Outer Thames Estuary Special Protection Area extension: consultation outcome

This consultation has been extended by 12 weeks until 5pm on 14 July 2016 to allow some stakeholders, who were previously not informed of it, to respond to the proposals. All previous representations received will be considered as valid responses and submitted to government.

Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are special sites designated under the EU Birds Directive to protect rare, vulnerable and migratory birds.

The proposal for the Outer Thames Estuary is to extend the boundary of the existing SPA in several places to protect the internationally important colony of:

• little tern
• common tern

The extended areas include waters adjacent to the existing breeding colonies which are the ideal feeding habitat for these birds.

The proposal is available as a series of separate documents (attached above). You should:

• read the consultation summary that sets out the aims of the proposal
• read the departmental brief that provides the scientific explanation behind the proposal
• use the maps to locate the proposal site(s)

Use the ‘respond online’ link below to give your views.