Comment
South Norfolk Village Clusters Housing Allocations Plan (Reg. 18 Draft)
Representation ID: 2232
Received: 28/09/2021
Respondent: Norfolk County Council - Senior Ecologist
Green no major ecological constraints identified from desk-top search. Surveys, and biodiversity enhancement in accordance with policy required.
Agricultural field - hedge on three sides- no other priority habitat onsite but close to deciduous woodland (priority habitat see MAGIC)- losses impacts should be avoided - minimised and, as a last resort, compensated. Site within amber habitat zones for great crested newts. Site in SSSI IRZ, but residential development doesn't trigger consultation with Natural England. Applications for planning consent should be accompanied by a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal/Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) which, together with the mitigation hierarchy, should inform the design. Consideration should be given to delivering Biodiversity Net Gain.