Local Requirements - Biodiversity/ Geodiversity Survey and Report

Types of application or development that require this information

  • Planning applications that may affect natural or semi-natural habitats (including brownfield sites, parks and gardens) or protected and notable species including habitats and species of principal importance (as listed in Section 41 of the Natural Environment Rural Communities Act, 2006) and Biodiversity Action Plan habitats and species.
  • Planning applications likely to affect a designated site including: Special Protection Area (SPA), Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Local Nature Reserve (LNR), Local Wildlife Site (LWS), Local Geological Site (LGS) or wildlife habitat network, and/or ancient woodland, and Habitat of Principal Importance outside of

See also Policy SC8 Assessments for planning applications within the South Pennines Moors SPA/SAC and their zone of influence.

What information is required?

Ecological Surveys and Assessments should be carried out in accordance with standard guidance and BS42020:2013. All surveys and assessment should be proportionate to the scale and potential impacts and effects of proposals.

Preliminary Ecological Appraisal

A Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) which assesses the site in terms of its biodiversity value is the minimum level of ecological information required. A PEA should identify ecological constraints potentially present within the zone of influence. The PEA should include mapping showing the location and distribution of habitats and any features with potential to support protected or notable species. The PEA should also make recommendations for further survey work should any be required to confirm presence or likely absence of protected and notable habitats and species.

Unless a PEA can demonstrate that there would be no adverse ecological effects it is not suitable for submission with a planning application, as stated in CIEEM Ecological Report Writing Guide (CIEEM, 2017).

Ecological Impact Assessment

Applications that have the potential to affect protected or notable habitats or species, designated sites or the Habitat Network require an Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA). An EcIA should also include details of habitat and species-specific surveys detailed within the text or included as appendices.

For schemes with a negligible ecological impact or where effects on habitats and notable or protected species can clearly be ruled out a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal may be suitable. However, in most cases an Ecological Impact Assessment will be required. This document should be proportionate to the scale and potential impacts and effects of proposals but should fully assess impacts and effects.

The EcIA should identify impacts and quantify the significance of any effects on designated sites, habitats and species during construction and operation (and decommissioning if relevant), prior to mitigation, both within the site or the zone of influence of the proposals across the wider area.

The EcIA should set out avoidance, mitigation and enhancement measures, together with proposals for the long-term maintenance/management of such measures. Mitigation and management prescriptions should be set out in a Biodiversity Plan which provides detail on monitoring and management regimes, identifies responsible parties and timescales for development and monitoring of successful establishment.

The EcIA should clearly identify, characterise and assess the significance of any residual impacts.

Guidance on ecological reports and assessments can be found at the links below:

Surveys must be undertaken by a trained Suitably Qualified Ecologist (SQE) and must be carried out at the appropriate time of year, using methods that are appropriate for the species, habitats and the location. Surveys should follow standard guidance unless site conditions necessitate deviation. Any deviation from standard guidance should be justified.

Natural England’s Standing Advice for Protected Species sets out the survey methods that need to be used for specific protected species. Contact Natural England if the standing advice doesn’t cover a protected species that is affected by the proposal.

Surveys should be up to date and ideally from the most recent survey season. Further information can be found at Guidance on the longevity of ecological survey data and reports.

Surveys need to show whether designated sites or protected or notable habitats and species are present on the site or in the area. Species surveys should illustrate how the site and surrounding area may be used by the species, including the zone of influence of any proposed development.

Biodiversity Net Gain

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is an approach to development. It makes sure that habitats for wildlife are left in a measurably better state than they were before the development.

In England, BNG is mandatory under Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as inserted by Schedule 14 of the Environment Act 2021).

BNG came into force for major developments on 12 February 2024, and for minor developments on 2 April 2024. BNG applies to all planning applications unless an exemption applies.

BNG is applied to approved planning applications by way of a pre-commencement condition.

Development must not commence until the pre-commencement condition has been discharged by the local planning authority.

If you consider that your development is exempt from mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain you must include a statement with your planning application justifying why this is the case.

If your development is not exempt, the following BNG information will be required at validation stage and should be prepared by a Suitably Experienced Ecologist:

A report presenting:

  • A description of how the development has met the 10 Biodiversity Net Gain Good Practice Principles.
  • A description of how the Biodiversity Gain Hierarchy has been followed.
  • The results of the BNG baseline biodiversity unit score with condition assessments and species lists (of particular importance for grassland habitats).
  • Post-development score showing how a 10% net gain for biodiversity will be achieved, through on-site or off-site habitat works or purchase of biodiversity units.
  • A completed draft of the Statutory BNG Metric calculator for pre and post development showing a 10% Net Gain, with all elements completed and trading rules met unless otherwise agreed with the LPA.
  • GIS habitat mapping of pre and post development habitats linked to the BNG Metric calculator.
  • A long-term Biodiversity Plan should accompany the BNG assessment detailing how habitat creation or enhancement will be successfully secured for at least 30 years. The Plan should provide detail on monitoring and management regimes, identify responsible parties and timescales for development and monitoring of successful establishment.

Irreplaceable habitat

Your application must include a description of any irreplaceable habitat on the site, whether it is impacted by the proposal or not. Presence of irreplaceable habitat must also be identified in the Biodiversity Metric.

Statutory biodiversity credits

Statutory biodiversity credits should only be used to meet Biodiversity Net Gain requirements once all other options have been explored. If you intend to buy statutory credits you must contact the Local Planning Authority prior to submission of your application to agree this option.

Outline applications

For outline applications, where the layout of a site and area of land available for provision of on-site habitats is not finalised, it is not necessary to submit a Statutory Metric completed for the post-development site.

However, the LPA requires sufficient information to understand how the Biodiversity Gain Hierarchy will be implemented through the development and this must be presented in the Biodiversity Net Gain Report.

For outline applications the Biodiversity Net Gain Report should include a BNG strategy for the development that identifies medium and higher distinctiveness habitats present in the baseline. The strategy must indicate what the approach to retention of existing habitats would be and estimate how much and where habitats may be retained. Where it is expected habitats will not be retained, the report should provide justification.

Other ecological enhancement

All proposals should evidence how they will enhance the site for biodiversity, in accordance with national and local planning policy. This should be in addition to a BNG calculation and Biodiversity Plan and include measures such as the installation of bat and bird boxes, habitat piles and refuges or hibernaculum.

Enhancements should be relevant to the conditions on site and in the local area and where possible address local conservation priorities.

Further information

Policy driver

  • Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended by The Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019) ('the Habitats Regulations');
  • Environment Act (2021)
  • Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended);
  • Natural Environment Rural Communities Act, 2006;
  • National Planning Policy Framework - Paragraph 11
  • National Planning Policy Framework - Chapter 15: Conserving and enhancing the natural environment
  • Core Strategy - Policy EN2: Biodiversity and Geodiversity
  • Core Strategy – Policy SC8: Protecting the South Pennine Moors SPA and the South Pennine Moors SAC and their zone of influence
  • Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended; and)
  • Circular 05/2006: Biodiversity and geological conservation

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