2. local.gov.uk/pas
Welcome
• We have a lot of people in the ‘room’ so you are muted to start
• Questions in the Q&A please
• Please ‘like’ or thumbs up questions you want to ask, rather than repeating
the same question
• We may not get round to all your questions, but will add answers to our
biodiversity net gain FAQs page where relevant
• You can also use the ‘chat’ function, e.g. if you have technical issues, or
email Meg: megan.kidd@local.gov.uk
• We will be using polls, so please answer these
• This event is being recorded. We will pick the best of the two event repeats
and put slides and the recording will be up on our website after the 10th.
3. local.gov.uk/pas
Agenda
1. Introduction and housekeeping
2. Scene setting: BNG, Nature Recovery & Plans Garreth Bruff, Krista Patrick PAS
3. The national picture Catherine Duggan / Maddy Beresford
Defra
Amanda Newsome, Natural England
4. Q and A All
5. What we’re doing in Salford Will Horsfall, Fiona Fryer
Salford City Council
6. What we are doing in Buckinghamshire Louise Mapstone, David Sutherland
Buckinghamshire Council
7. Q and A All
8. Wrapping up and next steps
Finish at 11.30
5. local.gov.uk/pas
Planning Advisory Service (PAS) and BNG
• PAS is part of Local Government family, Team
of 14
• Funded by DLUHC to support English
planning authorities (LPAs)
• Wide programme, including in 2022/23: design,
developer contributions, Local Plans,
Environmental Outcome Reports &
development management designation
• Environmental planning a recent addition,
covering nutrient neutrality, nature recovery
and biodiversity net gain
10. local.gov.uk/pas
Current national policy - NPPF
Para 179: To protect & enhance
biodiversity and geodiversity, plans
should …..
• Identify, map and safeguard
…… sites of importance for
biodiversity…..
LPAS should also plan positively to:
• enhance biodiversity in Green
Belt (Para 145)
• take account of biodiversity in
mitigating & adapting to climate
change (Para 153)
Para 174: Planning policies and
decisions should contribute to
and enhance natural and local
environment by .…
• protect & enhance valued
landscapes, sites of
biodiversity or geological
value
• minimise impacts on & provide
net gains for biodiversity …..
11. local.gov.uk/pas
New Duties – Environment Act
• All planning permissions granted in England (with a
few exemptions) will have to deliver at least 10%
biodiversity net gain from Nov 2023 (S98-101).
• Enhanced duty for LAs to conserve and enhance
biodiversity (S102) and report on their actions
(S103).
• LPAs will need to comply with the above duty and
have regard to the Local Nature Recovery
Strategy in local planning policy and decisions
(S102).
• Responsible authorities appointed by the Secretary
of State (S105) to lead the Local Nature
Recovery Strategy (LNRS), working with a broad
range of stakeholders.
12. local.gov.uk/pas
• Amends Town & Country Planning Act (TCPA)
• Minimum 10% gain required calculated using Biodiversity
Metric & approval of net gain plan from Nov 2023
• Habitat secured at least 30 years via obligations/ conservation
covenants
• Delivered on-site, off-site or via a new statutory biodiversity
credits scheme
• National register for net gain delivery sites (off-site)
• Does not change existing legal protections for important
habitats and wildlife species
• Maintains mitigation hierarchy of avoid, mitigate, compensate
• Will apply to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs)
but not marine development (yet)
Key components of mandatory BNG
13. local.gov.uk/pas
Key components of Nature Recovery
Improve the quality of existing protected sites
Increase the amount of nature-rich land outside existing protected
sites
Recover threatened species
(Co-benefits for people and climate)
An integrated approach to nature recovery:
• Enhanced protected sites, wildlife-rich areas and landscapes at the
core
• Expand and connect to other sites via wildlife corridors or stepping
stones
• Buffer zones of sustainably managed land
• Green and blue infrastructure in urban and peri-urban areas
14. local.gov.uk/pas
Delivering the Nature Recovery Network
1. New spatial tools
To target and plan the NRN – aligning needs at a national
level and local priorities through Local Nature Recovery
Strategies (LNRS)
2. Strong partnerships
To deliver action on the ground. Including: government,
landowners and managers, business, local communities
and conservation organisations
3. Integration of policies and funding streams Aligning
and maximising existing opportunities, creating new,
targeted policies and securing new funding or finance (public
and private) including through Local Plans
15. local.gov.uk/pas
Opportunities for local plan policy
• Deliver BNG now, before it becomes mandatory
– developing local experience, skills and capacity
• Go beyond mandatory requirements of 2021 Act
– 10% plus, define “strategic significance” & what “local”
means, mapping opportunities, target offsite delivery
• Ensure BNG helps to deliver other local priorities
– LNRS, GI strategies, important habitats, health, flood risk,
recreation and tourism
• Provide the policy hooks for local SPD
– detailed guidance, practical requirements, updates
16. March 2021 local.gov.uk/pas
3. Defra and Natural England update
Catherine Duggan, Madeleine Beresford Defra
Amanda Newsome, Natural England
17. Biodiversity net gain in the planning system
Biodiversity net gain is part of the National Planning Policy
Framework. Principle of net gain in NPPF from 2012;
strengthened in NPPF update in 2018.
Paragraphs 8 & 32: the environmental objective of sustainable
development.
Paragraph 170: Planning policies and decisions should
contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment
by (d):…providing net gains for biodiversity;
Paragraph 174. To protect and enhance biodiversity and
geodiversity, plans should: (b)…pursue opportunities for
securing measurable net gains for biodiversity.
Text in footer 17
18. Making biodiversity net gain mandatory in planning
• Government consulted on making biodiversity net gain mandatory in the planning system in 2019.
• The government committed to making BNG mandatory through the Environment Act. Publication of an
impact assessment and government response.
• The government’s response to the 2019 biodiversity consultation set out the intention for a 2 year
transition period following Royal Assent of the Environment Act.
• Environment Act - achieved Royal Assent in November 2021. Includes clauses to apply a minimum 10%
increase in biodiversity on most planning applications. Government proposed to some exemptions
including householder development and permitted development.
• Transition period; November 2021 - November 2023
• Government consulted this year on BNG implementation and secondary legislation (Jan 22). This
included questions on application of BNG in TCPA developments, proposed exemptions, and detail on
the operation of the offsite market and register. It also included a section on the application of BNG in
Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) – government proposed to apply in 2025.
• Government consulted over the summer on the BNG Metric for use in mandatory net gain.
• Government has also separately consulted on the principles of marine net gain.
Text in footer 18
19. Biodiversity net gain
• During the transition period, Defra and others are working on several areas.
• These include:
• Development and passage of secondary legislation.
• Publication of a Biodiversity Metric.
• Development of the systems required to support BNG; for example to handle the sales of
biodiversity credits and manage the registration of offsite mitigation
• Skills and capacity – development and publication of guidance, tools and support for sectors
implementing BNG. For example, consulting on a standard template for the biodiversity net gain
plan.
• Monitoring, evaluation, assurance and reporting – setting up an evaluation and monitoring
framework to monitor, evaluate, assure and report on BNG; development of templates for capturing
monitoring data.
Text in footer 19
20. • We are undertaking work to assess LA requirements to be able to implement BNG successfully:
• ALGE/ADEPT review project - Published
• Surveyed LPAs on a range of questions relating to capacity and skills for BNG and LNRS
• Published on Defra Science Search – Project NR0183
• New burdens
• Initial £4.18M dispersed earlier this year.
• Assessment looking at burdens in the remainder of the transition period and from Nov
23 onwards in line with new burdens doctrine.
• PAS (Planning Advisory Service)
• Delivering training and guidance products
• Guidance
• Scoping work underway; considering interaction with other existing guidance products;
aiming to test guidance with users
Capacity and skills
21. What’s next?
• Writing and testing guidance
• Statutory instruments
• Consultation responses
• Engaging supply and demand-side
stakeholders
• Digital – register creation and development of
a platform to sell statutory biodiversity credits
• New burdens process
Text in footer 21
22. local.gov.uk/pas
No Regrets – BNG activity to start now
• Consider early! – site selection + outline design
• Refer to guidance/standards – CIRIA/CIEEM/IEMA, BS8683 or Government Advice
• What are the local priorities? Consider including BNG in Local Plans and other strategies
e.g. LNRS, GI strategy, biodiversity opportunity areas etc
• Undertake baseline metric calculations
• Determine your delivery strategy – onsite/off-site or combinations of + how relates to other
obligations. Set out monitoring and reporting expectations
• Identify potential BNG Sites – Consider whether LPA landholdings might also be suitable or
appropriate to provide biodiversity units
• Ensure Cross-Organisational Readiness - Ensure that the planning; ecology, parks &
greenspace; policy; legal and executive arms of local Government are aware of and
prepared for mandatory BNG
23. local.gov.uk/pas
4. Questions for clarification
• Please submit your questions through the Q&A
• We will answer as many as we can today
• We will add answers to FAQs on the PAS website
25. Biodiversity Net Gain in Salford
Will Horsfall
Group Leader Environment and Climate Change
Fiona Fryer
Principal Planning Officer
26. Outline
• Greater Manchester Context
• Development of Salford City Council Local Plan policy
• Implementation ahead of national timeline
• Some issues and challenges
27. Greater Manchester – Combined Authority
• 2.85 million population
• GM Mayor – Andy Burnham
• Salford – 263,000
• Fastest growing area in
North West in last 10 years
• Regional Centre and Salford
Quays and Media City –
home of BBC since 2011
28. Greater Manchester context
• Strong Local Nature Partnership - Greater Manchester
Natural Capital Group - Defra ‘Urban Pioneer’
• GM BNG Task Group– GMCA, Natural England, GM Ecology
Unit, Salford City Council, other partners
• Consultancy support from WSP, Footprint Ecology – GM
BNG guidance document – feeding into DEFRA through
Urban Pioneer
• Early engagement with all ten councils – development
management and policy planners
29. Awareness raising and training in Greater
Manchester
• Seminars and workshops for
planners, and politicians
• Working through DEFRA BNG
metric
• Training for 5 planners from each
district – development
management and policy
planning
30. GM Five Year Environment Plan 2019 - 2024
• Comprehensive action plan on road to Zero Carbon
GM by 2038
• Natural Environment key theme – Natural Capital
Group
• Local Nature Recovery Strategy – GM Pilot
• GM Green City Partnership
• Biodiversity Declaration – signed by GMCA and
Salford City Council
• Strong political leadership – SCC City Mayor and
Lead Member
31. Drivers: Salford context
• Approximately half the city area is
open land (including parks, farmland,
some previously developed land, etc)
• 30% of Salford is Green Belt
• High levels of deprivation in some
areas and high levels of inequality
within the city
• High levels of development
(2800 dwellings in 21/22)
32. Drivers: Salford context
• Only 27% of local sites (SBIs) in
positive conservation management
• No surface water bodies at good
ecological status
• Green Belt in western Salford part
of a narrow “gap” between the
Manchester and Merseyside
conurbations – important for
species movement in warming
climate
• No nationally or internationally
designated sites for nature
conservation
33.
34. A fairer city
Salford’s Local Plan
• Aims to create a better and
fairer Salford for all – central to
everything the local plan is
seeking to accomplish
• Ensure development is genuinely
sustainable (support economic,
social and environmental
objectives)
• Sets out strategic objectives for
the city over the long term
35. Biodiversity Net Gain policy
• All development shall
deliver a net gain in
biodiversity value.
• All major development shall
deliver at least a 10% net
gain in biodiversity value
36. Challenges to Policy
• Some challenges to 10% from developers at Publication stage (early
2020 when Environment Bill at early stages)
• Also challenges from an environmental perspective
• Background Note on Biodiversity Net Gain produced prior to
Submission – far less challenge at subsequent stages (Submission
June 2021, Hearings December 2021)
37. Current implementation ahead of regulations
• Validation checklist – BNG metric required for major development since
early 2021
• Development Management – implementing BNG based on requirements in
the NPPF (para 174, 180) – but not 10% at this stage
• Ongoing work at a Greater Manchester level (e.g. pricing biodiversity units;
sharing good practice)
• Working towards a list of potential offset sites – currently commissioning
Habitat Management Plans for 3 City Council owned sites in Salford
• Council declared a Biodiversity Emergency October 2022
38. Some issues and challenges
• Understanding and adherence to new requirements varies
• Off-set sites – local benefits vs strategic priorities, in Salford most development in
city centre
• Must deliver Biodiversity gain not just open space and recreation
• 30-year management plan required
• Role of Local Nature Recovery Strategies in guiding investment, link to planning?
• New work area needs to be resourced – ecological input and expertise required -
will upfront funding be provided to ‘hit the ground running’ ?
• Further funding still required to address decline in biodiversity
40. March 2021 local.gov.uk/pas
6. Biodiversity Net Gain in Buckinghamshire
David Sutherland, Louise Mapstone
Buckinghamshire Council
41. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
14/11/2022 41
Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
14/11/2022 41
Buckinghamshire Council &
Biodiversity Net Gain
Presentation for the Planning Advisory Service (PAS)
November 2022
David Sutherland, Environment Act Readiness Manager
Louise Mapstone, Biodiversity Net Gain Officer
biodiversitynetgain@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
42. SucceedingasaPlace:Achievingour Shared
Visionfor Buckinghamshireto 2050
Produced for the Buckinghamshire Growth Board
Culture, heritage and natural environment – By 2025 we will
● Connect places through improved environmental infrastructure whilst
delivering at least 10% biodiversity net gain
● Invest in environmental protection, enhancement and creation
whilst exploring the priorities for delivering nature’s recovery
across the county in alignment with the Local Nature
Recovery Strategy
● Promote and continue investment into the transition to net zero in line with
the Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy
43. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL
Corporate Plan - Our keyprioritiess
Other political drivers in terms of early adoption of BNG:
• Bucks Council Corporate Plan
• Climate Change Strategy approved in 2021
• Very strong Local Nature Partnership – undertook a lot of early
preparatory work in relation to BNG
• Strong political desire for control over strategic location of off site
BNG and allocation of funding to support this
44. Buckinghamshire BNG - Timeline
Bucks
timeline
Winter
2023
Bucks LNP -
early
preparation
of SPD and
local BNG
scheme
Re-start
Local Nature
Recovery
Strategy
process
Internal Governance:
• Net Gain working group - wider representation
across Council - monthly
• Net Gain Catch up - net gain officers- bi weekly
Mandatory
net gain for
all TCPA
development
SPD approved
by Cabinet
2018/20 Spring/Summer
2022
Spring 2021
Start
recruitment
of BNG
Officers
More in-
depth BNG
training
sessions with
DM teams
Autumn
2022
1.6 FTE BNG
Officers in
post
45. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL
BNG and Buckinghamshire Local Plan
• Buckinghamshire is a new unitary – 4 legacy local development plans
• BNG policies inserted into these plans - with detailed guidance to
follow in first unitary wide SPD
• New Local Plan by 2025 -Early preparatory work for new Local Plan
underway - second largest planning authority
• Early “issues” consultation/engagement and call for brownfield sites and
wider call for sites
• Political desire to set higher than mandatory 10% BNG
• Discussions on how to translate LNRS outcomes and opportunity areas
into new local plan policy
• BNG needs assessment commissioned taking account of allocated
development and recent habitat and condition mapping work under
LNRS
47. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL
Proposed Buckinghamshire Council
Biodiversity Net Gain Scheme
• Local implementation:
• Expect most sites to deliver net gain on site
• Where offsets are needed developers have a choice:
• can provide own offset / obtain via a third party
• BC scheme – BC receive financial contribution to discharge developer responsibility for providing
offsetting Agreed via a S106.
• Contribution determined by Local financial calculator - based on locally-estimated costs of habitat
creation and management over 30 years plus contingency and scheme running costs
• Developer Advantages of BC Scheme:
• Developers don’t need offset site identified at point of application
• Designed to provide a one-stop-shop for developers
• Council / Environment Advantages
• Selection of offset sites according to local strategic biodiversity priorities (NEP Expert Panel + LNRS)
and secure relevant agreements
• Reduces risk that offset sites are located outside Buckinghamshire (e.g. where this may be cheaper)
48. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL
• Planning applicants who need to
deliver BNG
• A specific Buckinghamshire process
• landowners considering using their
land for BNG
• Provides additional guidance to
existing policies in our legacy local
plans & the NPPF.
• Doesn’t introduce new policy but
does introduce
• Bucks BNG flow chart &
• Options for delivery
Buckinghamshire’s BNG SPD
Who’s it for?
https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/planning-and-building-
control/planning-policy/supplementary-planning-document-
biodiversity-net-gain/
49. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL
• Cabinet Approval
• Outlines a Flow Chart / Decision Tree
• Opportunity to signpost to best practice guidance in 2021
• CIEEM / British Standard / Biodiversity Metric
• Reference templates, metric rules & BS Standard
clauses
• Provided opportunity to confirm the level of technical
detail required
• e.g. ecological survey methodologies & reporting
expectations etc.
• Signpost to our Pre-application Advice Service
• Draw together relevant local plan policies from our legacy
district local plans in one place post-unitary
• Development of key work areas for development of
internal mechanisms within Bucks C.
Buckinghamshire’s BNG SPD
How does it help us deliver?
50. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL
Buckinghamshire’s SPD
What’s in it?
• The Importance of the Mitigation Hierarchy
• Document designed to be either read in full or just
‘dipped-into’ for specific BNG topic areas for relevant
audience
• A 4-part flow chart of the process:
• Baseline Site Ecology
• Iterative Design
• Options for securing BNG through development
• Monitoring
OPTIONS:
• Biodiversity On-site – always the priority
• OPTION 1: Agree to buy Bucks C units / Financial
Contribution through Bucks C scheme - not yet available
• OPTION 2: Find own off-site BNG site
• OPTION 3: Find BNG off-site through a broker / provider
51. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL
Buckinghamshire’s SPD
The Flow Chart
More recently produced:
• Internal BNG Procedure
Note to our Planners
• And updated Decision
Pathway flow chart on
options currently available
• Provision of training on the
SPD to Bucks C Planners
52. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL
LOTS STILL TO DO AND LEARN !!
• Comprehensive BNG Workplan
• Internal governance - meetings with
colleagues from across the council: Legal,
Finance, Estates & Comms.
• S106 Templates
• Work on a financial calculator, developing a
BNG Monitoring Fee, fees to review off-site
BNG sites including Habitat Bank Proposals.
• Guidance on Strategic Significance
• Needs and Supply Assessment
• Decision on Spatial Risk
• Reviewing own land holdings for BNG sites
• Other guidance & wider training: webpages,
training sessions for planners & our ecology
team
We are eagerly awaiting the BNG
Implementation Regulations &
National Government’s response
to the Jan 22 BNG consultation
Buckinghamshire’s SPD
Work Areas
https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/environ
ment/ecology-and-biodiversity/biodiversity-
net-gain/
54. local.gov.uk/pas
7. Questions and answers
• Please submit your questions through the Q&A
• We will answer as many as we can today
• We will add answers to FAQs on the PAS website
56. local.gov.uk/pas
What are you doing now?
Q2. Have you
started or already
developed local
policies on BNG?
Q3. Have you
started or already
developed local
policies on Nature
Recovery?
Please answer the polls – pop-up or in the chat
57. local.gov.uk/pas
Summing up & next steps
4. What do you think?
5. How did we do?
Next steps:
• Two PAS events next week – repeating this weeks events on “BNG essentials” and BNG in
local policies and strategies
• Broader PAS event on Nature recovery for local authorities 8th December
• Answering outstanding questions and adding to FAQs
• Ongoing support on biodiversity net gain and nature recovery through PAS projects
For more information:
• https://www.local.gov.uk/pas/topics/environment
• Sign up to the PAS bulletin: https://www.local.gov.uk/pas/our-work/keep-touch
• Join our BNG practitioner network – email: rebecca.moberly@local.gov.uk
Hinweis der Redaktion
Welcome people – 4th PAS event on BNG and NR this autumn
Focus on BNG and NR IN LOCAL POLICY AND STRATEGY – we have policy planners as well as planner ecologists on the call
Introduce self, Beccy and Krista, Megan and Roy (plus experts who are ging to present to us)
Before we start a few practicalities
80-90 people, but try to make interactive as possible
Use Q and A function,
FAQs valuable source of info later
Also using polls
Technical issues – see Megan
RECORDING START
This workshop will look at how LPAs address BNG and nature recovery in their local plans and policies, drawing on local experience and best practice as well as national progress over the last 12 months. The session aims to encourage a pro-active approach amongst LPAs, providing information and advice so that officers can consider the best approach for their own locality and planning context.
Introduce speakers – Maddy (Defra); Amanda (NE); Will and Fiona (Salford); David and Louise (Buckinghamshire)
A game of two halfs – run through agenda in two parts (two lots of Q and As) and helping us to answer questions are others from NE and Defra:
Jenny Lake (LNRS) and Jeremy as well as Heather Read (BNG) from NE
Carol Reader and Jo Russell (Planning) from NE
Plus colleagues from Defra
FINISH at 11:30 - Manage expectations about how much we are going to be able to answer detailed questions
Before we start – this is the fourth event so I would like to ask (LAUNCH POLL)
Remind people – update on 20th Oct (over 300 people) and BNG essentials this Tuesday (100 people), so hoping most people ….
Options for Poll
Yes, I attended one of the previous PAS events on BNG and Nature Recovery this autumn (20 Oct and 1 Nov)
No, but I have attended a PAS event on other planning issues in the past
No, this is my first event with PAS
Hope don’t need to repeat info ….
Trying to be joined up – esp on Env agenda
BNG
NR
NN
This is the fourth event this autumn – a wide raging update for officers and then members, as well as a deeper dive into BNG and NR “essentials” in terms of DM process
Don’t want to repeat information more than necessary
Also important to be clear what aspects of planning we are focusing on today
Pinched this slide from David Waterhouse (head of design and planning reform)
Shows our focus for this morning – local plans and policy, with an idea of the additional elements like National DM policies that the LURB will bring
Gives a good overview of where there are opportunities to introduce BNG and NR policy – policy planners world ….
But also a wider range of local authority plans and strategies (Krista to cover)
Quick straw polls taken at our event last month – 300 people from c200 LPAs so a good sample
Majority of LPAs started working on BNG
Greatest number (one third) are looking at policy
Makes sense that most LPAs will start with looking at the policy implications of new
Nature recovery is different – newer concept
Perceived positively as an opportunity
Less certainty about being prepared – not surprising?!
Don’t want to repeat all information we covered in previous events but …….
Starting point on policy is NPPF – biodiversity is familiar to us as its part of national planning policy
Points to make
SECTION 15 CONSERVING & ENHANCING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT - Local plans and policies should be protecting, contributing AND enhancing Biodiversity
Decisions should be contributing towards net gains
Mapping important – Local plan an opportunity to identify and map important habitats and sites, make it real
Interesting that biodiversity also mentioned specifically in terms Green Belt areas and climate change, making links to broader policy priorities
Am sure this is familiar ……
In a very simple way, move from existing to what is new and coming in now ……
This is where it gets more interesting – again covered in more depth in early sessions but it’s the implications of these new duties we want to cover today
A reminder of key parts of Act for planning
Mandatory BNG 10% (at least is important, it could be more ….)
Duty to monitor and report on biodiversity
But also introduce new concept of a LNRS and a requirement that local plans need to HAVE REGARD TO THE LNRS covering their area
BOTH OUER CASE STUDIES (SALFORD AND BUCKS) WERE PILOT AREAS FOR LNRS SO WILL HAVE MUCH MORE TO SAY ON THIS
Maddy will cover this is in more detail
This is Beccy’s summary of key components of mandatory BNG – what are the most significant elements for LPAs now ….
Again should be familiar but some key points for today’s session on local policies and plans:
the Act amends TCPA so things like the 10% requirement, the metric and need for a net gain plan are all enshrined in legislation
As such, there is no need to repeat these in local policy and plans
So some may say, lets not bother about developing local policies on BNG …. we will cover that later
That 30 year target has some major implications for LPA monitoring and enforcement, and it is LPAs who will be responsible for that
The ability for developers to deliver net gain offsite, means we have to start thinking seriously about where these opportunities are in our districts
Pass to Krista who will look at NR in the same way – this is a newer concept and so need a little more understanding ….
More specific detail of NRN objectives, targets and aims. Targets around habitat (improving existing sites and creating additional wildlife-rich land) and species that NRN will seek to deliver
The Nature Recovery Network will help us deal with 3 of the biggest challenges we face: biodiversity loss, climate change and wellbeing. By 2042 the aim is to:
restore 75% of protected sites on land (including freshwaters) to favourable condition so nature can thrive
create or restore 500,000 hectares of additional wildlife-rich habitat outside of protected sites
recover threatened and iconic animal and plant species by providing more, diverse and better-connected habitats
support work to increase woodland cover
achieve a range of environmental, economic and social benefits, such as carbon capture, flood management, clean water, pollination and recreation
3 core delivery elements – summary
The Nature Recovery Network will be delivered through:
New spatial tools to effectively target action and investment in nature, Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) will align local priorities and national need. Introduced by the Environment Act 2021, these strategies will be produced at a county level by responsible authorities (Combined Authorities, County and Unitary Councils).
Strong partnerships to deliver action on the ground including government, landowners and managers, business, local communities, conservation organisations, local authorities and many more.
Integration of policies and funding streams with government goals for nature, to maximise opportunities for nature recovery and secure new funding or (public and private). This includes effective application of policies such as biodiversity net gain and new farming incentives.
WHAT DOE STHIS MEAN FOR LOCAL POLICY – WE WILL SEE WHAT SALFORD AN BUCKS ARE DOING TO MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL
BUT …. SOME BASIC POINTS
Eg Kent has produced a county wide viability study that looks at shifting from 10-15-20% BNG, found that incremental addition has little impact
Eg Cornwall particularly good at define what local means
A locally-specific policy allows the local authority to set what strategies they require developers to take into account in delivering BNG, e.g. Green Infrastructure strategies, Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS), for example in targeting offsite BNG delivery and to determine the ‘strategic significance’ score that is part of the Biodiversity Metric.
This means that BNG can contribute to wider nature recovery plans in addition to local objectives. It can help ensure that the right habitats are provided in the right places.
Including BNG in the Local Plan can link biodiversity to other strategic objectives and the overall place-making strategy for an authority, enabling a more holistic approach.
HEAR FROM TWO AREAS TODAY – FURTHER EXAMPLES AND INFORMATION ON THES EPOINT ARE ON OUR WEBSITE
HAND OVER TO MADDY WHO CAN UPDATE US ON NATIONAL PICTURE AND CURRENT WORK
AMANDA WHO WILL TALK ABOUT “NO REGRETS” WORK THAT YOU CAN START DPOING NOW
Charlie
BRING IN AMANDA FOR THIS
10:05 – 10:30
25 mins
How might climate change affect Salford ?
Areas of Salford are at high risk of flooding and heat island effect.
Increased storm damage and disruption to travel.
Summer water shortages
Public health problems around heat stress, skin cancers and food poisoning
The high levels of deprivation and vulnerable households in these areas make them less resilient to these impacts
For info – 92% of dwelling completions on brownfield land 21/22
Almost 80% of dwelling completions were apartments 21/22
10% for major development was inserted at Publication Stage. Previous draft had said “All development shall deliver a net gain in biodiversity value”
How might climate change affect Salford ?
Areas of Salford are at high risk of flooding and heat island effect.
Increased storm damage and disruption to travel.
Summer water shortages
Public health problems around heat stress, skin cancers and food poisoning
The high levels of deprivation and vulnerable households in these areas make them less resilient to these impacts
Planning Advisory Service – BNG pages: really helpful!
https://www.local.gov.uk/pas/topics/environment/biodiversity-net-gain
Govt Planning Guidance: Natural environment
Explains key issues in implementing policy to protect and enhance the natural environment, including local requirements.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/natural-environment#biodiversity-geodiversity-and-ecosystems
Timelines (from PAS)
The timelines for introduction of mandatory BNG are dependent on a number of factors. The below is our current understanding of the likely timetable towards mandatory BNG.
Autumn 2021:
9 Nov - Environment Bill gets Royal Assent - now the Environment Act
Government consultation on BNG statutory instruments and regulations
Spring 2022:
Government response to consultation
Spring 2023:
BNG site register and statutory credits sales platform go live
Winter 2023:
Biodiversity net gain expected to become mandatory for all TCPA developments
11:00 – 11:25
GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO ASK PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THIS ANY QUESTIONS
Options for policy question:
Yes, we have policies in an adopted plan or an SPD in place that asks for BNG
Yes, we have draft policies or polices in our emerging plan
Yes, we have set out our approach in a more informal policy document
No, but we are working on policies or preparing evidence to inform our thinking
No, we are yet to commence work
Options for Nature Recovery question:
Yes, we have policies in an adopted plan or an SPD in place covering nature recovery
Yes, we have draft policies or policies in our emerging plan
Yes, we have set out our approach in a more informal policy document
No, but we are working on policies or preparing evidence to inform our thinking
No, we are yet to commence work
Repeat these events next week
NR event in December – on our website
Adding to our FAQs
Go to our website for examples and advice
Bulletin will announce further news
Practitioner network a chance share info with other planners and get into the weeds – online meeting later this month on resourcing BNG
