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The European Court of Justice has ruled that the UK is not compliant with the Habitats Directive because the transposition of the Directive to the UK Habitats Regulations does not specifically require land use plans to be considered under Articles 6 (3) and 6 (4) of the Directive. Local Plans can not therefore be approved by planning authorities unless:
- There has been a determination by the planning authority based on objective information that the provisions of the plan are not likely to have a significant effect on any European site; or
- An appropriate assessment has been carried out in respect of the provisions of the plan in line with the requirements of Article 6.3 and 6.4 of the Habitats Directive.
This report sets out an assessment by the planning authority based on objective information of the impacts of the Wester Ross Local Plan on European designated sites within the area. The Wester Ross Local Plan is currently at Intention to Adopt stage, and it is hoped that it can be adopted by Highland Council on 29th June 2006.
This document sets out a description of the Plan area, the context to the preparation of the Plan, a summary of the content of the Plan and a detailed assessment of the effect of the Local Plan on each individual Special Protection Area, Special Area of Conservation or RAMSAR site in Wester Ross.