Special Protection Areas (SPA)

The Background

The Hindhead Avoidance Strategy sets out the approach that the Council will follow to avoid harm to the Wealden Heaths Special Protection Area arising from additional residential development within the Hindhead Concept Statement area.

In anticipation of redevelopment opportunities arising in Hindhead, Waverley Borough Council has adopted the Hindhead Concept Statement (Appendix 1 of the Avoidance Strategy) as a material consideration, in order to help in the assessment of emerging development proposals.

The Concept Statement has been subject to an Appropriate Assessment, which concluded that there could be an adverse effect on the SPA arising from additional recreational pressure in the form of visits by residents of new houses provided within the area covered by the Concept Statement.

The conclusion was, therefore, that there should be measures put in place to promote the use of other areas for these recreational activities in order to avoid adverse impact on the SPA.

The Avoidance Strategy

The Avoidance Strategy was approved by the Council's Executive on 5 July 2011 and by Full Council on 19 July 2011 as a material planning consideration. 

One of the key aims is to encourage residents to go to Tyndall's Wood and Golden Valley for dog walking and recreation, rather than visiting the SPA.

The following table summarises the contribution that will be expected from new residential development within the Hindhead Concept Statement area.  The area subject to the contribution is shown in Figure 2 of the Avoidance Strategy.

	Number of Bedrooms
	1	2	3	4	5
Contribution	£738	£992	£1,414	£1,611	£2,101

The identified capacity is 240 persons, which equates to approximately 100 dwellings at 2.4 people per dwelling.

You can view the Avoidance Strategy and associated documents:

• Hindhead Avoidance Strategy - July 2011
• Interactive Contribution Calculator
• Strategy Appendices
• Executive Report - 5 July 2011
• Full Council Agenda - 19 July 2011 (including Executive minutes)
  

Additional Background Documents:

• Hindhead Concept Statement CRA Dec 2010
  

Section 106 Unilateral Undertaking

Contributions to the Avoidance Strategy will need to be secured through a Section 106 unilateral undertaking.  It is necessary for Waverley to secure an appropriate Section 106 unilateral undertaking before it can grant planning permission.

Proposals for residential development that do not secure the provision of avoidance measures will be unlikely to survive an Appropriate Assessment, meaning permission must be refused.

View of download the following documents for relevant applications affected by the SPA:

• Draft Unilateral Undertaking
  

Please note that the £250 legal fee must be sent in with your Unilateral Undertaking and application. If this fee is not included at this stage, your application could be delayed.

Exceptions

Contributions will not be sought from the following types of development:

• Residential extensions
• Replacement dwellings
• Commercial development

Contact Information

Paul Falconer, Planning Policy, Waverley Borough Council, The Burys, Godalming GU7 1HR

Tel: 01483 523417
Email: paul.falconer@waverley.gov.uk

Page owner: Anna Ludford. Last updated: 19/10/2011 10:25