Natural England

1 October 2007

Responding to the Sustainable Development Commission’s report into tidal power, Tidal Power in the UK, which recommends a major feasibility study of a Severn Barrage, Sir Martin Doughty, Chair of Natural England said:

“Climate change is the biggest threat facing the natural environment and clean energy has an important role to play in tackling it. We urgently need to assess the options for meeting the Government’s 2050 greenhouse gas target and their relative impact on the natural environment. Without this, it’s impossible to come to a view on proposals on the scale of a Severn Barrage.”

The mudflats, sandbanks, rocky platforms and saltmarsh of the Severn Estuary comprise one of the largest mosaics of habitat of their type in Britain, supporting important populations of waterfowl, invertebrates and large numbers of migratory fish. Under the Habitats Regulations, any development affecting the integrity of a site of international importance must have an 'appropriate assessment' conducted to assess its implications. Natural England, as the natural environment body, must be consulted on this and the final decision must have regard to our representations.

Delivering the Government’s target to reduce greenhouse gas pollution by at least 60% by 2050 will be the single most important way to deliver a secure future for the natural environment. With energy generation from fossils fuels being the most significant source of the threat to the natural environment, clean energy has a very important contribution to make. However, different clean energy technologies will make different contributions, depending on the nature of the technology and where it is located. A strategic assessment of the efficiency and most appropriate locations of the different technologies is therefore needed to manage the effect on the natural environment.

Sir Martin concluded, “We have some difficult choices to make if we are going to get serious about reducing the impact of climate change on the natural environment. But these need to be well informed choices. A strategic options assessment would enable us to get the cleanest energy into the most appropriate locations, so we can manage the overall effect on the natural environment and come to a balanced view on the contribution of major proposals such as a Severn Barrage.”

Ends

For further information contact:
The National Press Office on 0845 603 9953, press@naturalengland.org.uk, out of hours 07970 098005.

Notes for editors

1. Natural England is working to enhance biodiversity, landscape and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas; promote access, recreation and public well-being, and contribute to the way natural resources are managed so that they can be enjoyed now and by future generations.

2. Natural England believes that climate change is the greatest threat faced by the natural environment and supports increasing the amount of energy we generate from renewable sources. We will work to facilitate the uptake of renewable energy in appropriate locations.

3. We need to understand how sustainable energy development can proceed in a manner that balances the long term benefits for the natural environment with any short term impacts. A strategic assessment of the options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the different renewable energy technologies available to us would need to address:

• The impact of the different options on the existing features of the natural environment.
• The changes to the existing features of the natural environment that will occur as a result of climate change that is already locked in.
• The contribution for the technologies to contribute to improving the resilience of the natural environment to further climate change.
• The contribution of the infrastructure to reducing greenhouse gas pollution.

4. The Severn Estuary is a conservation site of international importance, being a Special Protection Area and candidate Special Area of Conservation under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives (part of the European Natura 2000 network) and a Ramsar Site under the Ramsar Convention.

5. The Natura 2000 network protects the very best wildlife habitats in Europe. The Government has a responsibility within Europe to uphold the Habitat Regulations and ensure the protection of Natura 2000 sites. Any proposal for a Severn Barrage could only proceed if it has first shown that the development can be carried out in a way that is compliant with the regulations through an 'appropriate assessment' of its implications. After this, the barrage may only go ahead if it will not adversely affect the integrity of the site. It may then go ahead if there are no alternatives and there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest but there must be compensation to ensure the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network. This is likely to be the creation of new habitats elsewhere.

6. Natural England is technology-neutral but supports clean energy as it reduces the risk of climate change to the natural environment. The Severn Barrage should be assessed within this wider strategic context. In line with our statutory duties, Natural England would need to assess the positive and negative impacts of this proposal on the natural environment.

7. Natural England is positive about the potential development of tidal stream technology and will seek to work from an early stage with developers of these technologies to help ensure that they are developed and located in a manner which minimises their impact upon the natural environment whilst at the same time contributing to the vital task of mitigating climate change.