Introduction

The Thames Basin Heaths, which covers parts of Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire, is a rare example of lowland heathland. It is home to three important bird species, and protected by international law as a ‘Special Protection Area’ (SPA). The heaths, and the birds that nest and breed there, are easily disturbed by people and their pets.

This means that new homes built in the area to meet the needs of our residents must avoid further disturbance on the heathland. Many local authorities surrounding the Heaths have been providing new areas of open space which can be used for recreation as an alternative to the heathland but a longer-term strategy was needed. An Assembly DVD outlines key SPA issues.

The Local Authorities that surround the SPA, along with the Regional Assembly and other partners, have established the Thames Basin Heaths Joint Strategic Partnership and agreed a Delivery Framework for the long-term protection of the SPA.

Thames Basin Heaths Delivery Framework - 430 KB
Natural England: Suitable Accessible Natural Green Space Quality Guidelines - 51 KB

Consultation

Consultation on behalf of the Joint Strategic Partnership between 19 November 2007 and 15 February 2008 asked for views on proposals which have the potential to form the basis of a long-term strategy for the Thames Basin Heaths.

Draft Interim Strategic Delivery Plan - 1.78 MB

Earlier technical work

Natural England's Thames Basin Heaths Draft Delivery Plan (May 2006)

English Nature's (now Natural England's) original draft Delivery Plan was produced to help provide a mechanism to enable housing development's to proceed in the vicinity of the Thames Basin Heaths.

Draft Delivery Plan - 2.42 MB

South East Plan Examination in Public - Thames Basin Heaths Technical Sessions

As part of the South East Plan Examination in Public, three separate technical sessions were held to look specifically at the issue of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (TBH SPA) and English Nature's Draft Delivery Plan.

Review of Evidence Underpinning the English Nature Thames Basin Heaths Delivery Plan

DCLG, with support from the Assembly, commissioned RPS to undertake a peer review of the evidence and assumptions underpinning English Nature's (now Natural England) draft “delivery plan” for the Thames Basin Heaths SPA. This will be used to inform the debates at the forthcoming Examination in Public of the draft South East Plan, and the specific technical sessions on the Thames Basin Heaths.

Cover, Contents and Executive Summary - 195 KB
Chapters 1, 2 and 3 - 134 KB
Chapters 4, 5, 6 and 7 - 109 KB
Chapter 8 - 340 KB
Chapters 9 and 10 - 119 KB
Chapters 11, 12 and 13 - 127 KB
Chapters 14, 15 and 16 - 117 KB
Appendicies - 459 KB

Availability of Potential Land for Mitigation

The Assembly, working with other partners, has undertaken a number of studies into the availability of land that could potentially be used to mitigate the effects of development on the SPA.

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Last updated: 28 March 2008