DNP10: Ashdown Forest SPA Mitigation

All relevant residential proposals shall include measures to avoid and mitigate the impact of residential development upon the Ashdown Forest Special Protection Area (SPA) in agreement with the Council and Natural England. This may include the provision of a bespoke Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space (SANG), a financial contribution towards Strategic Access Management and Monitoring and any other measures that are required to satisfy Habitats Regulations, Tandridge District Council’s Ashdown Forest Special Protection Area Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy and relevant guidance.

This policy is included in the DNP to signal to the local electorate that the neighbourhood plan supports the efforts of local planning authorities and Natural England in securing effective mitigation for the Ashdown Forest SPA contributing to neighbourhood plan objectives 5) and 6).  

The policy will apply to all relevant residential development within the Ashdown Forest 7km buffer zone and provides sufficient flexibility should the ‘zone of influence’ need to be amended in light of future evidence.