Policy GESP36: Exe Estuary, Dawlish Warren and East Devon Pebblebed Heaths

To mitigate additional pressure on the Exe Estuary Special Protection Area and Ramsar site, Dawlish Warren Special Area of Conservation and East Devon Pebblebed Heaths Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area (the ‘protected sites’), the following limitations and requirements will apply to development: 

1. Additional residential development will not be permitted within 400m of the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths Special Protection Area and Special Area of Conservation
2. Development will only be permitted within 400m of the Exe Estuary Special Protection Area and Dawlish Warren Special Area of Conservation where an Appropriate Assessment can show there will be no adverse effects to those sites, including effects arising from urbanisation impacts
3. Development of residential or holiday accommodation within 10km of one of more of the protected sites, as shown on Figure 9.2, will be required to pay a Strategic Access Management and Monitoring (SAMM) fee per additional dwelling or tourist bedspace, to be calculated annually based on the most up to date South East Devon European Site Mitigation Strategy (or equivalent) and its implementation plan
4. Development of residential or holiday accommodation within 10km of one of more of the protected sites, as shown on Figure 9.2, will be required to provide and maintain Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) in perpetuity, either:
   1. In accordance with SANG provision as set out in a development plan allocation, at the expense of the development and early in the delivery of the site, or
   2. Where development is without an associated SANG identified in an allocation policy, pay a financial contribution to the Local Planning Authority sufficient to provide and maintain 180 square metres of SANG per dwelling or tourist bedspace in an appropriate strategic location
5. Provide any other specific measures to avoid residual impacts identified from Appropriate Assessment

9.17 The Greater Exeter area contains and is close to a number of internationally important wildlife sites (Figure 9.3). These sites form part of Natura 2000, an international network of sites important for nature conservation established under the European Community Wild Birds and Habitats directives.

9.18 To ensure the GESP does not harm the Natura 2000 sites, Habitats Regulations Assessment work is underway. The Habitats Regulations Assessment identifies which Natura 2000 sites might be at risk of harm, considering the nature of the harm (‘likely significant effects’) and the mitigation required to avoid this occurring. As the specific development proposals of the GESP emerge, their impact on the Natura 2000 sites will be considered and appropriate policy requirements will be included in the GESP.

9.19 In advance of the completion of this work, one already flagged issue requiring policy consolidation is the approach to protecting the Exe Estuary, Dawlish Warren and the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths. This builds on an on-going effort to protect the sites from development pressure and is set out in draft policy GESP36.

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