Environment Food and Rural Affairs written question – answered at on 25 July 2007.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 May 2007, Official Report, column 887W, on nature conservation: EC action, if he will list the information on compensatory measures supplied to the European Commission as required under Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive.
According to our records there have been several habitat compensation schemes secured as compensatory measures, under Article 6(4) of the EU Habitats Directive. This is to ensure that the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network is protected. These are as follows.
Project | Year consent given | Type of consent | European site affected |
Harwich Haven to Felixstowe approach channel deepening by dredge | 1998 | The Coast Protection Act, 1949 and the Food and Environment Protection (FEPA) Act 1985 | Stour and Orwell SPA Hamford Water SPA |
A249 Iwade to Queensborough road improvement scheme | 2000 | Highways Act 1980 | Medway Estuary and Marshes SPA |
Humber Estuary flood management scheme | 2001 | Planning consent under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 | Humber Flats, Marshes and Coast Phase 1 SPA |
Hullbridge tidal flood scheme | 2003 | Planning consent under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 | Couch and Roach Estuaries SPA Essex Estuaries SPA |
Pett frontage tidal defence scheme | 2004 | Planning consent under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 | Dungeness to Pett Levels SPA Dungeness SPA |
Morecambe coastal defence works | 2005 | Planning consent under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 | Morecambe Bay SAC and SPA |
Road improvement to A830 trunk road from Mallaig to Lochailort | 2007 | Highways Act | Glen Beasdale SAC |
In addition, there were two consents granted subject to compensatory measures being secured as and when ongoing monitoring identified adverse effects on the European sites concerned. These are as follows:
Project | Year consent given | Type of consent | European site affected |
MOD Remote Ammunitioning Facility in the Tamar Estuary Plymouth | 2000 | Planning consent under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 | Plymouth Sound and Estuaries SAC |
Water abstraction at North Pickenham, Norfolk | 2002 | Water Resources Act 1991 | Norfolk Valley Fens SAC |
A review of the relevant records reveals some uncertainty as to the schemes in respect of which information has been sent to the Commission formally in accordance with Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive. We are therefore in the process of sending them information on all those listed.
Yes4 people think so
No3 people think not
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