Decision

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

i.                     approves and adopts the revised and updated Essex Coast Recreational disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy (Essex Coast RAMS), as set out in Appendix C of this report - this supersedes the original Essex Coast RAMS (2018-2038) document;

ii.                   agrees to apply the updated RAMS tariff of £476 per new dwelling or qualifying unit (index-linked annually) to new development in Uttlesford, which comes within the Essex Coast RAMS zone of influence, from 1st August 2026;

iii.                  agrees to revise the Council’s fee for administering the RAMS tariff, which will apply to minor new residential developments (between one to nine net new dwellings) within Uttlesford’s part of the Essex Coast RAMS zone of influence: in 2026/27, this administration fee will be £117 per development for up-front payments or £469 per development if developers choose to make a unilateral undertaking instead (paragraph 13 refers);

iv.                 approves the withdrawal of the adopted Essex Coast RAMS Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), noting that its content is no longer fully aligned with the revised strategy, evidence base and RAMS tariff and requires updating;

v.                   agrees in principle to replace the Essex Coast RAMS SPD with an Essex Coast RAMS Technical Advice Note (TAN), recognising that this will provide a consistent mechanism to guide decision-making for local authorities within the RAMS partnership area;

vi.                 delegates authority to the Strategic Director of Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning, to finalise and publish the TAN once drafting is complete.

Reasons for the decision

The Essex Coast Recreational disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy (RAMS) aims to help local planning authorities to fulfil their statutory responsibilities under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.1 The strategy identifies a package of strategic access management measures and monitoring, designed to influence the behaviour of visitors to the protected coastal habitat sites. Since its adoption in 2020, the RAMS has helped to secure developer contributions from new developments within its zone of influence, which extends to parts of four parishes in Uttlesford (Barnston, Felsted, High Easter and Stebbing).

The partnership of local authorities (including Uttlesford District Council), which oversees the RAMS has revised the strategy, with a refreshed evidence base, and updated the RAMS charge per new dwelling within the zone of influence.

Alternative options considered

None.