Planning
Biodiversity and Planning
‘Development plan policies and planning decisions should be based upon up-todate information about the environmental characteristics of their areas. These characteristics should include the relevant biodiversity and geological resources of the area. In reviewing environmental characteristics local authorities should assess the potential to sustain and enhance those resources.’
From the first key principle in Planning Policy Statement 9
The Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT), Oxfordshire County Council and the Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (TVERC) have worked in partnership to produce a guidance document, 'Biodiversity and Planning in Oxfordshire' to help those involved in planning in Oxfordshire ensure that development within the county protects and enhances this valuable local biodiversity.
This document can be down loaded from the following link: Biodiversity and Planning in Oxfordshire. If you would like to develop a version of this document for the county you work within please contact Tom Butterworth.
Biodiversity Checklist
Please see the following link for an example Biodiversity Checklist for planning. Please note that this is not appropriate for everywhere in the South East region. For example coastal habitats are not included in this checklist.
Local Development Frameworks
Biodiversity should be integrated into Local Development Frameworks (LDF), as outlined in the ALGE document Framework for Biodiversity.
Please follow this link for example policies that could be included in a Local Authority's Core Strategy and enable the Biodiversity Opportunity Areas to be included in LDFs.
Area Action Plans
These may be appropriate for areas that are particularly sensitive to change or development, such as areas of significant biodiversity value. Area Action Plans may establish the conservation and enhancement objectives for such areas and how these might be reconciled with sensitive development. They may also be used to identify key areas where biodiversity gains are to be sought or those areas that are particularly sensitive to the impacts of climate change.