Thames Estuary and Marshes
The Thames Estuary and Marshes Special Protection Area and Ramsar site is an internationally important landscape, between Gravesend and Whitstable, for nature conservation and wintering wildfowl.
Every year around 250,000 waders and waterfowl travel thousands of miles to spend winter on the North Kent coast, feeding and resting on the marshes in preparation for the long return journey to their breeding grounds in the spring.
SAMMS Tariff (The North Kent Strategic Access Management and Monitoring Scheme)
In recent years, the number of birds using these sites has declined and studies show that this could be due to people using the Thames estuary and marshes for recreation.
An increase in residential development is likely to lead to an increase in recreational use. In 2015, the Planning and Regeneration Committee agreed to adopt a tariff for all planning applications which result in a net increase in dwellings within a 6km radius of the sites.
Bird Wise, recipients of the tariff, is the brand name for SAMMS, a partnership of local authorities, developers and environmental organisations. For more information on the area, the works carried out and background research and strategy reports visit the Bird Wise website.
SAMMS 6km buffer zone
Check whether your site lies within the 6km buffer zone by viewing our map.
Additional dwellings
If you are planning a development, which will result in a net increase in dwellings and your site lies within 6km of the SPA or Ramsar site, you will need to contribute £328.27 per dwelling. (This fee is subject to inflation and will increase annually).
Read more about the types of tariffs.
Make a SAMMS payment
You can pay your SAMMS mitigation contribution using our online form. It takes about 10 minutes to complete. We'll ask you for:
- the planning application reference number
- the property or site address of the planning application
- a description of the development
At the end of the form you'll be able to pay by credit or debit card so please have your card details to hand.