URL: https://democracy.dacorum.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=2610

Decision Maker: Portfolio Holder for Corporate & Commercial Services, Portfolio Holder for Place

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: The Council requires a portfolio of SANG sites to support new housing developments that are unable to provide for their own SANG. New housing developments must provide SANG mitigation in accordance with the Chiltern Beechwoods Special Area of Conservation (CBSAC) Mitigation Strategy, approved by cabinet in November 2022, in order for the Council to legally grant planning permission. Currently the Council has two SANG sites, Bunkers Park and Chipperfield Common which were approved at that time, alongside a tariff for Council SANG credits based on enhancing, managing and maintaining the sites as SANG for 80 years. SANG credits from these sites have been allocated to housing developments since November 2022.   In February 2024 Cabinet approved that Margaret Lloyd Park (MLP) could be considered to be taken forward in the next phase of council-owned SANG sites. A scheme of delegation for CBSAC Mitigation Strategy decisions was also approved, to include approval of new Council SANGs, extension to SANGs and revising the SANG tariff.     A SANG management plan has been produced for MLP which has been agreed with Homes England (HE) and approved by Natural England (NE). HE will provide an extension to MLP as part of the adjacent Marchmont Farm LA1 development to ensure the park meets SANG criteria. As a result of the inclusion of Margaret Lloyd Park as a SANG site, the council-led SANG tariff has been revised to incorporate the enhancement, management and maintenance for MLP and its extension as SANG, and, additionally, other component costs of the SANG tariff have been reviewed. This has resulted in a revised SANG tariff charge.  

Content: The Council requires a portfolio of SANG sites to support new housing developments that are unable to provide for their own SANG. New housing developments must provide SANG mitigation in accordance with the Chiltern Beechwoods Special Area of Conservation (CBSAC) Mitigation Strategy, approved by cabinet in November 2022, in order for the Council to legally grant planning permission. Currently the Council has two SANG sites, Bunkers Park and Chipperfield Common which were approved at that time, alongside a tariff for Council SANG credits based on enhancing, managing and maintaining the sites as SANG for 80 years. SANG credits from these sites have been allocated to housing developments since November 2022.   In February 2024 Cabinet approved that Margaret Lloyd Park (MLP) could be considered to be taken forward in the next phase of council-owned SANG sites. A scheme of delegation for CBSAC Mitigation Strategy decisions was also approved, to include approval of new Council SANGs, extension to SANGs and revising the SANG tariff.     A SANG management plan has been produced for MLP which has been agreed with Homes England (HE) and approved by Natural England (NE). HE will provide an extension to MLP as part of the adjacent Marchmont Farm LA1 development to ensure the park meets SANG criteria. As a result of the inclusion of Margaret Lloyd Park as a SANG site, the council-led SANG tariff has been revised to incorporate the enhancement, management and maintenance for MLP and its extension as SANG, and, additionally, other component costs of the SANG tariff have been reviewed. This has resulted in a revised SANG tariff charge.   Decision made and reasons:   1. To approve Margaret Lloyd Park (MLP) as a SANG   Reason: The adoption of MLP as a SANG site is an enormous opportunity to secure funding for both improvements to MLP and its maintenance and management for 80 years. This will greatly benefit Grovehill, the new residents at Marchmont Farm and the wider community by providing a greenspace with great accessibility and well managed habitats.   By providing SANG credits to HE the Council is able to gain the extension to MLP which enables the site to meet the criteria to become a SANG and generate additional SANG capacity to support further developments in Dacorum. In order to concurrently deliver the Marchmont Farm LA1 development and provide additional SANG capacity for the borough, MLP should be approved as a SANG site.   2. To approve a revised SANG tariff of £6,083.53 per dwelling   Reason: The revised SANG tariff is required to incorporate the scheduled costs to include MLP as a SANG site. A full review was also undertaken of all the Council’s SANG costs to ensure budgets are appropriately assigned for the minimum 80-year designation as SANG. The resulting amended tariff is necessary to ensure that the Council has the appropriate resource to enhance and manage its SANG sites.    

Date of Decision: March 25, 2026