Bracknell

Bracknell Forest Borough Council's Executive has agreed a policy to investigate how to ensure the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA) is protected from residential impacts which could arise from new housing development in the borough.

The SPA is internationally designated to protect ground-nesting birds, and has led to concerns about the potential impact of added pressures on the land for recreation. There have been calls for severe restrictions on building in and around the Thames Basin heathland to prevent damage to the habitats.

Bracknell Council is keen to ensure there is a robust process in place which would allow it to determine planning applications knowing the SPA is not at risk. Further, the process will also need to ensure that while protecting the SPA is a priority, this should not be done to the detriment of other important environmental features of the borough.

To achieve this Bracknell Council intends looking at a range of measures including identifying alternative open spaces in the borough which residents could use instead of the heathlands and working with partners to find an effective way forward.

Cllr Mary Ballin, Executive Member for Planning and Transportation, said: "Maintaining the SPA is very important for the protection of these vulnerable bird species.

"However, this policy is about finding a practical way forward to allow beneficial development while still protecting these special habitats and others in the borough."

Bracknell Forest Borough Council