Contact: Les Dalby, ext 5204

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That the Magdalen Hill Down Management Plan be approved.

2. Reason

2.1 A detailed management plan for the establishment of a new chalk downland habitat, together with the agricultural use of the balance or supporting area of the County Council's land at Magdalen Hill Down, is required to be put in place to enable the Park and Ride extension to proceed.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 A number of other sites for the mitigation land were considered but were either not available or the timescale to deliver would be excessively lengthy.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - Not applicable.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: .................................... Date: ...............................

Councillor T K Thornber

7. Background

7.1 Arising from the granting of the planning permission for the Park and Ride car park extension, the (then) Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions attached a condition that land be provided to mitigate the loss of land at Bar End.

7.2 Following a review of sites which might be suitable, and available, it was identified that a site at Magdalen Hill should be adopted as the mitigation area (see attached location plan and additional detail plan).

7.3 The outcome of detailed negotiations resulted in the County Council finally purchasing some 22 hectares (55 acres), of which it had been resolved that some 9 hectares (22 acres) should be used as mitigation land.

7.4 An additional condition attached to the Park and Ride extension permission also required a management plan to be brought forward for the land to be allocated as mitigation land.

7.5 This report introduces the details of the plan in summary, with the full management plan being attached as Appendix A.

8. The Proposals

8.1 Prior to the conclusion of the detailed negotiations and land surveys, preliminary management plans had been presented to the former Asset Management Sub-Committee in July 2001, together with outline proposals for the residual land also acquired. With the passage of time, an opportunity has presented itself to prepare a more detailed and defined management plan.

8.2 The details are shown on the drawings which will be displayed at the meeting but are summarised below.

8.3 The whole site of 22 hectares (55 acres) is divided into mitigation land, being some 9 hectares (22 acres), and supporting land, being the balance of 13 hectares (33 acres).

8.4 The mitigation land will be top soil reduced to decrease its fertility, facilitating the creation of the downland habitat. The greater area will have the top soil stripped from 30 centimetres to about 5 centimetres, with the residual area retaining a soil depth of 15 centimetres. This residual area forms a buffer zone between the grazing or supporting land and the mitigation land, lying below the natural ridge line.

8.5 No soil stripping will take place over the supporting land. However, this land will be utilised for grazing purposes over 8 hectares (20 acres). An area of woodland and scrub will be created over the balance of 5 hectares (13 acres), within which an area of beech tree planting has been undertaken to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

8.6 The management plan deals with matters of specification, programme of work and planting, access arrangements and other management issues, and supersedes all earlier proposals.

7170/LD