Recreational Disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Study (RAMS)

A large part of West Suffolk is designated for its internationally important wildlife sites which are protected by the Conservation of Species and Habitats Regulations 2017. These sites include Breckland Special Protection Area (SPA), designated for its ground nesting birds, and Breckland Special Area of Conservation (SAC) which is designated for its grass heaths. Other sites close to the boundary of the district include Devils Dyke SAC important for its chalk grassland, and Wicken Fen Ramsar (also part of Fenland SAC) an important wetland.

The emerging West Suffolk Local Plan allocates the growth across West Suffolk to 2041. The West Suffolk Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) (Aecom July 2025) considered the potential for recreational effects from the increase in residential development on a number of these nature conservation sites within the district and on the boundary both alone and in combination with all the development proposed in the plan. The Appropriate Assessment was able to conclude ‘no adverse effect on the integrity’ of these nature conservation sites based on the implementation of the West Suffolk Recreational Disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Study.

West Suffolk Recreational Disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Study June 2025

The study sets out an approach to avoiding and mitigating the recreational effects of development. The measures are twofold, aimed at increasing green infrastructure and access to nature around new developments, often referred to as suitable alternative natural greenspace (SANG) and in addition increase visitor management within designated sites themselves through a strategic access management and monitoring (SAMM) contribution.

Policy SP11 ‘Recreational effects of development’ of the emerging West Suffolk Local Plan requires that this approach is implemented for all new development which would result in a net increase in dwellings and therefore likely to increase recreational pressure on any European site for nature conservation.

The approach ensures the council is adequately protecting international nature conservation sites from the recreational impacts of development and ensures housing needs are met, and that housing delivery is not delayed.