Gateway sites

NE14: Gateway sites 1. Gateway proposals will be supported where they relocate existing visitor facilities away from Special Areas of Conservation and demonstrate that they will reduce recreational pressure within the SAC. 2. Proposals that intensify or expand uses within, or are likely to increase visitor numbers to, the SAC will not be supported. 3. Gateway sites must meet the SANG principles, as stated in policy NE13, and all the additional following principles: a) Be located adjacent to, and within a radius of, 500m of the boundary of the SAC. b) Be greater than 8 ha in area, with preference being given to sites greater than 15 ha in area. c) Be a destination venue, offering a variety of facilities that will maximise dwell time within the Gateway for a large proportion of visitors; and d) Provide a range of facilities and amenities to draw visitors to the location, in preference to the SAC, to include as a minimum: i. Visitor facilities (including refreshments, toilets and local retail), information and wayfinding. ii. Designed to meet the needs of families, dog walkers and accessibility for all requirements. iii. Sufficient parking to meet expected demand (or subsequent requirements advised by Natural England); and iv. Designed to reflect local heritage, environment and the character of the SAC. 4.The catchment area for a Gateway is the Zone of Influence of the corresponding Special Area of Conservation. 5.Development proposals that mitigate related recreational pressure impacts by using a Gateway will need to demonstrate that: a) The Gateway is being managed by an enduring body. b) The Gateway allocation has been agreed with the landowner. c) The Gateway has sufficient capacity; and d) The Gateway credits (where one credit equates to capacity for one dwelling or equivalent) have been secured by an appropriate legal agreement. 7.243 A Gateway site is a new type of mitigation to protect national sites from recreational pressure, as supported by Natural England. In Buckinghamshire, this is currently progressed in relation to the Chilterns Beechwoods SAC element at Ashridge, through two sites: Land at Wards Hurst, Ringshall (in Buckinghamshire) and Land at Hill Farm (in Dacorum Borough). Within the lifetime of the plan, it could also be implemented, if necessary, in relation to other SACs such as Burnham Beeches. 7.244 The purpose of a gateway is like that of SANG, to create an attractive alternative to the SAC that deflects visitors away from there, reducing recreational pressures as a result. The key differences are that a gateway is located adjacent to the SAC, drawing visitors away from its protected features to a new welcome hub that is outside of the designated area, and that it offers a greater range of community facilities in compared to a SANG such as a café and local shops for retail, food and beverage, to encourage visitors to remain within the gateway for a longer period of time. The catchment for a gateway is a much wider area than for SANG and is set at the Zone of Influence for the SAC component it relates to (such as Ashridge Commons and Woods SSSI). 7.245 The National Trust is preparing gateway proposals as part of its Spatial Plan 18 for the Ashridge Estate, informed by ongoing discussions with Natural England, Buckinghamshire Council and Dacorum Borough Council and others. Their ambition is to fund the creation of the new Gateways through a combination of financial reserves, commercial loans and SANG contributions from new development. The catchment of these Gateways would be the entire Zone of Influence for the Ashridge component of the Chilterns Beechwoods SAC (currently 12.6km). Applications for Land at Ward’s Hurst Farm and Land at Hill Farm (in Dacorum) are anticipated to be submitted in summer/autumn 2026, subject to National Trust funding. Further guidance on the procedures for gateway mitigation will be provided on the Council's website.