Essex Coast RAMS

The Essex Coast has a number of nationally / internationally important natural habitats which the Government and English Nature have asked local authorities to protect from the cumulative pressures caused by the recreational needs of a growing population in an area of continuing residential growth.

The Essex Coast Recreational disturbance Avoidance & Mitigation Strategy (RAMS) now identifies a detailed programme of strategic mitigation measures which will allow participating Councils to organise protective measures for these valued coastal habitats. The measures are to be funded by developer contributions from residential development schemes. The RAMS payment applies to all residential development within a catchment area known as the Zone of Influence (ZoI).

All residential proposals within the ZoI will contribute towards the measures set out in the RAMS document to avoid and mitigate the adverse effects from increased recreational disturbance. This will ensure that Habitat Sites are not adversely affected, and the residential proposals can comply with the Habitat Regulations.

This form is to be completed when requested by the Council, prior to a formal decision being made on the application. This will result in the submission of a signed legal agreement (unilateral undertaking) in relation to RAMS, which confirms that the full RAMS fee will be paid prior to the commencement of the development.

The overall fee consists of three parts:

• Checking fee (£30) – required for the unilateral undertaking to be checked
• Monitoring fee (£50) – required for the monitoring of the development
• RAMS tariff (£500) – required to mitigate the impact of the development

The RAMS tariff will need to be paid at least 4 weeks prior to the expected date for the commencement of the development.