SITES OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST
POLICY C8
THE COUNCIL WILL NOT PERMIT DEVELOPMENT WHICH WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE INTEGRITY OF SITES OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST (SSSI's), EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, UNLESS IT CAN BE DEMONSTRATED THAT THE DEVELOPMENT IS OF OVERRIDING NATIONAL IMPORTANCE AND NO ALTERNATIVE SITE IS AVAILABLE. REGARD WILL BE HAD TO THE PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE OF NATIONAL NATURE RESERVES (NNR's), NATURE CONSERVATION REVIEW (NCR) AND GEOLOGICAL CONSERVATION REVIEW (GCR) SITES.
WHERE DEVELOPMENT IS TO BE PERMITTED WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT ANY SUCH SITE, THE DEVELOPER WILL BE REQUIRED TO INCLUDE MEASURES TO CONSERVE AND ENHANCE THE NATURE CONSERVATION INTEREST AND, WHERE PRACTICABLE, TO PROVIDE REPLACEMENT HABITATS AND FEATURES WHERE DAMAGE IS UNAVOIDABLE. THE COUNCIL WILL IMPOSE CONDITIONS OR SEEK OBLIGATIONS TO SECURE THE LONG TERM MANAGEMENT OF SITES INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF FUNDS FOR NATURE CONSERVATION.
SITES OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST
4.26.1 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI's) are notified by English Nature as being of special interest by reason of their flora, fauna, geological or physiographical features. In most cases these key ecological sites are small and sensitive to changes in their surrounds. The existing and proposed SSSI's in the Plan area are:-
i) Close House Riverside.
ii) Cresswell to Newbiggin Shores. (Geological Conservation Review (GCR) Site)
iii) Cresswell Ponds.
iv) Darras Hall Grassland.
v) Hadston Links.
vi) Longhorsley Moor.
vii) Northumberland Shore.
viii) Prestwick Carr.
ix) River Coquet and River Coquet Valley Woodlands
4.26.2 The above SSSI's include areas of heathland, water and dunes and contain a number of uncommon species of flora and fauna. In some cases they require active management so that their ecological interest is sustained. The Council is required to consult English Nature on any planning application likely to affect an SSSI. If SSSI's are to retain their value they must be protected from any development which would materially or adversely affect them.
4.26.3 The provisions of this policy do not override the requirement that any planning application which may impinge on or affect the integrity of sites of national or international nature conservation importance to be accompanied by an Environmental Assessment.