if current management measures are sustained the site will recover over time
- unfavourable (no change) or unfavourable (declining condition) - special features are not being conserved or are being lost, so without appropriate management the site will never reach a favourable or recovering condition
- part destroyed or destroyed - there has been fundamental damage, where special features have been permanently lost and favourable condition cannot be achieved
Site visits and condition assessments
Natural England may visit your SSSI to check on its general condition. Natural England or expert contractors will carry out condition assessments if:
- Natural England thinks it’s necessary
- the condition of the site may change
For most sites they’ll do this at least once every 6 years. They may visit more often if a special feature:
- can only be assessed at a specific time of year
- is likely to change quickly, such as grassland
For sites where changes are expected to be slow, such as woodland, they may do a condition assessment once every 10 years.
Natural England will request your permission before visiting. It may use its power of entry if it believes the site is being damaged.
At other times, Natural England can enter the site without your permission but will only do this if:
- you’ve been notified of the visit
- you’ve not allowed access
For assessment, Natural England divides SSSIs into smaller units and assesses them against:
- a list of the features for which the site was designated
- related targets
You can see the SSSI targets on the ‘favourable condition table’ by searching for your site on the DSS. You’ll find the favourable condition table underneath the site summary box.
If one of the special features of your site is a rare plant species, the assessment is likely to include a measure of population size and distribution within the unit. Similarly, if a particular habitat is a feature, Natural England will measure its extent, structure and species composition.
After the assessment, Natural England will contact you to discuss:
- the condition of the site
- any changes in management you need to make if it’s not in favourable or recovering condition
Natural England usually publishes summaries of condition assessments within 6 weeks. You can see these on the DSS.
- Search for your SSSI.
- Click on ‘View details’.
- In the Summary box, click on ‘View units’ in the right hand column.
- Click on ‘View map’ on the right hand side to see the area on a map.
Condition improvement process
Natural England can take 3 steps to help you improve the favourable condition of the SSSI if it has declined.
1. Management agreement
Natural England will advise you on, and try to agree with you, the work that’s needed to protect and improve the condition of the site. You can achieve most management objectives on SSSIs with a Countryside Stewardship grant, which you might be eligible for.
2. Management scheme
A management scheme is a statement of measures necessary to conserve or restore features of your land. Natural England can put a management scheme in place if the features of special interest on your SSSI are deteriorating from neglect or poor management.
Where a management scheme has been put in place, Natural England may ask you to apply for a Countryside Stewardship grant.
Decline resulting from wilful or reckless damage to the site is treated differently and is subject to enforcement measures.
If you think the management scheme is unreasonable or that someone else should be responsible for the work, contact Natural England and explain why.
3. Management notice
If you do not carry out works set out in a management scheme, Natural England can issue a management notice. This will state that you must carry out some or all of the works set out in the management scheme.
You’ll be breaking the law if you get a management notice, but do not carry out the work within 2 months of Natural England’s deadline.
If you do not carry out the work, Natural England could:
- prosecute you, which may result in you getting an unlimited fine
- enter your l