Planning and Policy

Description

Biodiversity is not just confined to designated sites and nature reserves but occurs throughout urban and rural areas. National legislation, policy and guidance now require a significant commitment to biodiversity conservation from local authorities and other public bodies. If biodiversity is to be conserved it needs to be considered within:

  • Local Development Frameworks (LDFs).
  • Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) via Local Area Agreements (LAAs).
  • Water Framework Directive.

Main Issues

  • Conservation of protected sites only leaves wildlife in small isolated pockets, therefore the conservation beyond the existing resource is essential to secure a future for the county's biodiversity.
  • Pressure on land resources in Northamptonshire is high due to the large number of houses and associated infrastructure that are required within the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Growth Area.

Strategy and Guidelines

  • Ensure that key habitats and species are protected in development plans.
  • Ensure that Green Infrastructure is given significant consideration in all planning applications that may affect land with existing or potential conservation value.
  • Support the development of the Local Biological Records Centre.
  • Provide biodiversity advice to developers and local authorities.

Targets

Target Code

Target Description

Target Units

Northants Baseline Resource

Target

By

Unit Cost £

Total Cost £

NOR_PAP_T1

Ensure no Local Wildlife Sites, Nature Reserves, Pocket Parks or Protected Wildflower Verges are lost to development.

Sites

959

No Loss

2015

    

NOR_PAP_T2

All developments that require Section 106 agreements/conditions regarding biodiversity to have SMART targets for biodiversity gain from the outset.

Applications

0

100%

2009

    

NOR_PAP_T3

Ensure all Local Development Frameworks include policies that promote net gain for biodiversity and robust LWS policies by 2012.

Plans

  

8

2012

    

NOR_PAP_T4

Ensure the BAP is represented on all relevant Local Strategic Partnership theme groups by 2010.

Groups

2

8

2010

    

NOR_PAP_T5

All relevant Local Authorities and Statutory Undertakers (8 LAs plus British Waterways, Highways Agency, Anglian Water) to be represented on the BAP steering group by 2010.

Organisations

    

2010

    

NOR_PAP_T6

All large-scale developments to have a Green Infrastructure strategy (incorporating a biodiversity network) integrated at the design stage.

Developments

0

100%

Ongoing

    

NOR_PAP_T7

Establish a large-scale wetland complex in the Nene Valley incorporating floodplain grazing marsh, wet woodland, lowland fen and reedbed.

Complex

0

1

2020

    

Actions

Action Code

Action Description

Lead Partner

Support Partner(s)

Related Target

NOR_PAP_PL_A1

Respond to all Planning Applications that are received that show potential to damage or destroy one of these sites.

Local Authorities, WNDC, NNDC

The Wildlife Trust, Natural England, RSPB

NOR_PAP_T1

NOR_PAP_PL_A2

Publish annual reports of:

  • Number of planning applications objected to on biodiversity grounds;
  • Percentage of application objections for which permission refused;
  • Percentage of application objections for which entered into a Section 106 Agreement/Condition with SMART targets for net biodiversity gain agreed by the objecting organisations;
  • Percentage of Section 106 agreements/Conditions where SMART targets are monitored and on schedule.

Local Authorities, WNDC, NNDC

The Wildlife Trust, Natural England RSPB

NOR_PAP_T2

NOR_PAP_PL_A3

Ensure that biodiversity is included within all new regeneration and sustainable communities strategies that are produced between 2008 and 2015.

Local Authorities, WNDC, NNDC

NEN

NOR_PAP_T3

NOR_PAP_PL_A4

Produce a model LDF policy on protection of BAP habitats for use by LPAs by end 2008.

The Wildlife Trust

NEN

NOR_PAP_T3

NOR_PAP_PL_A5

Adopt an appropriate policy within the LDF of each LPA by end 2012.

Local Authorities

The Wildlife Trust

NOR_PAP_T3

NOR_PAP_PL_A6

Provide LSPs with necessary biodiversity information either by attending meetings or other means of communication.

The Wildlife Trust

  

NOR_PAP_T4

NOR_PAP_PL_A7

Assess applications for large developments against the 9 principles of GI (Planning Sustainable Communities, MKSM EQOL Sub-group).

Developers, Local Authorities, WNDC, NNDC

  

NOR_PAP_T6

NOR_PAP_PL_A8

Develop the Nene Valley Strategy in line with the Wildlife Trust's Nene Valley Vision, incorporating floodplain grazing marsh, wet woodland, reedbed and lowland fen.

RNRP, The Wildlife Trust

All

NOR_PAP_T7