Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan

Support

Representation ID: 1949

Received: 22/04/2024

Respondent: Natural England

We note policies on Climate Change are not included within this Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan. Natural England would wish to ensure that nature-based solutions are included within the Regulation19 Draft.

Object

Representation ID: 1950

Received: 22/04/2024

Respondent: Natural England

We welcome the inclusion of climate change within the Vision. We suggest however that the Vision should include greater aspiration to enhance the natural environment by enhancing biodiversity and contributing to the Nature Recovery Network which is a commitment in the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan.

Object

Representation ID: 1951

Received: 22/04/2024

Respondent: Natural England

Natural England generally welcomes the objectives, particularly Objective 13 with the inclusion of climate change and the link to Green Infrastructure (GI) and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). We would suggest that Objective 12 should make reference to the Nature Recovery Network which will help to address biodiversity loss, climate resilience and access to nature.

Support

Representation ID: 1952

Received: 22/04/2024

Respondent: Natural England

Natural England welcomes the inclusion of this policy and the recognition that development has an irreversible adverse impact on the finite national stock of Best & Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land. Any development on BMV should have a soil handling plan and sustainable soil management strategy based on detailed soils surveys. The following guidance “Guide to assessing development proposals on agricultural land” provides information on soil management and soil survey on development sites.

Support

Representation ID: 1953

Received: 22/04/2024

Respondent: Natural England

Natural England welcomes this policy.

Object

Representation ID: 1954

Received: 22/04/2024

Respondent: Natural England

Within the explanatory text of this policy we suggest that there should be greater reference to the Nature Recovery Network (NRN). This is a major commitment in the UK Government’s 25-Year Environment Plan and intends to improve, expand and connect habitats to address wildlife decline and provide wider environmental benefits for people. By creating more wildlife-rich places that are bigger, better and joined-up the three challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change, and public health and well-being can be addressed. As part of this work Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) will agree priorities and work with partners and stakeholders to map actions for nature recovery where they will have the greatest environmental benefit. The Nature Recovery Network - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Paragraph 10.8 – Natural England is pleased to note that the Lincolnshire Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) has been mentioned but we suggest that further explanation should be included.

Paragraph 10.9 - could include an update that BNG has been mandatory since February 2024.
Paragraphy 10.13 - We are pleased to note that this paragraph seeks opportunities for wider net environmental gains wherever possible.

Natural England welcomes the reference to the LNRS however we suggest that in the accompanying text that there should be further explanation included as the LNRS develops.

Object

Representation ID: 1955

Received: 22/04/2024

Respondent: Natural England

Natural England welcomes this policy however we advise that some amendments may be necessary following the secondary legislation and recently published guidance https://www.gov.uk/guidance/biodiversity-net-gain:
In the third paragraph please note that now that BNG has become mandatory the metric will be known as the Statutory Biodiversity Metric.

It may be useful to explain that registered offsite biodiversity gains should be sited locally to the development impact (i.e. within the District or National Character Area).
Bullet point (e) i.e. statutory biodiversity credits.
We note that in the penultimate paragraph of the policy wording that the following sentence has been included “Proposals which do not demonstrate that the post development biodiversity value will exceed the predevelopment value of the onsite habitat by a 10% net gain will be refused.” We advise that you may need to rephrase this because the guidance (Biodiversity net gain - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) now recommends as follows:
“ … it would generally be inappropriate for decision makers, when determining a planning application for a development subject to biodiversity net gain, to refuse an application on the grounds that the biodiversity gain objective will not be met.”

Object

Representation ID: 1956

Received: 22/04/2024

Respondent: Natural England

Natural England welcomes this policy and the explanatory text, we are also pleased to note that Green Infrastructure (GI) features throughout the Plan which will ensure that the multi-functional benefits of the provision of good quality GI can be fully realised. We welcome the cross reference in paragraph 10.16 to Policy OS1: Open Space and Recreation.
We are pleased to note that Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework: Principles & Standards has been referenced within the policy text. We suggest the policy or explanatory text could be expanded to reflect in more detail the advice included within this Framework.
Local Planning Authorities can apply the National GI Standards locally that will help deliver good GI networks for people and nature and you may consider doing this within the local plan.
We also suggest that the health benefits of GI should be emphasised either within this policy or within other relevant policies e.g. climate change, open space & recreation.

Object

Representation ID: 1957

Received: 22/04/2024

Respondent: Natural England

Natural England suggests that reference should be made within this policy of the Natural England Green Infrastructure Planning and Design Guide 2023 which provides evidence based practical guidance on how to plan and design good green infrastructure. It complements the National Model Design Code and National Design Guide and can be used to help planners and designers develop local design guides and codes with multifunctional green infrastructure at the heart. This will help to inspire the creation of healthier, nature-rich, climate resilient and thriving places to live, learn, work and play. We suggest that the GI design guide should be included in the list of supporting evidence.

Support

Representation ID: 1958

Received: 22/04/2024

Respondent: Natural England

Natural England welcomes this policy and acknowledge the link with the green infrastructure policy (EN3).
We suggest you may want to refer to Natural England’s Accessible Greenspace Standards to determine open space needs based on size, proximity capacity and quality. The Environmental Improvement Plan has highlighted an initial focus on access to green and blue spaces within 15 minutes’ walk from home.