That Cabinet notes that the land comprising 4.06 ha at Preston Down Road, Paignton and shown edged red on the plan at Appendix 1 to the submitted report is no longer managed as a nature reserve and does not contain habitats or species that warrant its designation as part of a Local Nature Reserve and, as a result, approves the making of a formal declaration removing the PDR land from the Occombe Farm Local Nature Reserve designation.

To take the final steps in order to de-register land at Preston Down Road, shown on Plan EM3172, as a Local Nature Reserve.

Alternative options were set out in the submitted report.

This decision will come into force and may be implemented on 27 July 2020 unless the call-in procedure is triggered (as set out in the Standing Orders in relation to Overview and Scrutiny).

On 20 September 2019 the Cabinet approved:

“That the land at Preston Down Road, shown on Plan EM3172 attached at Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be de-registered as a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) as the land no longer meets the requirements to be designated as a LNR and to enable housing to be developed on the site.”

Subsequently the Council was required to consult with Natural England (‘NE’) prior to formalising the de-registration.  NE was formally notified on 13 January 2020.  A letter of response, dated 9 June 2020, had been received which concluded that “Natural England accept that the land proposed for de-declaration appears to have very limited environmental value”. 

The Cabinet was required to consider the Natural England response prior to the final steps in the de-registration process being undertaken. 

Councillor Long proposed and Councillor Morey seconded a motion that was agreed unanimously by the Cabinet as set out above.

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