B&MSDC Supplementary Planning Documents Consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 23597

Received: 19/06/2024

Respondent: Environment Agency

Ecology
The Biodiversity and Trees SPD comprehensively covers many aspects of integrating
biodiversity and tree management into the planning process. However, we recommend the
following:
1. More specific guidelines and examples from case studies or detailed best practice
examples, to increase the practical applicability of the SPD and provide more of a framework
for practitioners.
2. A greater emphasis on follow-up maintenance and monitoring: there should be detailed
plans for the maintenance of habitats, hedgegrows and SuDS for example, as this is often
where development proposals can be lacking. It must be emphasised that responsibilities for
follow-up need to be enshrined at the planning stage, to prevent neglect of projects after
their completion.
3. Further encouragement of stakeholders to be involved in the monitoring and adaptive
management processes.

Comment

Representation ID: 23598

Received: 19/06/2024

Respondent: Environment Agency

The Intensive Livestock and Poultry SPD covers the environmentally impacts associated
with Intensive Livestock Farms. We recommend the following:
1.2 Intensive farming operations 40,000 places for poultry; (ii) 2,000 places for production
pigs (over 30kg) and/or (iii) 750 places for sows will require a bespoke permit under the
Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2016 we recommend parallel
tracking of intensive livestock planning applications and our permitting process. Applicants
should contact the us for pre application permitting advice at the same time as making an
application to the Local Planning Authority.
Paragraph 5.2.1 Recommended that noise and pests including but not limited to flies are
added.
With regards to paragraph 5.2.23 noise from the livestock itself should be considered
particularly that from pigs.
Paragraph 5.2.4 Pests such as flies should be included in this list.
5.4.1 and 5.4.6 If development requ ires water from any other source than mains water such
as surface waters or ground waters the applicant should be mindful that they will require a
water abstraction licence. They should contact the Environment Agency for pre application
for advice on the availability of water in the catchment and a preliminary decision on whether
a licence will be granted. Pre application advice should also be sought for any increases in
water associate with the extension of existing farms. There is no guarantee that increases in
volumes will be permitted.
5.5.2 It should be noted that the Woodland Trust uses lower critical load (ammonia) and
critical levels (nutrient enrichment) when assessing the impact of ammonia emissions on
ancient woodland.
As stated in paragraph 5.11 .1 it is important to consider the proximity of new residential and
sensitive developments to existing intensive pig and poultry sites. The environmental
impacts of the farm on new developments should be taken into consideration.
We should be consulted on new developments next to existing intensive livestock and
poultry farms.