SSSI Management from Glastir Commons to the Habitat Wales Scheme 2024 to the Habitat Wales Scheme 2025 to the Habitat Wales Scheme (Commons) 2026
This Regulatory Decision applies to any owner or occupier of land within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which was subject to a Glastir Commons contract in 2023 and which was subject to a Habitat Wales Scheme contract in 2024 and a Habitat Wales Scheme contract in 2025 and will be entered into the Habitat Wales Scheme (Commons) for 2027) from 1 January 2026.
This Regulatory Decision (RD) is valid until 1 January 2027 by which time it will be reviewed. You should check back at that time to ensure the Regulatory Decision is still valid.
NRW can withdraw or amend this RD before the review date if we consider it necessary. This includes where the activities that this RD relates to have not changed.
Regulatory Decision
This Regulatory Decision applies if all of the following apply:
- You are an owner or occupier of land within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
- The land was subject to a Glastir Commons contract in 2023
- That Glastir Commons contract has ended because it has reached the prescribed termination date
- The land was entered into the Habitat Wales Scheme 2024
- The land was entered into the Habitat Wales Scheme 2025
- The land has been entered into the Habitat Wales Scheme (Commons) 2026.
SSSI consent to carry out management activities relating to your Glastir Commons contract lapsed when the contract ended on 31 December 2023.
We issued a Regulatory Decision for 2024 which meant that, without having to obtain written consent from us, you were able to continue with the same management activities on a SSSI as part of the Habitat Wales Scheme for 2024.
We issued a Regulatory Decision for 2025 which meant that, without having to obtain written consent from us, you were able to continue with the same management activities on a SSSI as part of the Habitat Wales Scheme for 2025.
This Regulatory Decision means that, without having to obtain written consent from us, you will be able to continue with the same management activities as specified in your Glastir Commons contract on a SSSI from 1 January 2026.
Conditions you must comply with
- Management of the SSSI land will continue strictly in accordance with your most recent SSSI notice of intent and consent relating to a Glastir Commons contract
- Before introducing any change to the management of the SSSI land, you must notify us and obtain a consent under Section 28E of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Enforcement
This Regulatory Decision does not change your legal requirement to have a valid SSSI consent to undertake operations listed as an Operation Likely to Damage the Special Interest within the relevant SSSI (s) and which formed part of your Glastir Commons contract in 2023.
However, NRW will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with the need for a SSSI consent if you meet the requirements in this RD.
In addition, your activity must not cause (or be likely to cause) pollution of the environment or harm to human health, and must not
- cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals
- cause a nuisance through noise or odours
- adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest
Contact
Land Regulatory Approaches Team