Sites of Special Scientific Interest
NATURE CONSERVANCY COUNCIL
1 Nature conservation
The wild plants and animals of
2 The selection of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)
The SSSI system comprises biological and geological sites selected by the Nature Conservancy Council after scientific survey and evaluation. These include the best examples of particular habitats, e.g. woodlands, heathlands or meadows, and or the localities of rare or endangered species or important concentrations of animals or plants. Many geological sites are the standard reference locality for their type of rock or land formation.
3 Notification
The Nature Conservancy Council have a statutory duty to
notify an SSSI to every owner and occupier, to the local planning authority, to
the appropriate Secretary of State and, in
4 Registration
In
5 Development
Local planning authorities have a statutory requirement to consult with the NCC before granting permission for a development .application on an SSSI. Panning authorities are required to take into account any representations the NCC may make in relation to the development application, but the decision to give or refuse planning emission rests with the planning authority.
6 Access
Notification of land as an SSSI does not give the NCC or anyone else any right of access other than along existing rights of way.
7 Management agreements
The NCC may enter into management agreements with owners or occupiers of SSSIs in order to safeguard or enhance the special interest of the site.
An agreement may be provided for payment to the owner or occupier for refraining from carrying out one or more damaging operations or for work aimed at safeguarding or improving the special interest of the site.
NCC's substantive management agreements will normally be registered as a land charge.
8 Capital taxation reliefs for
owners of
Heritage
Land
SSSIs will normally qualify for conditional exemption from Capital Transfer Tax. In addition beneficial tax arrangements can apply if a maintenance fund is established for the benefit of such land. A tax concession is also available if SSSI land is accepted by the Government in lieu of Capital Transfer Tax or if SSSI land is sold to the NCC or any other approved body.
9 Grant aid
The NCC may give financial assistance to any person to do
anything which, in the NCC's opinion, fosters the understanding of or is
conducive to nature conservation. Priority is usually given to SSSIs. Financial assistance may, in certain circumstances, be given towards the
purchase of
10 Purchase or lease of SSSIs
In some cases the NCC may be able to purchase or lease SSSI land, or offer to introduce the owner to a (non-governmental) conservation body which may be interested in purchase or lease of the land.
11 Further information
The NCC's Regional or local office will be pleased to provide further information and advice concerning SSSIs. The address can be found in your local telephone directory.
12 Further reading
a) Statutes:
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
The Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) A, 1985
The Wildlife and Countryside (Service of Notices) Act 1985
The Capital Transfer Tax Act 1984
The Countryside Act 1968
The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949
The Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1977
The Town and Country Planning
(General Development) (
b) Government circular:
"Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Financial Guidelines foJ: Management Agreements" '
Department of Environment Circular 4/83 Welsh Office Circular 6/83
c) Explanatory memorandum:
"Capital Taxation and the National Heritage" (published by The Treasury. July 1983)
The Nature Conservancy Council is the government body which
promotes nature conservation in
This is one of a range of publications produced by
Interpretive Services Branch. A
catalogue listing current titles is available from Dept. SI, Nature Conservancy
Council, Northminster House,
PRIDDY POOLS AND
OPERATIONS LIKELY TO DAMAGE THE FEATURES OF SPECIAL
INTEREST
Standard Ref No Type of Operation
1 Cultivation, including ploughing,
rotovating, harrowing and reseeding.
2 Grazing.
3 Stock feeding.
4 Mowing or other methods of cutting
vegetation.
5 Application of manure, fertilisers and
lime.
6 Application of pesticides, including
herbicides (weed killers).
7 Dumping, spreading or discharge of any
materials.
8 Burning.
9 The release into the site of any wild,
feral or domestic animal*, plant or seed.
10 The killing or removal of any wild
animal*, including pest control.
11 The destruction, displacement, removal
or cutting of any plant or plant remains, including tree, shrub, herb, hedge,
dead or decaying wood, moss, lichen, fungus, leaf-mould, turf.
12 Tree and woodland management including
afforestation, planting, clear and selective felling, thinning, coppicing,
modification of the stand or under wood, changes in species composition,
cessation of management.
13a Drainage (including moor-gripping and the
use of mole, tile, tunnel or other artificial drains).
13b Modification of the structure of water
courses (e.g. streams, springs, ditches, dykes, drains), including their banks
and beds, as by re-alignment, re-grading and dredging.
13c Management of aquatic and bank vegetation
for drainage purposes.
14 The changing of water levels and tables
and water utilisation (including irrigation, storage and abstraction from
existing water bodies and through boreholes).
15 Infilling of ditches, dykes, drains,
ponds, pools or marshes. Freshwater fishery production and management including
sporting fishing and angling.
16 Extraction of minerals, including peat,
sand and gravel, topsoil, sub-soil, chalk, lime and spoil.
20 Construction, removal or destruction of
roads, tracks, walls, fences, hardstands, banks, ditches or other earthworks,
or the laying, maintenance or removal of pipelines and cables, above or below
ground.
21 Storage of materials.
22 Erection of permanent or temporary
structures, or the undertaking of engineering works, including drilling.
23 Modification of natural or man-made
features (including cave entrances), clearance of boulders, large stones, loose
rock or scree and battering, buttressing or grading cuttings, infilling of
pits.
26 Use of vehicles or craft likely to
damage or disturb features of interest.
27 Recreational or other activities likely
to damage features of interest.
28 Game and waterfowl management and hunting practices.
* "animal" includes any mammal, reptile, amphibian, bird, fish or invertebrate.