Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the protected status of every designated nature conservation area in Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area will be maintained following the agreement between the UK and Republic of Cyprus in January 2014 to open the Sovereign Base Area to development.

The Sovereign Base Areas Administration (SBAA) and the Government of the Republic of Cyprus published guidelines for the designation of planning zones and the preparation of planning policy for the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia (SBAs) on 16 July 2014. These draft guidelines are now subject to consultation until the end of October 2014. It is proposed that the SBAA Policy Statement will underpin planning and development in the SBAs, ensuring this is carried out in a controlled manner and that designated special areas of protection and conservation are maintained appropriately.