PPS 9 AND THE NEED FOR UP TO DATE BIODIVERSITY INFORMATION Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

OUTLINE FOR TODAY What Biodiversity Information Is Required For: The evidence base in LDFs Planning applications Well-informed planning decisions Annual monitoring reports and biodiversity indicators Ecological Networks and Opportunities for Enhancement in LDFs Development Control – Good Practice for Biodiversity

KEY DOCUMENTS TODAY PPS 9 Information Circular 06/05 ‘Legal Circular’ PPS 9 Good Practice Guide Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Habitat Regulations 1994 Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 PAS 2010 Planning to halt the loss of biodiversity

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT ….. A BRIEF REMINDER

KEY PRINCIPLES FROM PPS 9 Information- A Good Evidence Base Maintain and Enhance Strategic Approach to Wider Environment Permit Biodiversity Enhancing Development Explore Reasonable Alternatives And Avoid Impacts Mitigate and Compensate Promote Benefits And Gains

KEY TOPICS FROM PPS 9 International sites National sites Regional and local sites Ancient woodland Networks of habitat Previously developed land Biodiversity within developments Protected species

STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS Legal Circular PPS 9 Good Practice Guide Cornwall Case ! NERC ACT 2006

NERC DUTY S. 40 “Every pubic body must in exercising its functions, have regard, so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity” “Conserving biodiversity includes restoration or enhancing species and habitats”

What information is required for: THE EVIDENCE BASE IN LDFS

KEY PRINCIPLES FROM PPS 9 Information- A Good Evidence Base Maintain and Enhance Strategic Approach to Wider Environment Permit Biodiversity Enhancing Development Explore Reasonable Alternatives And Avoid Impacts Mitigate and Compensate Promote Benefits And Gains

Biodiversity and Geological Conservation: A Guide To Good Practice ODPM/DCLG 2006

A Guide To Good Practice Key Elements of an Evidence Base Page 4

The broad bio-geographical, geological and geomorphological character of the area;  Key natural systems and processes within the area, including fluvial and coastal;  The location and extent of internationally, nationally and locally designated sites;  The distribution of UKBAP priority habitats and species as well as areas of irreplaceable natural habitat, such as ancient woodland or limestone pavement;  Habitats where specific land management practices are required for their conservation;  Main landscape features which, due to their linear or continuous nature, are important for the migration, dispersal and genetic exchanges of plants and animals, including any potential for new habitat corridors to link any isolated sites that hold nature conservation value, and therefore improve species dispersal;

 Areas with potential for habitat enhancement or restoration, including those necessary to help biodiversity adapt to climate change or which could assist with the habitats shifts and species migrations arising from climate change;  An audit of green space within built areas and where new development is proposed;  Information on the presence of protected and priority species and areas where these are likely to occur;  Information on the biodiversity and geodiversity value of previously developed sites and the opportunities for incorporating this in developments; and  Areas of geological value which would benefit from enhancement and management.

Barn owl in old barn Bat roost in old building used in winter Floodplain grazing marsh - Badger sett in old railway embankment Farm pond silted – with low numbers of great crested newts Hedgerows removed in 1970s Canalised watercourse Neglected unimproved neutral grassland meadow Lesser Horseshoe Maternity Roost in mine Neglected species rich edgerows Small colony of Marsh Fritillary butterflies Ancient woodland with neglected coppice (no public access Neglected unimproved wet grassland meadow Species rich medieval hedges Biodiversity Evidence Base for Hobbiton Old Apple Orchard Low numbers of dormice in hedges Cleared conifer plantation

Biogegraphical Character ? Key Natural Systems ? - Biodiversity of Previously Value Developed Land ? Audit of Urban Green Space ? Location and Extent of Designated Sites Habitats of Principal Importance Protected Species Species of Principal Importance Areas of Irreplaceable Habitat ? Areas With Potential For Enhancement ? Ecological Networks ?

Breaking News !!!! PINS rejects Core Strategies because of their poor evidence base

What information is required for: PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Hobbiton Housing Association: new housing development Gold ring fabrication plant New Dwarf recreational facilities New Public Orc Space New light commuter rail link to Mordor Development Proposals Promoted by Orc Holdings PLC New Elf clinic Parking and stabling for the nine riders New Black Arts College

Sufficient Information To Make A Decision

STANDARDISED APPLICATION FORMS 1App Standard Application Forms Question for ‘Biodiversity and Geodiversity’ + Brief guidance Update of GDPO In force from April Roll out Autumn 2006 ? Validation Checklists -National Requirements -Local Requirements ALGE/DEFRA/English Nature (DCLG)Validation Template

What information is required for: WELL-INFORMED PLANNING DECISIONS

PAS 2010 A Code of Practice ? Figure 1Responsibilities Table 2Responsibilities and Tasks

A Critical Element For DC ! PRE-DECISION ASSESSMENT e.g. the bit done by officers

What information is required for: ANNUAL MONITORING REPORTS

Annual Monitoring Report “In terms of policy implementation, authorities will need to develop robust monitoring systems. This will include: Assessing progress in terms of spatial objectives, policies, targets and milestones, and pace of progress; Indicators to monitor actual progress. These should be objectives led. Using trajectories (trends) to demonstrate past and likely future performance.

Annual Monitoring Report “LPAs should seek to integrate their approach to monitoring and survey with other local initiatives”. i.e. BARS – Biodiversity Action Reporting System

CRITIAL LINK ! The link between: Validation Checklist Required Information on Applications Annual Monitoring Reports

Ecological Networks And Opportunities For Enhancements In LDFs

Biodiversity Expressed Spatially Mapable Areas For Protection, Enhancement And Restoration Of Biodiversity

Networks of Natural Habitats PPS 9 Paragraph 12 states: “Local authorities should aim to maintain networks by avoiding or repairing the fragmentation and isolation of natural habitats through policies in plans. Such networks should be protected from development, and, where possible, strengthened by or integrated within it. This may be done as a wider strategy for the protection and extension of open space and access routes …”

Green Infrastructure Discussion Paper: Green Infrastructure in the South West. South West Regional Assembly and English Nature (2005) Definition: Green Infrastructure (GI) is a strategic network of accessible multifunctional sites (including parks, woodland, informal open spaces, nature reserves and historic sites) as well as linkages (such as river corridors and floodplains, wildlife corridors and greenways). These contribute to people’s well-being, and together comprise a coherent managed resource responsive to evolving conditions.

- Developer contributions ? Habitat and species surveys Land acquisition/provision Capital works -Habitat creation -Habitat restoration -Mitigation and Compensation Conservation management Provision of public access & enjoyment Biodiversity monitoring

Regulation 37 Habitat Regulations Management of landscape features of major importance for wildlife Stepping Stones and Linear Features Use Conditions and Obligations

Areas For Enhancement At The Regional Scale Habitat Opportunity Maps

Development Control and the Guide To Good Practice

GPG and Development Control ;  Applying the principles of PPS9  Pre-application information gathering  Development control checklists  Ecological surveys  Surveys and EIA  Species surveys  Consultation  Conditions and obligations  Monitoring and enforcement  Avoiding, mitigating and compensating for harm  Building in biodiversity  Further design guidance for biodiversity