 what help is available to help you manage your land, such as applying for a grant scheme
Natural England must also tell:
- the local planning authority
- the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- public bodies, such as the Environment Agency, water and sewerage companies and internal drainage boards
Further information on notifying SSSIs can be found on Natural England’s designations programme for areas, sites and trails.
Give your opinion or object to a new notification
You have 4 months to write to Natural England to tell them what you think or to object to the designation of your land as an SSSI.
The Natural England board decides whether to confirm or withdraw a notification. It has a 4-month consultation period to look at the objections and issues raised.
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs appoints members of the board. They are independent of Natural England staff and the executive board.
Changes and de-notification
If the special interest of the SSSI is not adequately protected by the existing notification, Natural England can:
- extend an existing SSSI if nearby land is also of special interest
- add features of special interest to an SSSI record if they’re found on the land
- update the list of operations for which you’ll need Natural England’s consent
- withdraw the designation of an SSSI, known as ‘de-notification’
Natural England will consult with you in a similar way as a new notification if it makes a change to an existing notification.
Natural England will only de-notify a SSSI in exceptional cases. For example, if the site’s special interest is lost and cannot be restored as a result of:
- natural causes
- granting planning permission for development
It’s an offence to deliberately or recklessly damage the special features of an SSSI. Sites that have been illegally damaged, or suffered from neglect, will not be de-notified.
You have the opportunity to repair the damage using the enforcement undertaking process.