We Asked, You Said, We Did

Below are some of the issues we have recently consulted on and their outcomes.

We asked

Natural England consulted with national and local stakeholders with an interest in the SSSI official statistics, on the proposed change to the measurement used in the reporting of SSSI condition in England from a unit or area based to a whole feature based monitoring approach, between 7 December 2020 and 18 January 2021.

 

You said

A total of 53 responses were received. 17 respondents were in favour of the proposed change, 5 respondents were not in favour of the proposed change, 9 respondents were neutral. 14 respondents were in favour of the change to feature based monitoring but not in favour of the Least Favourable Condition option. 3 respondents were in favour of the Least Favourable approach option but not in favour of the change of the change to feature based monitoring. 5 respondents did not express a preference.  Of the 53 formal consultation submissions, 41 respondents stated that the proposed change would have implications for their use of the statistics, 10 respondents did not think the proposed change would have an impact on their use of the statistics, and 2 respondents submitted blank forms. Of the written consultation responses, the primary concern was whether the new approach would remove the ability for landowners to report the condition of their landholding and understand the necessary management measures needed to bring about condition change.

We did

Natural England reviewed the consultation responses and as a result have devised a mechanism to continue to report condition at both unit and feature scale. Natural England organised further discussions with stakeholders in 2021 and following pilots of the new approach in 2022. The discussions provided further opportunities for stakeholders to discuss these original concerns in order to agree solutions, develop ways of working in partnership and ensure smooth transition to feature based monitoring. Some of the key take home points were that once stakeholders understood the process of how whole feature assessment and reporting will work, they were content with how we propose to maintain the link with units and management advice. Maintaining the ability to report at unit level (until at least 2025) will enable stakeholders to report outcomes in relation to Management Plans.

Natural England also clarified how the  least favourable approach is only used to set the current feature condition baseline using unit condition data already in the system. The condition of units and features going forward will be determined using data captured in the field, available from others or from remote sensing.

We asked

The consultation focused on opinions on the sale of peat for horticultural use and whether this should continue or be restricted. We also asked whether there should be any exemptions and what these might be.

You said

The response was clear with over 95% of responses calling for a ban on the sale of peat. There was some valid concern in the responses for the use of peat in industry.

We did

The government in England is committed to banning the sale of peat and peat containing products by 2024.

We asked

Natural England consulted with owners, occupiers and interested parties on the notification of Dearne Valley Wetlands Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on 13 May 2021.

Consultations closed on 13 September 2021.

You said

Following consideration of representations and objections at its meeting on 19 January 2022, the Board of Natural England approved the confirmation of the notification of the Dearne Valley Wetlands SSSI with modifications to the description of the special interest (area figure amendment) and boundary map. Natural England consulted with owners, occupiers and interested parties on the notification of Dearne Valley Wetlands Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on 13 May 2021.

Consultations closed on 13 September 2021.

We did

Natural England confirmed Dearne Valley Wetlands SSSI under section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 on 4 February 2022.

In accordance with Natural England’s policy on freedom of information, details of the Board’s decision will be available on Natural England’s website in due course: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england/about/our-governance.

If you have any questions or require further information, please email ProtectedSites@naturalengland.org.uk.

We asked

Natural England consulted with owners, occupiers and interested parties on the notification of Swanscombe Peninsula Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on 11 March 2021.

Consultations closed on 12 July 2021.

You said

Following consideration of representations and objections at its meeting on 10 November 2021, the Board of Natural England approved the confirmation of the notification of the Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI with modifications to the description of the special interest (area figure amendment), boundary map and Views about Management (VAM).

We did

Natural England confirmed Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI under section 28C of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 on 19 November 2021.

In accordance with Natural England’s policy on freedom of information, details of the Board’s decision will be available on Natural England’s website in due course: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england/about/our-governance.

If you have any questions or require further information, please email ProtectedSites@naturalengland.org.uk.

We asked

Natural England consulted with owners, occupiers and interested parties on the notification of Cotswold Water Park Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on 7 January 2021 and the proposal to de-notify parts of the previously notified Cotswold Water Park SSSI that are not considered to be of special interest.

Consultations closed on 7 June 2021.

You said

Following consideration of representations and objections at its meeting on 15 September and resumed meeting of 29 September 2021, the Board of Natural England approved the confirmation of the notification of the Cotswold Water Park SSSI with modifications to the description of the special interest (area figure amendment and the addition of little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis  to the citation), boundary map and Views about Management (VAM).

No representations or objections were received to the proposal dated 7 January 2021 to remove the SSSI notification (known as ‘de-notification’) from parts of the previously notified Cotswold Water Park SSSI that are not considered to be of special interest.  The proposed denotification has been confirmed without modification. The denotified land (as shown on the maps that formed part of the notification document of 7 January 2021 is no longer subject to the effects of notification as an SSSI.

We did

Natural England confirmed the enlarged Cotswold Water Park SSSI under section 28C of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and
de-notified the areas no longer of Special Scientific Interest under
section 28D of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 on 1 October 2021.

We asked

Natural England consulted with owners, occupiers and interested parties on the notification of Pinkworthy and Driver Farm Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on 7 January 2021.

You said

No objections have been received relating to Pinkworthy and Driver Farm SSSI notification under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. 

There have been two representations of support received to the notification, one from RSPB and one from Citizen Space.  

We did

Natural England confirmed the notification of Pinkworthy and Driver Farm SSSI on 2 July 2021 without modification.

We asked

Natural England consulted with owners, occupiers and interested parties on the notification of Reigate Heath Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on 30 October 2020.

You said

Reigate Heath SSSI Consultation closed on 1 March 2021. No objections have been received relating to the notification of additional land under Section 28B of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. There have been eight representations of support to the notification.

We did

Natural England confirmed the additional land of Reigate Heath SSSI on 27 April 2021.

We asked

Natural England consulted with owner, occupiers and interested parties on the notification of Cowslip Meadow Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on 13 October 2020.

You said

No objections have been received relating to the notification of this land under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

There have been two representations of support, from RSPB and one from Citizen Space with a further three neutral responses to the notification from the online consultation.

We did

Natural England confirmed the notification of Cowslip Meadow SSSI on 11 June 2021 without modification.

We asked

Natural England consulted with owner, occupiers and interested parties on the notification of Dallow Downs and Winsdon Hill Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on 13 October 2020.

You said

One objection has been received relating to the notification of Dallow Downs and Winsdon Hill SSSI under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 from Luton Borough Council. However this has been resolved by Officers resulting in a minor boundary amendment (reductions only) and revised area figure on the citation to reflect the mapping error Luton Borough Council raised.

There has been one representation of support and three neutral responses to the notification from the Citizen Space online consultation.

We did

Natural England confirmed the notification of Dallow Downs and Winsdon Hill SSSI on 11 June 2021 with a modification to the boundary.

We asked

Natural England consulted with owner, occupiers and interested parties on the notification of Johnsons’ Meadows Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on 31 January 2020.

You said

The Johnsons’ Meadows SSSI notification was the subject of two withdrawn objections from owners and 26 representations which expressed support to the SSSI notification.

We did

Following consideration of representations and withdrawn objections, Natural England approved the confirmation of Johnsons’ Meadows SSSI under delegated authority without modification.

 

We asked

Natural England consulted with owners, occupiers and interested parties on the notification of Crime Rigg Quarry Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on 18 October 2020.

You said

Consultations closed on 18 February 2020.  No representations or objections have been received with respect to the:

  • Variation of the notification under Section 28A of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, to: rename the SSSI to reflect the current operating name of the quarry and the Geological Conservation Review (GCR) site name; include a revised list of operations requiring Natural England's consent; re-represent the features of interest described in the ciation; and re-represent the statement of Natural England's views about management of the SSSI.
  • Notification of additional land under Section 28B of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
  • Proposed de-notification of land that is not considered to be of special interest, under Section 28D of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

We did

Natural England confirmed the additional land of Crime Rigg Quarry SSSI and de-notified the area no longer of Special Scientific Interest on 7 April 2020.

We asked

Natural England consulted with owners, occupiers and interested parties on
the notification of Raisby Hill Quarry Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
on 18 October 2020.

You said

Consultations closed on 18 February 2020. No representations or objections
have been received with respect to the:

  • Variation of the notification under Section 28A of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, include a revised list of operations requiring Natural England's consent; re-represent the features of special interest described in the ciation; and re-represent the statement of Natural England's views about management of the SSSI.
  • Notification of additional land under Section 28B of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
  • Proposed de-notification of land that is not considered to be of special interest, under Section 28D of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

 

We did

Natural England confirmed the additional land of Raisby Hill Quarry SSSI and
de-notified the area no longer of Special Scientific Interest on 7 April 2020.

We asked

Natural England consulted with owner, occupiers and interested parties on the notification of The Leasowes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on 7 February 2019.

You said

Two objections were received relating to the notification of this land under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. However, both objections have subsequently been unconditionally withdrawn. Three representations of support were also received.

We did

Natural England confirmed the notification of The Leasowes SSSI on 26 June 2019.

We asked

Natural England consulted with owner, occupiers and interested parties on the notification of Down Farm Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on 7 February 2019.

You said

No objections have been received relating to the notification of this land under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Four representations of support were received from Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Dorset Wildlife Trust and West Dorset District Council.

We did

Natural England confirmed the notification of Down Farm SSSI on 26 June 2019 without modification.

We asked

On 26 February 2019, Natural England launched a formal consultation with owners, occupiers and interested parties on the proposed amendments to the Isles of Scilly Special Protection Area (SPA).

You said

The proposed amendments to the Isles of Scilly SPA received 35 responses supporting the proposal, and 3 objections were received.

We did

The Minister approved the proposals to amend the Isles of Scilly SPA, and the extended site was classified on the 17 November 2020. The consultation report, citation and updated maps can be downloaded from this website and the GI data is available by request. 

We asked

Natural England consulted with the owners and interested parties on the notification of Oridge Street Meadows Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on 10 January 2019.

You said

One objection was received relating to the notification of this land under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Three representations of support were also received through the online consultation.

We did

Natural England Board considered the objection and representations at its meeting on 11 September 2019 and approved confirmation of the notification of Oridge Street Meadows SSSI without modification.

We asked

On 31 July 2018, Natural England launched a formal consultation with owners, occupiers and interested parties on the:

• notification of the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI);

• proposed ‘de-notification’ of parts of the Seal Sands SSSI;

• proposed extensions to the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar site.

You said

The Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast SSSI notification was the subject of 6 unresolved objections and 7 further objections that have been resolved subject to the Board of Natural England’s approval of recommended boundary modifications. There were also 12 further representations, 4 of which expressed support for the SSSI notification.

No objections were received to the proposal to de-notify parts of the Seal Sands SSSI.

The proposed extensions to the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast SPA and Ramsar site received 7 responses supporting the proposal. 18 objections were received, 11 of which were resolved and 7 which were maintained by the respondent.

We did

Following consideration of representations and objections at its meeting on 20 March 2019, the Board of Natural England approved the confirmation of the notification of the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast SSSI with modifications to the boundary and, accordingly, to the area figure presented on the citation.

Natural England confirmed the notification of Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast SSSI on 18 April 2019 and, on the same date, confirmed the de-notification of parts of the Seal Sands SSSI.

 The Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast SPA and Ramsar site extensions were classified on the 16th January 2020.

The Minister approved the proposals to extend the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast SPA and Ramsar site, but with the boundary amendments as described within Annex 3 of the Consultation Report (available from this website).  Updated maps and citations can be downloaded from this website and the GI data is available by request.  

We asked

Natural England consulted with owner, occupiers and interested parties on the notification of Langdon Ridge Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on 29 June 2018.

You said

The Langdon Ridge SSSI notification was the subject of two unresolved objections and one further objection had been resolved subject to the Board approval of the recommended boundary modification. There were also 15 representations which expressed support for the SSSI notification

We did

Following consideration of representations and objections at its meeting on 20 February 2019, the Board of Natural England approved the confirmation of the notification of the Landon Ridge SSSI with modifications to the description of the special interest and boundary map. Natural England confirmed the notification of Langdon Ridge SSSI on 21 March 2019.

We asked

Natural England consulted owners, occupiers and interested parties on the notification of additional land as part of the Poole Harbour Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on 24 May 2018.

You said

One objection was received relating to the notification of this land under Section 28B of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 but was subsequently withdrawn. Five representations expressing support for the notification were received through the online consultation.

We did

Natural England confirmed the notification of additional land as part of the Poole Harbour SSSI with a modification to the boundary and, consequently, to the area figure on the citation. The boundary modification is to exclude the recently constructed Poole South Quay. This was constructed prior to notification of the additional land and was notified in error due to it not yet being depicted on Ordnance Survey base mapping.

We asked

Natural England consulted with owner, occupiers and interested parties on the notification of Malvern Common Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on 24 May 2018.

You said

No objections have been received relating to the notification of this land under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Two representations were received regarding management of Malvern Common. Four further representations of support were received.

We did

Natural England confirmed the notification of Malvern Common SSSI on 22 November 2018.