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Review, Scope and Process Overview
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act (as amended) 2000 sets out the legislative requirements for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This Act resulted in the need for all Local Authorities with AONB designation within their administrative area to work with stakeholders to formulate a statutory AONB Management Plan for its future conservation and enhancement. This Plan is also the guide for public bodies with a duty to have regard to the purpose of the designation when considering how their work and function may impact on the area.
Along with the production of an AONB Management Plan (initially in 2004), legislation also requires a review within five years of its publication. In line with guidance issued by Natural England the previous Plan was prepared and was adopted by the local authority in November 2018. The Isle of Wight AONB Management Plan 2025‐2030 therefore represents the fifth review of the 2004 plan.
This review has provided an opportunity to look critically at the Plan and make amendments, as required, to update this to reflect current challenges and opportunities facing the Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
To ensure that we have done this effectively, focused consultation with Partnership members, key stakeholders and the Public has formed the heart of the approach we have taken. This has been overseen by the Isle of Wight National Landscape Steering Committee.
Initial consultation through a series of meetings and workshops were undertaken in November 2023. This involved Partnership members and key stakeholders including Isle of Wight Council Officers and UK Government Agencies
Public Consultation on the Draft AONB Management Plan will run from 23rd April 2024 to 4th September 2024 – extended due to unforeseen General Election.
Accompanying Documents
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is required by the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 (the SEA regulations) which in turn, is derived from the European Directive 2001/42/EC (known as the SEA Directive). The SEA Regulations require the assessment of plans and programmes which are likely to have significant environmental effects.
SEAs are an effective way to ensure that potential environmental impacts of the policies, objectives and actions are assessed during the plan making process. Appraisal of these along with consideration of options and alternative courses of action during the plan’s development should ensure avoidance or mitigation of any adverse effects.
There are five main stages of SEA process:
STAGE A : Setting the context and objectives, establishing the baseline and deciding on the scope
STAGE B : Developing and refining alternatives and assessing effects
STAGE C : Preparing an environmental report
STAGE D : Consulting on draft plan and environmental report
STAGE E : Monitoring significant effects of implementing the plan on the environment
The environmental report, available as a separate document, has been compiled in parallel with the production of the Draft Management Plan.
Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA)
The aim of the Habitats Regulations Assessment is to apply the tests of the Conservation (Natural Habitats & c) Regulations 1994, as set out in Regulation 48 of the Regulations, to the policies given in the plan. The requirements are such that prior to a land use plan being published, the plan‐making authority must assess the potential effects of it upon European sites.
There are four stages to the Habitat Regulations Assessment (sometimes referred to as Appropriate Assessment):
STAGE 1 : Screening
STAGE 2 : Appropriate assessment
STAGE 3 : Assessment of alternative solutions
STAGE 4 : Assessment where no alternative solutions exist and where adverse impacts remain
At the screening stage, a decision is made as to whether or not the plan policies will have a likely significant effect (LSE) on interest features of European sites within/adjacent to the AONB. The primary aim at this stage should be to ensure that none of the policies will have a LSE and should, if possible, be modified to ensure it does not.
If this is not possible then it would have to be subject to the full rigour of an ‘appropriate assessment’.
This process was undertaken in parallel with the review and the final report of the Habitats Regulations
Assessment is available as a separate document.
Equalities Impact Assessment
Section 149 of the Equality Act 2012 places a public duty on Local Authorities to have due regard to the need to:
Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act
Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not
Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not
Protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 include age; disability; gender reassignment; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex and sexual orientation; marriage and civil partnership. Whilst equality impact assessments are not a statutory requirement, in order to be able to demonstrate that this general duty has been taken into account within any decision making process, they form an essential part of the necessary evidence base.
As the Isle of Wight AONB Management Plan is adopted by the Isle of Wight Council as their policy for Isle of Wight AONB, therefore an equality impact assessment has been undertaken to identify concerns and ensure adherence to the Equality Act 2012.