Policy
European, national, regional and local policy and guidance endorses biodiversity in development.
European legislation, notably the Habitats Directive, 1992, has greatly strengthened the protection afforded to wild species and habitats. At the national level the Government's biodiversity strategy and planning guidance acknowledges the importance of greening the built environment both for the benefit of wildlife and for providing people with contact with the natural world.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 (as amended) is the key piece of legislation that underpins the conservation of the UK's species and habitats. Sites and species are afforded both statutory and non-statutory protection.
At the regional level the Guidance on Sustainable Design and Construction (RTPI's Biodiversity by Design, South East Excellence, Building for Nature), expand upon the national guidance and articulate the links between greening new development and broader social, economic and environmental objectives.
At the local level Supplementary Planning Documents (Brighton and
Hove), as well as smaller, local groups such as Brighton and Hove's
Building Green.
The CROW Act put
a duty on ALL Statutory bodies to "have regard" for biodiversity, which
could be interpreted to mean that at every opportunity (including the
planning process) benefits for biodiversity could be realised.
For more general information on policies that relate to biodiversity please see the policy summary page.