Habitats Regulations Assessment
Please note, from the 1st of April 2026, all SAC mitigation fees will increase in line with inflation. The updated fees will apply to all planning applications submitted on or after this date.
Mitigating recreational impacts on internationally important wildlife sites
Introduction
New developments within the District have the potential to impact on internationally important biodiversity sites (Habitats sites), in particular the Cotswold Beechwoods Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and North Meadow (and Clattinger Farm) Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Unfortunately these sites are under pressure from visitors, resulting in damage to the sites and their features due to activities such as walking, biking, exercising dogs etc. This damage associated with recreational impact is likely to increase as more houses and holiday accommodation are built, leading to more visitors. It is crucial that measures to prevent and mitigate this damage are put in place.
Legislation
Cotswold District Council, as a “competent authority”, is legally obliged under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended) to consider whether planning applications would affect the biodiversity of any SAC; and can only approve a planning application where the proposals will not impact on the special biodiversity of the SAC. This consideration is undertaken by a process called Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA).