§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Government are taking to protect sites of special scientific interest from development. [64708]
§ Mr. MeacherIn England, Planning Policy Guidance note 9 (PPG9) advises local authorities on nature conservation issues, including the importance of sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) and how they are to be treated in Local Plans and the planning framework. Planning authorities are required to consult English Nature before granting permission for development in, around or likely to affect SSSIs and to consider using their powers to impose conditions where necessary to avoid any damage to sites. Where a planning authority proposes to grant consent despite advice from English Nature to the effect that adverse impacts are likely to arise, the authority must inform English Nature so that it can consider whether to ask the Deputy Prime Minister to call in the application.
Improved measures to protect SSSIs have been taken by amendments to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, introduced in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. These concern both owners and occupiers and also public authorities in the exercise of their functions. Additional international nature conservation designations bring further levels of protection.
The Government indicated in the Green Paper—"Planning: delivering a fundamental change"—that it intended to review all PPGs. The review of PPG9 will enable it to be updated to reflect the recent legislative changes.
In Wales, policy on planning and nature conservation is a devolved matter and is the responsibility of the National Assembly.