Item6Appendix2HRA20210064DET

This document contains a habitats regulations appraisal for a planning application (reference number 2021/0064/DET) regarding the formation of a track on land southwest of The Schoolhouse in Insh Kingussie. The appraisal looks at the potential impact of the project on several protected European sites, including Insh Marshes Special Area of Conservation (SAC), River Spey – Insh Marshes Special Protection Area (SPA), River Spey – Insh Marshes Ramsar site and River Spey SAC, focusing on their qualifying habitats and species like otters, whooper swans and wigeon. While the project is not directly related to managing these sites, it could have some effects, such as disturbing otters during construction or causing sediment runoff that pollutes a nearby lake. To address these potential issues, the applicant has included mitigation measures in a Construction Method Statement, such as working outside of bird breeding season and avoiding work in wet weather. If these measures are followed, the appraisal concludes that the project should not have an adverse effect on the integrity of the European sites.