Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Other Designated Sites

What is an SSSI?

There are currently around 4,300 Sites of Special Scientific Interest nationally. They are located in National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and in Green Belt.

An SSSI may also have an additional designation which offers more protection. It may be a National Nature Reserve (NNR), a Ramsar site (i.e. a wetland of international importance particularly as a waterfowl habitat), a Special Protection Area (SPA) or a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Other designated sites are Local Nature Reserves (land in which the local authority has some legal interest which they may designate for nature conservation), Marine Nature Reserves and Environmentally Sensitive Areas.

A number of National Nature Reserves and some important SSSIs have been identified as Biogenetic Reserves under a Council of Europe programme for the conservation of heathlands and grasslands.

What is the status of SSSIs in the North West?

There are around 60 SSSIs in the North West many of them inter-tidal or moorland areas. Local examples of designated sites are the Ribble Estuary, Ainsdale Sand Dunes and Cabin Hill which are National Nature Reserves; the Ribble and Alt Estuaries which are Ramsar sites; and the South Pennine Moors and Bowland Fells which are Special Protection Areas.

What Statutory Protection Exists?

The Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994 requires that a network of Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation be designated. They also introduce a new system for the conservation of certain marine areas. Special Areas of Conservation must be agreed with the European Commission by June 1998.

Both the 1981 Act and the 1994 Regulations protect limestone pavements as priority habitat types. These are found mainly in the North of England. Gait Barrows in Silverdale, near Lancaster, is a National Nature Reserve.

What is the role of English Nature?

English Nature must be notified by local authorities of any threat to an SSSI by a change in farming techniques, an application for development of land or coast protection works. Owners and occupiers must not undertake any potentially damaging operations without the consent of English Nature.

Do any special conditions apply to developments in SSSIs?

Environmental Assessment would normally be required for projects where special categories of SSSI are involved e.g. Ramsar site, an SPA or an SAC.

Keys to Action

Concerns regarding proposed developments in SSSIs should be taken up with the local planning authority. There is a statutory duty to notify English Nature of any threat to an SSSI. An Environmental Assessment may be required.

List of Abbreviations:

Other Information

National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

The Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994

Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988

 

English Nature, Pier House, Wallgate, Wigan WN3 4AL Tel: 01942 820342

 

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