open Space Management Plans.3. The Longhill Park Group includes Lily Hill Park.This site is however not shown here as it provides mitigation for the Bracknell

Town Centre development and is not part of the suite of Bracknell Forest's strategic SANGs.4. Due to particular development pressures in or around the Town Centre, it is possible that the Longhill Park Group will be

used as SPA mitigation for these developments.

b) Additional Annual Maintenance in Perpetuity

6. There are costs associated with the management of green space (managed by the Council,or partner body such as Bracknell Town Council) which vary significantly across theborough.

7. In general terms, expenditure will be highest where there is the greatest provision of formalfacilities such as surfaced paths and parking. However, a pre-requisite of potential mitigationland is that it is semi-natural and encompasses some of the special qualities of the SPA.

8. It should be noted that there is an existing ‘base level’ of management of the proposedmitigation sites, which is not being funded through these contributions. However, successfuldelivery (particularly effective re-distribution of visitors) will require an increase to theexisting management levels for the specific sites.

9. Accordingly, the costs identified below relate specifically to the sustainable managementof the proposed enhancement to be implemented as a result of SPA mitigation measures.


£123,000 per annum inperpetuity

Based on 2 new rangers plusmaintenance.

Additional maintenancerequirements incl. staffing

c) Administration and Education

10. Of particular significance is the production of the Open Space Management Plans (OSMP's)which detail the necessary enhancement works to the SANGS, project management ofenhancement works and promotion of the SANGS.

£25,000 per annum for 20 years (planperiod)

Based on 0.5 increase toexisting post includingsupport costs

Cost relating toBiodiversity Officer

Total £500,000

£50,000An allocation for SANG promotional material

d) Summary of SANGs Costs (based on 2010/2011 costs)

11. These figures are likely to increase over time when inflation is factored in.

Table 15 Summary of Total SANGs Costs

Totals (rounded)CostSPA Avoidance and MitigationWorks and Measures

£1,128,000See table 7. abovea) SANGs Enhancement Worksincl. indexation

£123,000 per annum,requires commutedsum of £7,064,237

See above - additionalmaintenance and increase instaffing requirements for 125years

b) Additional Annual Maintenance

in Perpetuity(1) (over and aboveexisting revenue budgets for 125years)

for 125 years

£550,000£25,000 annual staffing cost for20 year plan period

c) Administration and Education

£50,000 for educationalresources/material

£3,059,783d) Facilitation Sum (35% contingency to forward plan and deliverthe total Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy)

£11,802,020Total SANGs measures:(2)

1. In the Council's previous SPA Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy, the period for the maintenance of SANGs was set at 20years because this was the plan period. This SPD complies with South East Plan Policy NRM6 and the Thames BasinHeaths SPA Delivery Framework (2009) which states that mitigation measures must be provided ‘in perpetuity’. An ‘in


perpetuity’ period of 125 years has been applied in this SPD in accordance with the legislation which defines the ‘in perpetuity’period (Perpetuities and Accumulations Act 2009). This has lead to an increase in contributions for the maintenance ofSANGs.

2. SPA Contributions already received through the previous SPA Avoidance and Mitigation strategy have been taken intoaccount in the calculations.

e) Calculation of SANG Tariff ‘Per Bedroom’

12. The following estimates and assumptions were made to calculate the SANG tariff.

Table 16 SANGs Tariff - Estimates and Assumptions

TotalsEstimates and Assumptions

107.02haEstimated total area of SANGs capacity available for 6 sites:

The Cut Countryside Corridor = 17.12haLong Hill Park Group (excl. Lily Hill Park) = 12.53haEnglemere Pond = 27.06haHorseshoe Lake = 8.64haShepherd Meadows = 29.46haAmbarrow Court / Hill = 12.21ha

(as set out in Appendix 4)

13,378 persons(1)Estimated total mitigation capacity of SANGs available(persons)107.02ha / 8ha x1000 persons

5,791 dwellingsEstimated mitigation capacity of SANGs available (dwellings)

13,378 people @ 2.31 people per dwelling(2)

£11,802,020Total cost of SANGs avoidance and mitigation measures (excludingSAMM)

£882Estimated cost per person of SANGs avoidance and mitigationmeasures (excluding SAMM)

£11,802,020 ÷ 13,378 people

1. It should be noted that the potential to mitigate for 13,378 new population could almost certainly never be completely realised.This is because development does not always occur in areas where there is SANGs capacity and SANGs have particularcatchment areas. In Bracknell Forest, for example, there are particular pressures on SANGs in the north of the borough.

2. Based on average occupancy per dwelling of 2.31 persons (for Bracknell Forest 2001 – 2026). Agreed figure used in theBracknell Forest Council Thames Basin Heaths SPA Technical Background Document to the Core Strategy DPD (June2007).


Table 17 Calculation of SANG Tariff per Bedroom

Charge per

dwelling(3)Estimated

Occupancy(2)No. Dwellings% Dwellings(1)No.

Bedrooms

£1,3501.401,33223%1

£1,7701.851,67929%2

£2,4002.502,02735%3

£2,7302.8563711%4

£3,5503.701162%5+

5,791100%Total

1. Indicative Estimate of Size of Dwellings Required to Accommodate Growth in Bracknell Forest. See Strategic HousingMarket Assessment (July 2010) Figure 3.14

2. Occupancy figures ‘per bedroom’ are not available for Bracknell Forest. These have been obtained from a number of datasources from local authorities in the region of the Thames Basin Heaths SPA and used to calculate estimated averageoccupancy figures, selected on a precautionary basis. The same occupancy figures have been applied to the calculationof the SAMM contributions. See SAMM Tariff Guidance on the Council's website at http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/spa.

3. Estimated occupancy x estimated cost per person + approx. 9% adjustment applied to ensure that total costs are recovered.

2. Strategic Access Management and Monitoring (SAMM) Contributions

13. The SAMM tariff has been calculated based on guidance issued by Natural England(38)

14. In 2009, the tariff was set at £630 per dwelling. It was agreed that the tariff would becollected by an Administrative Body (Hampshire County Council) and the delivery managedby Natural England. The sum provides for £190 towards annual expenditure and £440 tothe long term investment fund.

15. The tariff was established with reference to the anticipated increase in population and adetailed analysis of the resources which would be needed to address the increased numberof visitors to each part of the SPA. An estimate of the number of houses (2,824 per yearover 17 years) was taken from the South East Plan (2009) and the cost of access measuresand monitoring calculated in consultation with a wide range of organisations deliveringsimilar services. Table 18 provides a summary:

Table 18 Calculation of £630 per dwelling SAMM Contribution

Annual Cost

See Appendix 3 of SAMMTariff Guidance

£390,000Staff and wardening service

£55,500Monitoring inc capital costs

£43,900Contingency

£20,000Administrative body fees

£10,000Natural England management fee

38 Thames Basin Heaths Strategic Access Management and Monitoring (SAMM) Project Tariff Guidance (March 2011) canbe found on the Councils website at http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/spa



Annual Cost

£17,160VAT contingency*

£536,560Total cost

Est. 2,824 houses/yryielding £536,560

£190Revenue funding per house

See Appendix 2 of SAMMGuidance

£440Capital investment per house

£630Total average tariff per house

Notes

The approach to rounding reflects the original calculations conducted by a number ofindividuals. This has been replicated to maintain consistency with previously published andagreed documents. The level of variation in the figures is not significant.

* VAT on all monitoring and capital costs; plus part of wardening costs.

16. Following discussions with the local authorities, a legal opinion was jointly sought toestablish whether the proposed tariff was compliant with ODPM Circular 05/2005 PlanningObligations. An opinion was received which concluded that the tariff did meet therequirements of the Circular except in regards to being a flat rate tariff. The opinionconsidered that a flat rate tariff would not be proportional and would fetter the localauthorities’ discretion.

17. The opinion stated that a tariff which included the number of bedrooms and/or distancewould be proportionate and acceptable. SANG tariffs already take account of distancethrough the current distance zoning scheme and this is also applied to the SAMMcontributions.

18. In response, Natural England and the local authorities agreed a proportional tariff basedon the number of bedrooms. A tariff developed using these guidelines is considered tomeet all the requirements of current policy guidance and, in conjunction with SANGs, willbe able to provide effective mitigation to address the effect of additional housing on theSPA.

19. The legal opinion states that the tariff can be established by reference to the overall sumneeded to deliver the required mitigation. The overall sum required was established bythe SAMM Outline Business Plan and has been agreed by the local authorities and NaturalEngland. The best available figures are used throughout for calculating the tariff and localauthorities are expected to use local data wherever appropriate.

20. The proportional tariff is calculated using a simple equation based on occupancy and aper capita Standard Cost. The standard cost is derived from the overall sum required andthe number of new residents. In order ensure that the scheme is fit for purpose, the TBHSAMM tariff includes an enabling adjustment, which provides confidence that the overallincome will be sufficient to ensure that the SPA is not adversely affected.

Tariff = (Occupancy x Standard Cost) + Enabling Adjustment


21. Table 19 provides an estimate of the per capita contribution required to provide the overallsum. The enabling adjustment is obtained by including data on the predicted mix of housesize.

Table 19 Overall SAMM Costs

Notes

Forecast delivery within 5km of SPA2,824Number of dwellings

Annual sum required for mitigation£536,560Original revenue

Invested into long term fund£1,242,560Original investment

Investment + revenue, total required annually£1,779,120Original total

£1,779,120 ÷ 2,824 = £630 per dwelling£630Original tariff

Agreed figure used in the Delivery Framework2.4Occupancy

2,824 x 2.4 (No. dwellings x Occupancy)6,778Total no. Residents

1,779,120 ÷ 6778 (Total sum ÷ No. residents)£263Standard Cost

22. Table 20 shows an example of a proportional tariff scale for the TBH SAMM project. Thescale uses average figures for occupancy and housing sizes obtained from a number ofthe relevant local authorities. Appendix 2 in the SAMM guidance details the calculationsand provides background data. As there are no reliable figures for occupancy rates inBracknell Forest, no local occupancy rates have been applied and sub regional averagedfigures have been used to calculate the SAMM contributions. The 'example' SAMM tariffis set out in the guidance as follows. These are the tariffs which Bracknell Forest willapply.

Table 20 SAMM Tariff

TariffNo. of Bedrooms

£3991

£5262

£7113

£8074

£1,0525+


3.Total SPA Avoidance and Mitigation Costs Per Bedroom

Table 21 Total SPA Avoidance and Mitigation Costs

Total SPA Tariffper dwelling

SAMM Tariffper dwelling

SANGs tariff perdwelling

No.Bedrooms

SPA Avoidanceand MitigationMeasures

£1,749£399£1,3501Enhancement andsustainable

£2,296£526£1,7702management ofSANGs in

£3,111£711£2,4003perpetuity +

£3,537£807£2,7304strategic accessmanagement and

£4,602£1,052£3,5505+monitoring (SAMM)contributions perbedroom

23. SPA Avoidance and Mitigation costs may need to be reviewed and updated periodically.


GlossaryExplanationTerm

Annual report submitted to government on the progress ofpreparing the Local Development Framework and theeffectiveness of policies and proposals.

Annual Monitoring Report

An assessment, required under the Habitats Directive, if a planor project is judged as likely to have a significant effect on aNatura 2000 site.

Appropriate Assessment

The decision maker under the Conservation (Natural Habitats,&c.) Regulations 1994 (see Regulation 6): often the local

Competent Authority

authority, but could be a planning inspector or other bodyresponsible for assessing a plan or project.

Sub-regional guidance on Thames Basin Heaths SPA avoidanceand mitigation methods, produced and endorsed by the ThamesBasin Heaths Joint Strategic Partnership Board.

Delivery Framework

A Local Development Document which forms part of the statutorydevelopment plan, examples include the Core Strategy,Proposals Map and Area Action Plans.

Development PlanDocument

Comprising two types, Development Plan Documents andSupplementary Planning Documents, which together form theLocal Development Framework.

Local DevelopmentDocument

The portfolio of Local Development Documents which sets outthe planning policy framework for the Borough.

Local DevelopmentFramework

An ecological network of sites (SPAs and SACs) establishedunder the Habitats Directive to provide a strong protection forEurope’s wildlife areas.

Natura 2000 sites

Guidance documents which set out national planning policy.PPGs (Planning Policy Guidance Notes) are being reviewedand updated and are gradually being replaced by PPSs.

Planning PolicyStatement

Nature conservation site designated under the Habitats Directivefor its habitat or species interest.

Special Area ofConservation

A nature conservation site designated for its bird interest underthe Birds Directive, but subject to the assessment procedureset out in the Habitats Directive.

Special Protection Area

Overseen by Natural England and Hampshire County Council,implements standard messages and additional wardening andeducation across the Thames Basin Heaths SPA.

Strategic AccessManagement andMonitoring Project


ExplanationTerm

Strategic SANGs are open spaces in Bracknell Forest which,in agreement with NE, have been identified as being suitable

Strategic SANGs

for bringing up to SANGs standard through the application ofdeveloper contributions.

Open space, meeting guidelines on quantity and quality, for thepurpose of providing recreational alternatives to the SPA.

Suitable AlternativeNatural Greenspace

An LDD which does not form part of the statutory developmentplan, but is part of the LDF. SPDs elaborate upon policies andproposals in a DPD.

Supplementary PlanningDocument

Accompanied the Core Strategy to examination and includesthe Appropriate Assessment of the Core Strategy and theoriginal Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy.

Technical BackgroundDocument

Partnership of Thames Basin Heaths-affected Local Authorities,South East England Partnership Board and key stakeholders,

Thames Basin HeathsJoint StrategicPartnership which form and oversee the implementation of sub-regional

guidance, for example the Delivery Framework.


AbbreviationsExplanationAbbreviation

Appropriate AssessmentAA

Annual Monitoring ReportAMR

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife TrustBBOWT

Bracknell Forest CouncilBFC

Development Plan DocumentDPD

General Permitted Development OrderGDPO

Joint Strategic PartnershipJSP

Joint Strategic Partnership BoardJSPB

Limiting the Impact of Development Supplementary PlanningDocument (Bracknell Forest Council)

LID

Natural EnglandNE

Natural Resource Management Policy 6: Thames Basin HeathsSpecial Protection Area. Set out in the South East Plan

NRM6

Open Space of Public ValueOSPV

Planning Policy StatementPPS

Royal Society for the Protection of BirdsRSPB

Sustainability AppraisalSA

Special Area of ConservationSAC

Strategic Access Management and Monitoring ProjectSAMM

Suitable Alternative Natural GreenspacesSANGs

Strategic Environmental AssessmentSEA

South East Plan: The Regional Spatial Strategy for the South EastSEP

Special Protection AreaSPA

Supplementary Planning Document.SPD


ReferencesTitle of Document / StudySource

Core Strategy Development Plan Document (2008)Bracknell Forest Council

Strategic Housing Market Assessment (July 2010)Bracknell Forest Council

Limiting the Impact of Development SupplementaryPlanning Document (SPD) (2007)

Bracknell Forest Council

Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) DraftSubmission (November 2010)


Thames Basin Heaths SPA Technical BackgroundDocument to the Core Strategy DPD (June 2007)


Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and ofthe Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of

European Commission

wild birds (codified version), referred to as the BirdsDirective.

Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC)European Commission

The South East Plan – Regional Spatial Strategy for theSouth East (2009)

Government Office South East

Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (2010)HMSO

Special Protection Area Accessibility Analysis BracknellForest Council (2006)

Integrated Transport Planning

Open Spaces Study - Park and Open Spaces Users Survey(June 2006)

Leisure-net Solutions Ltd

Open Spaces Study - Park and Open Spaces Users Survey(September 2008)

Leisure-net Solutions Ltd

Visitor access patterns on the Thames Basin Heaths.English Nature Research Report (2005)

Liley, D., Jackson, D., &Underhill-Day, J.C.

The ‘Quality’ of green space, features that attract peopleto open spaces in the Thames Basin Heaths area. EnglishNature Research Report. (2005)

Liley, D., Mallord, J., Lobley, M.

ODPM Circular 06/2005 Biodiversity and GeologicalConservation – Statutory Obligations and their Impactwithin the Planning System

Office of the Deputy PrimeMinister

Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and GeologicalConservation

Office of the Deputy PrimeMinister (2005)


Title of Document / StudySource

Thames Basin Heaths Strategic Access Management andMonitoring (SAMM) Project Tariff Guidance (March 2011)

Natural England

SAMM Monitoring Strategy (October 2008)Natural England

SANGs Quality GuidanceNatural England

Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area DeliveryFramework (2009)

Thames Basin Heaths JointStrategic Partnership Board


Copies of this booklet may be obtained in large print, Braille, on

audio cassette or in other languages. To obtain a copy in an

alternative format please telephone 01344 352000

Development Plan Team

Planning and Transport Policy

Environment, Culture and Communities


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