Bird Aware Solent Strategy
Over 60,000 new homes are planned to be built around the Solent Coast SPA’s (Special Protection Areas) by 2034, with research showing that the subsequent increase of visitors to the coast will cause disturbance to birds in the area. The Bird Aware Solent Strategy aims to reduce this impact through specific management measures to enable visitor enjoyment of the coastal areas rather than by restricting recreational activities in the area. The measures and monitoring of their effectiveness will be funded by developer contributions for all new homes built within 5.6km of the SPA’s.
A small part of the South Downs National Park lies within the 5.6km zone. All new residential developments within this zone which result in a net increase of number of dwellings are required to mitigate the negative impact of the development by way of a financial contribution unless the developer can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the SDNPA and Natural England that it will provide alternative bespoke mitigation which will fully mitigate the recreational impact of the development. The strategy is referred to within Strategic Policy SD10 (part 7) of the South Downs Local Plan.
Developer contributions are transferred quarterly to the Bird Aware Solent. All details of expenditure by the Partnership are included in the Bird Aware Solent Strategy annual report which includes details on how the contributions have been spent as well as setting out the plans and budget for the following year.
National planning policy requires local planning authorities to work together to address strategic, cross-boundary matters. The Bird Aware Solent partnership is a good example of joint working, with fifteen local planning authorities supporting the delivery of a package of strategic mitigation measures.
Further information about the Partnership and the full strategy are available at www.birdaware.org.
Strategy Update
Bird Aware Solent has updated and enhanced its Strategy following a comprehensive, robust and positive review of its work to date.
Bird Aware is extending the scope of its work to include protected breeding birds who are on parts of our coast during the summer months. This is in response to the findings of a review of the likelihood of increased recreation from new housing impacting breeding birds. This review indicated likely significant effects for these species without mitigation being secured. The Revised Strategy provides mitigation that allows house building to continue in the Solent area.
Following a detailed financial review of the updated strategy, there will be no increase in developer contributions towards mitigation costs and annual inflationary increases will continue as usual. It remains an opt-in Strategy and developers are still able to provide their mitigation requirements through a bespoke scheme if they choose.
Updates to the Strategy include: an enhanced dog walkers’ engagement programme; an enhanced monitoring programme and an extension of scope to include breeding birds. The duration of the Strategy has been extended until 2050 with the in-perpetuity element provided until 2130.
Around 147,500 new homes are anticipated around the Solent up to 2050. This is likely to lead to more people visiting the coast for recreation and this has the potential to cause more bird disturbance. The Revised Strategy aims to mitigate likely impact of bird disturbance as a result of these additional homes and the resulting increase in recreational visits. It focuses on educating people about the birds and encouraging positive behaviour change.
The Updated Strategy has been endorsed by the Partnership for South Hampshire’s Joint Committee and is currently progressing through the approval process of all the Local Planning Authorities in the Solent. Subject to final approval, it comes into effect for any planning permissions granted from 1 April 2025.
Full details of the changes to the strategy are available on the Bird Aware website Bird Aware Solent Revised Strategy September 2024 – Bird Aware Solent.
What Will I Pay?
The baseline developer contributions, payable to the South Downs National Park Authority, is charged on a sliding scale based upon bedroom numbers per dwelling. These figures are increased on 1 April each year in line with the Retail Price Index.
The contributions payable from 1 April 2025 for 2025/26 are:
| Bedroom Size | All Year | Winter Only 1 | Summer Only 2 |
| 2 | £696 | £627 | £279 |
| 3 | £907 | £817 | £363 |
| 4 | £1067 | £961 | £427 |
| 5+ | £1251 | £1126 | £501 |
| Flat Fee3 | £805 | £725 | £322 |
1 Homes within ‘winter only’ zone of SPA with winter only obligations – applies to less than 1% of all applications, and these will be based within a small section of Winchester, Fareham and Gosport only.
2 Applies to the likes of caravans and camp sites which seek only operate between 1st April and 30th September.
3 Usually only used in cases of caravans, tents or gypsy and traveller sites
Is My Development In The 5.6km Zone?