2. What types of development are required to provide mitigation?
A habitats mitigation contribution must be paid in respect of the following types of development (this list is not exhaustive):
- New residential development (including both market and affordable housing)
- Self-build developments
- Changes of use to residential, e.g. shop to dwelling, and conversions of buildings to residential use where there is no increase in floorspace, meaning CIL is not payable, but where new dwellings are created
- 'Prior Approval' permitted developments where the end use is residential (e.g. office to residential conversions)
- Serviced accommodation (as distinct from hotel developments)
This applies to all:
- Full applications.
- Outline applications.
- Permission in principle applications.
- Reserved matters applications where no contribution was made at the outline stage.
Please refer to our map to see whether your site lies within 10 kilometres of the SPA boundaries.
View a larger version of this map.
Please note: for outline, and permission in principle applications, where the number of proposed dwellings are unknown, the maximum tariff will be required. Any refund due will be made at the reserved matters or technical details consent stage once the number of dwellings is known and approved.
How much is mitigation?
The contribution required is dependent on which European sites the development will impact. For the 2026/27 financial year, the contribution required is:
- Developments within 10km of the Exe Estuary SPA only will pay a contribution of £1,587.40 per residential unit
- Developments within 10km of the Exe Estuary SPA and within 10km of the East Devon Pebbled Heaths SAC and SPA will pay a fee of £1,622.40 per residential unit.
The contribution per unit increases annually in April.