The Essex Coast RAMS Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

Closed 21 Feb 2020

Opened 10 Jan 2020

Contact

03330322130

ecology.placeservices@essex.gov.uk

Results updated 12 Jun 2020

A draft 'Essex Coast Recreational disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)' was published for consultation between Friday 10th January 2020 and Friday 21st February 2020 in accordance with the planning consultation requirements of each LPA.

The consultation was undertaken jointly by the 12 Councils and hosted by Place Services of Essex County Council. The 12 Councils consulted the following bodies and persons:  

  • Statutory bodies including neighbouring councils, local parish and town councils, utility companies, health representatives and Government bodies such as Highways England, Natural England, Historic England and the Environment Agency; 
  • Local stakeholders including the Business Forums, Essex Wildlife Trust, Sport England, and the Police; 
  • Developers and landowner and their agents; 
  • Local businesses, voluntary and community groups, and  
  • The public.  

The Essex Coast RAMS draft SPD consultation received a total of 146 comments, 87 of these being from Essex residents and 59 being from various organisations. Please see the spreadsheet below to read all of the comments that were made. Uploaded files that were submitted can also be viewed below.

Files:

Overview

The Essex Coast Recreational disturbance Avoidance & Mitigation Strategy (RAMS) is an initiative to raise awareness of the birds that feed and breed on the Essex coast, so that people can enjoy the coast and its wildlife without disturbing the birds.  It is a partnership of the following 12 Essex Local Planning Authorities (LPAs):

  • Basildon Council
  • Braintree District Council
  • Brentwood Borough Council
  • Castle Point Borough Council
  • Chelmsford City Council
  • Colchester Borough Council
  • Maldon District Council
  • Rochford District Council
  • Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
  • Tendring District Council
  • Thurrock Council
  • Uttlesford District Council

Essex County Council and Natural England are also partners in the RAMS.

A Strategy document has been completed and the Essex LPAs are collecting contributions to spend on necessary mitigation measures. The Strategy document is supported by a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which is published for consultation between 10 January - 21 February 2020. The full document can be found at the bottom of this page under the heading 'Related'.

We welcome your views on the Essex Coast RAMS SPD. For further information about the project, please see the Bird Aware Essex Coast website.
https://essexcoast.birdaware.org

Why your views matter

New housing around the Essex coast will lead to more people visiting the coast for leisure and recreation, with the potential to cause more disturbance to the birds. Research shows that additional disturbance will affect the birds' survival unless mitigation measures are put in place.

Most visits to the Designated Habitats Sites on the Essex coast are made by people who live in close proximity to the coast. Each of the Habitats Sites has a Zone of Influence, which is the area in which the majority of visitors travel from.

New homes built within the Zone of Influence are likely to lead to more people visiting the Designated Habitats Sites with a potential to have an impact on the birds.  All new homes within the Zone of Influence can pay a tariff per dwelling to contribute to the Essex Coast RAMS and mitigate likely significant effects from recreational disturbance.

Areas

  • Basildon
  • Braintree
  • Brentwood
  • Chelmsford
  • Colchester
  • Maldon
  • Rochford
  • Tendring
  • Uttlesford

Audiences

  • Anyone from any background

Interests

  • Environmental planning