Government proposals
to place the environment at the heart of new development have been unveiled by
Environment Secretary Michael Gove.
In plans published
for consultation, developers could be required to deliver a ‘biodiversity net gain’
when building new housing or commercial development – meaning habitats for
wildlife must be enhanced and left in a measurably better state than they were
pre-development.
The proposed new
rules require developers to assess the type of habitat and its condition before
submitting plans. Car parks and industrial sites would usually come lower on
this scale, while more natural grasslands and woodlands would be given a much
higher ranking for their environmental importance.
Developers would
then be required to demonstrate how they are improving biodiversity – such as
through the creation of green corridors, planting more trees, or forming local
nature spaces. Green improvements on site would be encouraged, but in the rare
circumstances where they are not possible the consultation proposes to charge
developers a levy to pay for habitat creation or improvement elsewhere.
These proposals
would help to achieve better outcomes for nature and people with the millions
of pounds invested in environmental impact mitigation by developers every year.
While some
developers have already been following a biodiversity net gain approach
voluntarily, the proposed standardised, mandatory approach would give them
clarity and certainty on how to improve the environment through development,
while also considering whether any sites – such as small and brownfield sites –
should be exempt from the rules. It will still deliver the homes the country
needs – making the Government’s vision of delivering 300,000 new homes a year
by the mid-2020s a reality – at the same time as contributing to the goal of
passing on our environment in a better condition.
This is the first
step in the government’s ambition to embed the wider principle of
‘environmental net gain’ in development, to drive measurable improvements for
all aspects of the environment such as air quality, flood defences and clean
water.
The government will
now work collaboratively with developers, water companies, tourism services,
energy providers and waste specialists to better understand how profitable
development can be a driving force of environmental improvement.
Environment
Secretary, Michael Gove, said: "Our commitment to protecting and enhancing
our natural world can go hand in hand with our ambition to build more high
quality homes.
"Mandating
biodiversity net gain puts the environment at the heart of planning and
development. This will not only create better places for people to live and
work, but ensure we leave our environment in a better state for future
generations."
In addition to
upholding planning protections for sensitive sites such as ancient woodland and
sites of special scientific interest, the consultation builds on the
experiences of local authorities and developers who have already adopted net
gain approaches.
This includes the Berkley Group who have committed to
creating a net biodiversity gain within all their development sites and are
currently working with London Wildlife Trust to build Kidbrooke Village in East
London – a new 4,800 home village development that contains 20 hectares of parkland.
Elsewhere, Warwickshire County Council have
trialled and implemented a system to ensure all developments lead to no net
loss of biodiversity, with each development preparing a Biodiversity Impact
Assessment prior to building.
The consultation
launched plays a vital role in helping the government fulfil its aim to use and
manage land sustainably, as outlined in the 25
Year Environment Plan.
It follows the
launch of the revised National
Planning Policy Framework in July which outlined stronger protection for
the environment, ensuring wildlife thrives at the same time as addressing the
need for new homes
Andrew Sells,
Chairman of Natural England which has given extensive advice to Government on
Net Gain, said: "Net Gain is an ambitious idea that has the potential to
bring significant benefits for our declining wildlife and the environment as a
whole. If Net Gain succeeds for nature then it will also be succeeding for
people, because it means that they are living and working with a thriving
natural environment all around them.
"I am delighted
that Natural England’s scientific expertise has helped to shape the concept of
Net Gain and the principles that will gauge its success. We can also play an
important role in helping developers and local authorities achieve Net Gain on
the ground – securing a better environment for future generations."
The will run until 10 February, 2019.
