Adoption of SPD11: Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Supplementary Planning Document
The council has carried out a review and update of the Nature Conservation and Development SPD, (adopted in 2010), to ensure it reflects current local and national planning policy as well as forthcoming requirements from the Environment Act. Consultation on the draft Biodiversity and Nature Conservation SPD took place earlier this year.
Tourism, Equalities, Communities and Culture Committee agreed to adopt the updated SPD at its meeting on 16 June 2022.
The main purpose of the updated SPD is to improve biodiversity outcomes in new development. It will assist planning applicants understand the importance of biodiversity and what they need to do to meet legislation and planning policy requirements. It includes a step-by-step guide of how and when biodiversity should be considered in the development process, from the very early design stages through to the construction and operational stages and clarifies the type of information that will be expected to support planning applications, such as ecological surveys.
Biodiversity Checklist
The updated SPD includes the new and revised “Biodiversity Checklists” that can be found within Annex 5. This Annex clearly sets out which type of planning applications will be required to submit a Biodiversity Checklist.
There are now two Biodiversity Checklists: one for householder applications and one for full or outline planning applications. The SPD clarifies when a checklist will be required. It is currently anticipated that the relevant Biodiversity Checklist will become a validation requirement from the 1st September 2022.
Where you can view the updated SPD
The council website is currently being updated to include the newly adopted SPD, adoption statement and consultation statement, as well as links to the new Biodiversity Checklists.
The adopted SPD can currently be viewed on the committee pages of the council website as follows:
In addition, a summary of the consultation can also be viewed on the council website, as can a “You Said, We Did” document which outlines all the changes made.
For any further enquiries about the SPD please contact planningpolicy@brighton-hove.gov.uk