SLP KDBH Extracts - Flipbook - Page 96
Policy P10 Natural Environment
1.
The Council recognises the importance of a healthy natural environment in its own
right, and for the natural capital benefits it provides to the people, places and
economy of the Borough. The Council will seek to protect, enhance, restore, increase
and connect the natural environment and secure measurable net gains in
biodiversity. The full value and benefits of the natural environment will be taken into
account in considering all development proposals, including the contribution to the
green economy, the health and wellbeing of residents, and the role of green
infrastructure in reducing the impacts of climate change and improving air quality.
Joint working with neighbouring authorities and partners will be supported,
recognising the need for a landscape scale approach to the natural environment and
conservation of biodiversity and geodiversity.
Biodiversity and Geodiversity
96
2.
The Council will seek to conserve, enhance and restore biodiversity and geodiversity
across the Borough. Development whose primary objective is to conserve or
enhance biodiversity and/or geodiversity will be supported; while opportunities to
incorporate biodiversity improvements in and around developments will be
encouraged, especially where this can secure measurable net gains for biodiversity.
3.
Protection of designated sites, ancient woodland, and priority habitats shall include
the establishment of buffers to any new development so that they connect with
existing and created green infrastructure assets.
4.
Development should be informed by up-to-date information on habitats and species,
and take full account of national and local guidance on conserving biodiversity,
opportunities for biodiversity enhancement and for improving and restoring the
Borough’s green infrastructure (especially fragmentation of habitats). When
appropriate, development should seek to enhance accessibility to the natural
environment, especially for disabled people.
5.
Developers will be expected to take full account of the nature conservation or
geological value, and the existence of any protected, rare, endangered or priority
habitats or species included in the Local Biodiversity Action Plan, national S.41 list,
or sites in the Local Geological Action Plan, as well as the Wildlife and Countryside
Act and Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations.
6.
Developers will be required to undertake an ecological survey, proportionate to the
scale and type of development, following best practice methods.
7.
In considering the need for green space improvements associated with new
development, developers should have regard for the standards and priorities in the
Green Spaces Strategy/Open Space SPD in relation to accessible natural green
space, and Defra’s forthcoming GI standards.