Comment
Strategic Growth Options
Representation ID: 4850
Received: 17/02/2015
Respondent: Essex Wildlife Trust
There are many priority ancient woodland and deciduous woodland Local Wildlife Sites in this area. Any sites allocated for development should be selected on the basis that there will be no adverse impacts on these designated sites; impacts would include increased recreational pressure, pet predation and severance of important wildlife corridors.
Planners should create "green infrastructure" masterplans which aim to enhance linkages between and habitat "buffers" around these designated sites. GI masterplans should be developed prior to plans for built development and their primary focus should be protecting and enhancing biodiversity. Development should include the generous provision of recreational green space.
There are a considerable number of priority ancient woodland and deciduous woodland Local Wildlife Sites scattered throughout this large area to the east of the A12 corridor. It is therefore of the utmost importance that any sites allocated for development are selected on the basis that there will be no adverse impacts on these existing designated wildlife sites; impacts would include increased recreational pressure, pet predation and severance of important wildlife corridors.
We would urge local authority planners to create "green infrastructure" masterplans which aim to enhance linkages between and habitat "buffers" around these existing local wildlife sites. Such masterplans should be developed in advance of any plans for the built development and their primary focus should be on protecting and enhancing biodiversity. Any substantial development allocated in this area should include the generous provision of recreational green space. This would serve to reduce human pressure on existing wildlife habitat.