Thousands of birds travel thousands of miles to share our coastline and feed off of the invertebrates in the rich, fertile coast. Because of this many environmental designations have been given; Special Protection Area for the Thanet Coast & Sandwich bay, Site of Specific Scientific Interest to the slopes at Tankerton, and all of the coast from Herne Bay to beyond Pegwell Bay (excluding Ramsgate Harbour), Special Area for Conservation at the foreshore between Birchington and Pegwell Bay (excluding Ramsgate Harbour), a local nature reserve at Bishopstone Glen, a National Nature Reserve at Pegwell Bay, two Country Parks at Reculver and Pegwell Bay, and a Ramsar Site covering the coast between Swalecliffe and beyond Pegwell Bay (excluding Herne Bay and Ramsgate). With the additional housing there will be more people enjoying the beauty of the coast. With this there will be an increase in recreational activity, which may cause substantial disturbance to the birds. Disturbing the birds causes them to stop feeding and take flight using up valuable energy. This energy is needed to survive the perilous return journey to create the next generation. 

In the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (Habitats Regulations) local planning authorities are required to assess the potential impact on Special Protection Areas. If a development is deemed likely to cause a significant impact, consent would not be granted. Therefore, mitigation measures are put in place.

Developers can provide mitigation by making a developer contribution to Bird Wise East Kent or by gathering their own evidence for a Habitat Regulations Assessment and implement the necessary mitigation measures in perpetuity.  Bird Wise East Kent provides a way for new housing schemes to mitigate the impact of additional recreation on the Special Protection Areas and Ramsar sites should the developer commit to paying the tariff set out by the Strategic Access Monitoring & Management Strategy for the relevant local authority.  This makes it possible to conclude that a significant effect on the Special Protection Area or Ramsar site as a result of the development is unlikely and enables development to go ahead in compliance with the Habitats Regulations and enables developers to deal with the issue quickly and simply.

Alternatively, developers can gather their own evidence for a Habitats Regulations Assessment and implement the necessary bespoke mitigation measures in perpetuity (or demonstrate that none are required).  Such an assessment would have to consider the impact of the proposal in combination with all other proposed development in east Kent. The cost of undertaking such assessment would be high and probably costlier than making a developer contribution to the implementation of Bird Wise. In most cases, it will not be viable for a development to provide its own bespoke mitigation package.

Development of housing along the SPA will lead to additional recreational visits to the coast which will increase bird disturbance. Bird Wise East Kent plans to engage and work with the local community to identify, collaborate, and implement workable strategies to educate on the importance of the coast and how to use the coast so as not to disturb the birds.

Potentially, evidence produced by consultants in 2014 found that 75% of coastal visitors travel 7.2km or less for their visit. This evidence demonstrates that additional dwellings built within 7.2km of the Thanet Coast and Sandwich Bay Special Protected Area is likely to have a significant effect on them.

A developer contribution is required for every net additional dwelling, including new dwellings created through the subdivision existing dwellings and new dwellings created as a result of approval granted under the General Permitted Development Order i.e changes of use to residential.

Sections 73 to 77 of the Habitat Regulations explain the process for checking whether a Class O or other Permitted Development is likely to impact on a European wildlife site. If impact is likely, either alone or in-combination with other developments, then mitigation must be provided

It depends on how many bedrooms the dwellings have. The average tariff contribution in Thanet is £350 per dwelling, and in Canterbury it’s £569 per dwelling.

Some schemes, particularly those located close to the boundaries of the SPAs or Ramsar sites, may need to provide other mitigation measures in addition to making that financial contribution in order to ensure effective avoidance/mitigation of impacts on the sites. The local planning authority, with advice from Natural England, will consider the mitigation requirements for such development proposals on a case-by-case basis. Developers are encouraged to hold early discussions with the local planning authority on the mitigation needed for their scheme.

Download Thanet SAMM Tariff Download Canterbury CC SAMM Report

One dwelling on its own may well not have an impact, the cumulative building of single dwellings will have an impact. Legislation requires that the impact of developments must be assessed in combination with other development proposed around Special Protection Area and Ramsar sites.

An annual report will be produced and made available on the website. This will detail the spend for the preceding year and the budget for the coming year.

No, the impacts of additional recreational disturbance require in perpetuity mitigation and therefore 66.6% of every developer contribution is ring fenced to guarantee the longevity of the Bird Wise mitigation strategy.

The legislation which safeguards SPAs around the country is embedded in UK law and it will remain after Britain ceases to be an EU Member. The Thanet Coast and Sandwich Bay SPA is also internationally protected under the Ramsar Convention; this is independent of the UK’s membership of the EU.

COVID 19 may affect the project and the implementation of the business plan, as development may slow due to less building works or disruption within the supply chain. This would impact on funding for the project.

There may also be less public engagement opportunities due to social distancing regulations or lockdown procedures. This would hamper the ability of Bird Wise East Kent going into schools or being able to run events.