Adherence to the requirements of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (previously the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994), normally referred to as the ‘Habitats Regulations’ is a fundamental element of spatial planning and development management. In 2007, in response to a judgment of the European Court of Justice, the UK government made amendments to the Habitats Regulations to clarify the need to consider the implications of spatial plans for European wildlife sites, therefore properly transposing the requirements of Article 6(3) and (4) of the European Habitats Directive. The assessment of spatial plans and development projects to determine their implications for European sites is generally termed ‘Habitats Regulations Assessment’ and normally abbreviated to HRA.
Footprint Ecology has built upon its significant and long standing expertise in ecological research and understanding of European site interest features, along with specialist GIS mapping skills, to apply this capability to the assessment of impacts arising from plans and projects. Our expertise in statistical analysis, particularly in relation to access and visitor survey work, has been an invaluable tool in our HRA work to date. Footprint Ecology has undertaken both plan and project HRA work for a number of local authorities, covering a range of European site issues. Our local authority clients have returned to Footprint Ecology following HRA work on their Core Strategies, to commission us to take the HRA work through to their Local Development Framework suite of development plan documents.
When undertaking HRA work, Footprint Ecology has the flexibility to bring together a core team of staff that provide the most relevant expertise and local or regional knowledge. The extensive library resource held by footprint Ecology is a significant asset in the preparation of HRA work that has a robust evidence base. Footprint Ecology is a leading consultancy in the assessment of both spatial planning and development project related impacts upon European sites with bird, coastsl and/or heathland habitat interest. The assessment of recreational pressure upon such sites is of considerable complexity, and is an area in which Footprint Ecology has developed a particular expertise.