To enable the Cabinet to consider the recommendations made to it by the Planning Policy and Local Plan Committee in relation to the adoption of the revised Essex Coast Recreational Disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy.

RESOLVED that Cabinet formally -

 

(a)     adopts the revised Essex Coast RAMS and associated tariff, as set out at Appendix 1 to this report (A.1), superseding the original Essex Coast RAMS (2018-2038) Strategy;

 

(b)     approves the implementation of a revised RAMS tariff of £476 per net additional dwelling (or equivalent qualifying development), to take effect from 1 August 2026;

 

(c)     withdraws the adopted Essex Coast RAMS Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), noting that its content is no longer fully aligned with the revised Strategy, evidence base and tariff;

 

(d)     agrees to replace the SPD with an Essex Coast RAMS Technical Advice Note (TAN); and

 

(e)     authorises the Corporate Director (Planning and Community), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning, to finalise and publish the TAN for use alongside the updated RAMS Strategy.

 

Cabinet considered a reference report that enabled it to consider the recommendations made to it by the Planning Policy and Local Plan Committee in relation to the adoption of the revised Essex Coast Recreational Disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy.

 

It was reported that the Planning Policy and Local Plan Committee (“the Committee”), at its meeting held on  8 June 2026 (Minute 8 referred), had considered a detailed report of the Corporate Director (Planning and Community) (A.3) which had sought the Committee’s agreement to the adoption of the revised Essex Coast Recreational Disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy (Essex Coast RAMS) and associated tariff, and which had set out the changes from the original 2018 RAMS strategy. That report had also sought the Committee’s agreement to the updated governance framework supporting Essex Coast RAMS, including the withdrawal of the existing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and its replacement with a Technical Advice Note (TAN).

 

Following such approval by the Planning Policy and Local Plan Committee the revised Essex Coast Recreational Disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy (Essex Coast RAMS) and associated tariff, as attached in Appendix 1, (replacing the existing 2018–2038 Strategy), was required to be submitted to Cabinet for formal adoption.

 

At its aforementioned meeting, the Committee had been reminded that the Essex Coast RAMS set out how the Council, working in partnership with other Essex authorities, would protect the unique wildlife of the Essex coastline whilst enabling new homes and development to come forward. It provided a co-ordinated, partnership-led approach to mitigating the recreational impacts of new residential development on protected coastal habitats and bird populations, ensuring that planned housing growth across Essex could take place in a lawful and sustainable way, whilst safeguarding sensitive species and habitats protected by international nature conservation designations.

 

Members were made aware that the strategy established a strategic framework to address the in-combination effects of residential development on internationally designated coastal habitats and enabled the Council, in its role as Competent Authority, to meet its statutory duties under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017(as amended).

 

It had been reported to the Committee that RAMS funding had already delivered tangible mitigation measures along the Tendring coastline, including the Coastal Ranger Service, targeted visitor engagement and behaviour change initiatives, and partnership projects such as Share Our Shores to protect beach-nesting birds. Those interventions, supported by ongoing monitoring, had demonstrably improved ecological outcomes and were particularly important in managing peak seasonal visitor pressures.

 

Cabinet was informed that the updated Strategy was supported by a refreshed evidence base, including a new visitor survey, and introduced significant changes to the scale and duration of mitigation required. Most notably, it ensured mitigation was secured for the full lifetime of development and reflected a substantial increase in planned housing growth across the Zone of Influence (ZOI) arising from the Government’s revised mandatory housing targets. As a result, the RAMS tariff was proposed to increase to £476 per dwelling (or qualifying unit), ensuring that the full cost of mitigation was applied in a fair and proportionate manner.

 

The report to the Committee had also sought approval to withdraw the existing RAMS Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and replace it with a Technical Advice Note (TAN), ensuring the guidance remained up to date and consistent across the Essex Coast RAMS partnership.

 

The Committee’s decision at its meeting held on 8 June 2026 had been as follows:-

 

“RESOLVED that the Planning Policy and Local Plan Committee –

 

a)   notes the revised and updated Essex Coast Recreational Disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy (Essex Coast RAMS) associated RAMS tariff, and proposed changes to the governance arrangements, as set out in this report (A.3); and

 

b)   recommends to the Council’s Cabinet that it:

 

             i.        adopts the revised Essex Coast RAMS and associated tariff, as set out at Appendix 1 to report A.3, superseding the original Essex Coast RAMS (2018-2038) Strategy;

 

            ii.        approves the implementation of a revised RAMS tariff of £476 per net additional dwelling (or equivalent qualifying development), to take effect from 1 August 2026;

 

          iii.        withdraws the adopted Essex Coast RAMS Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), noting that its content is no longer fully aligned with the revised Strategy, evidence base and tariff;

 

          iv.        agrees to replace the SPD with an Essex Coast RAMS Technical Advice Note (TAN); and

 

           v.        authorises the Corporate Director (Planning and Community), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning, to finalise and publish the TAN for use alongside the updated RAMS Strategy.”

 

Cabinet had before it the following written comments of the Housing & Planning Portfolio Holder:-

 

“I attended the meeting of the Planning Policy and Local Plan Committee at which this matter was considered, and I would like to thank the Committee for its careful consideration of the revised Essex Coast Recreational Disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy and for recommending its adoption by Cabinet. I support the Strategy, which provides a clear and robust framework for addressing the impacts of new residential development on internationally important coastal habitats.

 

The revised Strategy is also a very positive example of joint working across Essex, with partner authorities coming together to establish a consistent and evidence-led approach to mitigation. Importantly, adopting the revised Essex Coast RAMS will help to ensure that the Council continues to meet its legal obligations under the Habitats Regulations, while supporting sustainable growth in a lawful, co-ordinated and responsible way.”

 

At the meeting, the Portfolio Holder for Housing & Planning made the following statement:-

 

“Chairman, I am pleased to introduce this report that highlights recommendations from the most recent Planning Policy & Local Plan Committee for Cabinet to adopt the revised Essex Coast Recreational Disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy (RAMS).

 

That Committee, which I attended, had considered a very detailed report which set out the changes from the original 2018 RAMS strategy, together with a new tariff, along with asking for agreement to the updated governance framework, including the withdrawal of the existing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and replacing this with a Technical Advice Note (TAN).

 

Because we are blessed with internationally important wildlife habitats around our coast at Hamford Water, the Stour Estuary and the Colne Estuary, every inch of Tendring is within the Zone of Influence where new housing development and population growth could increase potential disturbance to those habitats. Under Environmental Law and the Habitat Regulations, the Council has a legal duty to consider and mitigate the impact of the development, and the RAMS strategy and associated mechanism for securing a tariff-based contributions from developers helps fulfil that legal duty.

 

The Essex Coast RAMS had set out how this Council, working in partnership with other Essex authorities, would protect the unique wildlife of the Essex coastline whilst enabling new homes and development to come forward.

 

It provided for a co-ordinated and partnership-led approach to mitigating the recreational impacts of residential development on protected coastal habitats and bird populations, ensuring that planned housing growth across Essex could take place in a lawful and sustainable way, whilst safeguarding sensitive species and habitats protected by international nature conservation designation.

 

The strategy established a strategic framework to address the in-combination effects of residential development on internationally designated coastal habitats and enabled the Council, in its role as Competent Authority, to meet its statutory duties under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017(as amended).

 

Funding has already delivered tangible mitigation measures along the Tendring coastline, including the Coastal Ranger Service, targeted visitor engagement and behaviour change initiatives, and partnership projects such as Share Our Shores to protect beach-nesting birds. Those interventions, supported by ongoing monitoring, have demonstrably improved ecological outcomes and are particularly important in managing peak seasonal visitor pressures.

 

The updated Strategy, which is shown from Page 40 onwards, was supported by a refreshed evidence base, including a new visitor survey, and introduced significant changes to the scale and duration of mitigation required.

 

Most notably, it ensured mitigation was secured for the full lifetime of development and reflected a substantial increase in planned housing growth across the Zone of Influence (ZOI) arising from the Government’s revised mandatory housing targets. As a result, the RAMS tariff is proposed to increase to £476 per dwelling (or qualifying unit), ensuring that the full cost of mitigation was applied in a fair and proportionate manner.

 

Chairman, I do not intend to say anymore, there is a lot more detail in the attached Appendices, including the original report to the Planning Policy & Local Plan Committee, which I would encourage members to read, and my comments are shown on Pages 18-19. The recommendations are shown on Page 19, and I commend them to Cabinet.”

 

The Portfolio Holder for the Environment & ICT made the following statement:-

 

“I am pleased to second this report.

 

By way of context, RAMS stands for the Recreational Disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy. In simple terms, it RAMS is a framework that ensures new housing development contributes towards protecting our internationally important coastal habitats from increased visitor pressure — things like walking, dog activity, and general recreation that, over time, can disturb sensitive wildlife.

 

This strategy is therefore about making sure that growth is balanced with the proper protection of our natural environment.

 

This is an important piece of work, not just for Tendring, but for the wider Essex coastline. It strikes a careful and necessary balance between supporting sustainable development and preserving the sensitive coastal habitats that make our area so special.

 

The Essex Coast RAMS ensures that as new homes are delivered, there is proper mitigation to address the cumulative impact on protected sites. Without this coordinated approach, there would be both environmental harm and significant constraints on the ability to bring forward development.

 

What is particularly important is that this is a joined-up, county-wide approach. By working collaboratively with other Essex authorities, we are ensuring consistency, fairness, and a clear, robust framework that developers understand.

 

The revised strategy and updated tariff reflect the latest evidence and costs, helping to ensure that mitigation measures remain effective and can continue to be delivered in practice.

 

From a local perspective, this is about protecting what residents value most — our coast, our wildlife, and our natural environment — while still enabling sustainable growth for our communities.

 

I also welcome the fact that this has been considered by the Planning Policy and Local Plan Committee, and that their recommendations are now before Cabinet for formal adoption. For those reasons, Chair, I am very happy to support the recommendations.”

 

Having duly considered the recommendations submitted to it by the Planning Policy and Local Plan Committee, together with the written formal comments of the Portfolio Holder for Housing & Planning:-

 

It was moved by Councillor Baker, seconded by Councillor Smith and:-

 

RESOLVED that Cabinet formally -

 

(a)     adopts the revised Essex Coast RAMS and associated tariff, as set out at Appendix 1 to this report (A.1), superseding the original Essex Coast RAMS (2018-2038) Strategy;

 

(b)     approves the implementation of a revised RAMS tariff of £476 per net additional dwelling (or equivalent qualifying development), to take effect from 1 August 2026;

 

(c)     withdraws the adopted Essex Coast RAMS Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), noting that its content is no longer fully aligned with the revised Strategy, evidence base and tariff;

 

(d)     agrees to replace the SPD with an Essex Coast RAMS Technical Advice Note (TAN); and

 

(e)     authorises the Corporate Director (Planning and Community), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning, to finalise and publish the TAN for use alongside the updated RAMS Strategy.