Paragraph 31 Amendments to be made to the SACRI1

Having regard to the duty of Section 85 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (as amended), to seek to further the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the area of outstanding natural beauty, National Highways will make funding available for appropriate projects to be undertaken within the Kent Downs National Landscape. A total of [£ ] will therefore be made available to the Kent Downs National Landscape team to fund measures and projects that meet a funding criterion that primarily conserves and enhances the natural beauty of the Kent Downs National Landscape. Projects to be funded will be in accordance with the principles of the Kent Downs AONB Management Plan or any superseding document, and will be agreed with the Kent Downs National Landscape team. The fund shall be administered by adopting F1a process to be agreed between the parties, including timescales for the provision of funds, which shall be substantially in accordance with the process set out in paragraphs 1.1 to 8.2 of Schedule 3 to the unilateral undertaking entered into by National Highways dated 12 December 2023 in relation to the Kent Downs AONB Compensatory Enhancement Fund [REP9-268], subject to the following modifications:

(a) in paragraph 1.1, for “£4,240,000 for an AONB Compensatory Enhancement Fund to fund measures and projects that meet the funding criteria set out in paragraph 4.2 of this Schedule (the “Fund”) which includes £600,000 to manage and administer the Fund (together being “the AONB Contribution”)” substitute “[£] (“the AONB Enhancement Contribution”) for an AONB Enhancement Fund to fund measures and projects that meet the funding criteria set out in paragraph 4.2 of this Schedule (the “Fund”)”;

(b) in paragraph 3.1, for “AONB Compensatory Enhancement Fund Awards Panel”

substitute “AONB Enhancement Fund Awards Panel”; (c) in paragraph 4.1 for “During the Construction Period and for three years thereafter” substitute “From Commencement and for up to three years following the opening of the Authorised Development”.