SLP KDBH Extracts - Flipbook - Page 99
321.
Since the publication of the White Paper and Biodiversity Strategy in 2011, there have
continued to be national declines in both the quantity and quality of priority (S.41) habitats
and species. The Government’s 25-year Environment Plan affirms that it places ‘the utmost
importance on our commitments to biodiversity and nature conservation’, and sets out bold
ambitions and measures to ‘leave [the] environment in a better state than we found it and
pass on to the next generation a natural environment protected and enhanced for the future.’
322.
The policy addresses the themes in the White Paper, the Lawton Report and the 25-year
Environment Plan by confirming that the full value of the natural environment will be taken
into account in considering development proposals, and net gains in biodiversity will be
sought. This should include the potential for the natural environment to improve health and
wellbeing, contribute to the multi-functional benefits of green infrastructure, and reduce the
impacts of climate change, e.g. through urban cooling and the management of surface water
flows.
323.
Solihull is well-placed to deliver on these ambitions as the Council has a proven track of
securing biodiversity gains and green infrastructure improvements in a variety of projects,
notably the ERDF Wildlife Ways and the Solihull Habitats and Nature Improvement
programmes. These have provided over 150 hectares of habitat enhancements within parks,
open spaces and along footpaths and cycleways.
324.
The Borough is home to a rich and varied natural environment and extended green
infrastructure network within both a rural and urban setting. These include rivers, canals,
ancient woodland, species-rich wildflower meadows and pastures, geomorphic features and
more formal parks, gardens and tree-lined streetscapes. These assets constitute the
Borough’s natural capital and provide a wide range of ‘ecosystem services’ from providing
areas of recreation for people and a green environment to improve mental health and
wellbeing; to water management, flood risk alleviation, carbon storage, food and timber
production and mitigating the effects of air and noise pollution.
325.
However, the natural environment is, in parts, too small scale, fragmented, degraded, under
visitor pressure, at risk of pollution, or incorrectly managed and the impacts of new
development need to be considered from the outset to minimise harm and maximise
opportunities for nature recovery, including the opportunity for connecting habitats and
corridors.
326.
Solihull’s countryside lies within the Arden landscape character area, for which guidance is
provided in Natural England’s National Character Area study and the Warwickshire
Landscapes Guidelines for Arden. These identify the landscape types that are characteristic
to the area and the need for enhancement or restoration in much of the Borough. The
Council commissioned a Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) as part of the Local Plan
Review evidence base and ‘Solihull’s Countryside’ sets out the strategy for the countryside in
the Borough and defines a number of zones within which different policy objectives apply. It
highlights continuing landscape change and declining distinctiveness within the Borough’s
countryside. Developers will be expected to take the LCA, Countryside strategy or its
successor into account in locating and designing development.
327.
An integrated approach to the conservation of natural ecosystems will be sought, based on
landscape-scale conservation, so as to contribute to targets to halt and reverse biodiversity
loss, and to deliver economic and social benefits for Solihull’s residents and businesses.
New development should incorporate biodiversity conservation through good design.
Developers will be expected to use national guidance on the provision of buffers between
development and any ancient woodland, designated site or priority biodiversity action plan
habitat. Where development is within 500 metres of woodland recorded in Natural England’s
Ancient Woodland Inventory, the Forestry Commission will be consulted. Up to date
information on biodiversity resources is provided through the Warwickshire, Coventry and
Solihull Habitat Biodiversity Audit, of which the Council is a partner, and opportunities for
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