Object

Representation ID: 19866

Received: 01/04/2021

Respondent: Natural England

Reference to the North Pennine Moors SPA/SAC should be added to the table to ensure consistency.

Various improvements are suggested to strengthen the policy relating to:
- refer to the Nature Recovery Network and recognition of the role of the Network as a major commitment in the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan.
- Reference could also be made to opportunity areas (which should be mapped) so developers understand where they are located and ensure that any biodiversity net gain contributes to local biodiversity priorities.
- include a footnote or link to the Defra Metric2 in Policy EN2.
- including the requirement for net gain to be provided ‘in perpetuity’ and identifying links between net gain and the Nature Recovery Network.
- Referencing that biodiversity net gain does not apply to irreplaceable habitats and any biodiversity net gain which may impact on protected sites is additional to any existing legal or policy requirement for statutory protected areas
- Reference could also be made to the delivery mechanism - planning conditions or S106 agreements?