SITES OF NATURE CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE, LOCAL NATURE RESERVES AND REGIONALLY IMPORTANT GEOLOGICAL OR GEOMORPHOLOGICAL SITES
POLICY C9
THE COUNCIL WILL NOT PERMIT DEVELOPMENT WHICH WOULD AFFECT THE INTEGRITY OF LOCAL NATURE RESERVES (LNR's), SITES OF NATURE CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE (SNCI's) OR REGIONALLY IMPORTANT GEOLOGICAL OR GEOMORPHOLOGICAL SITES (RIG'S), EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, UNLESS IT CAN BE DEMONSTRATED THAT THE DEVELOPMENT IS OF OVERRIDING IMPORTANCE AND NO ALTERNATIVE IS AVAILABLE.
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.
SITES OF NATURE CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE, LOCAL NATURE RESERVES AND REGIONALLY IMPORTANT GEOLOGICAL OR GEOMORPHOLOGICAL SITES
4.27.1 Certain sites within the Plan area require specific protection from all adverse development. These are places where new development would be very likely to ruin the character of the site. The Council has been notified by the Northumberland Wildlife Trust of over 40 sites of Nature Conservation Importance in the Plan area (See appendix A). They comprise a selection of sites representing a range of valuable ecological habitats in the County, where uncommon plants and animals live.
4.27.2 Parts of the Wansbeck Valley are in public ownership and a management plan for High House Wood, Scotch Gill and Davies Wood has been prepared for the Council in consultation with the Northumberland Wildlife Trust. As a result of this study the woods have been designated by the Council as Local Nature Reserves. Other sites in the Plan area may be found to be of Nature Conservation Importance. These, too, will be protected. (See also Policy R10)
4.27.3 Regionally Important Geological or Geomorphological Sites are sites of geological or geomorphological interest where a range of geological and landform features and exposed geological strata have been identified which are uncommon or rare within the County. At present no such sites have been identified within the Borough but it is likely that sites will be identified during the plan period.
4.27.4 At present there are no standard agreed acronym / designation for such sites. The Local Government Conservation initiative "Natural Assets" recommends the acronym "SINCS" - Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation - as a standard name which should be adopted nationwide to reduce confusion. . Whilst "SINC" is a term recognised in Government guidance in PPG9, the term "SNCI" has been adopted locally and to alter this would require the Northumberland Wildlfie Trust to alter all of their designations.