Introduction
Biodiversity is continuing to decline and new ways of tackling this need to be implemented. The Somerset Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP) methodology is used for calculating the value of the habitats on a site for important species. The result is used in determining the amount of habitat replacement that would be required to make up for that lost to land use change.
The Habitat Evaluation Process
The Habitat Evaluation Procedure was first used in a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA). It was carried out to determine the effects of development north of Taunton on the lesser horseshoe bat colony at the Hestercombe House Special Area of Conservation. This was from site allocations in the draft Taunton Deane Borough Council Core Strategy in 2008. The use of the Habitat Evaluation Procedure was agreed to by Natural England. Since that date the methodology has evolved and been used in many cases, both for plans and projects, within Habitats Regulations Assessment and in Ecological Impact Assessments. And at the various stages in the planning process from site allocation, pre application through to the planning application stage.
The Habitat Evaluation Procedure is structured around the calculation of Habitat Units (HU). These are the product of a Habitat Suitability Index (scores for the quality of different habitats for a particular species) and the total area of habitat (quantity) affected by a development proposal.
The objectives of the Habitat Evaluation Procedure include
- forming a sound basis for the allocation of sites in local authority Local plans/core strategies
- providing an upfront estimation of likely ecological mitigation requirements to developers, removing some of the uncertainty inherent in taking forward strategic sites through the planning process
- delivering smoother progress through the planning application and determination process by removing conflicts with biodiversity and reducing the likelihood of delays
- fulfilling local authority statutory obligations for the conservation of biodiversity
- enabling a quantitative rather than subjective approach to biodiversity impact mitigation
Our Habitat Evaluation Procedure methodology has been successfully employed for developments north of Taunton, for the Hinkley new build site clearance works and other sites across the County. The Habitat Evaluation Procedure is incorporated into the adopted Technical Guidance documents on Somerset’s Special Areas of Conservations (SACs) which are designated for bats. Links to these guidance documents and further information on Habitat Regulations Assessments page.