Planning

Planning for wildlife

Through our planning work we aim to protect and restore important wildlife and habitats, achieve creation of new habitats, encourage public enjoyment of nature and promote sustainable development and land use. We mostly comment on ecology issues but also anything that affects the environment -drainage, sustainability e.g. energy and transport, and occasionally where we have relevant knowledge, landscape and community issues. Much of our work involves ensuring the right surveys are carried out initially, and that wildlife is protected or any effects properly compensated. Poor survey work, lack of time and knowledge among planners, a shortage of ecologists in local councils and lack of monitoring and enforcement are all hurdles we have to deal with, but many developers are positive and there is great potential on many sites for restoration or new habitat creation.


New housing

New homes with a retained hedgerow and flower meadow at Wolseley Bridge


Our work

We have one member of staff dedicated to planning work full time since 2006, and usually one or two volunteers who help with admin.

We are sent consultations on development applications from all 11 district councils in Staffordshire, as well as the county council, and receive an average of 6 per week, ranging from barn conversions to major pipelines! This obviously means we have to prioritise the larger sites and more vulnerable habitats/ species.

We also have issues and sites reported to us by members or local residents, and sometimes developers themselves will approach us directly before they submit plans to gain our advice. We are getting involved with many more sites ‘pre-application’ now, as councils and developers try to iron out issues, and this is really positive: the earlier you deal with wildlife the better the outcome both in time, costs and the end result - for biodiversity and an attractive place for people too!

We also get involved in strategic planning, commenting on policies in the new Local Development Frameworks, and working with councils to draw up biodiversity opportunity maps so that wildlife gets ‘planned in’ on a landscape scale!

We are also carrying out a number of projects to build up data on wildlife and the effects of developments – monitoring the impact of past development sites, building databases for ponds, bat roosts and green roofs, and screening application lists. We are also hoping to take part in a Defra pilot project on Biodiversity Offsetting.

SUDS

Car park with sustainable drainage swale at Thorley Drive football pitches, Cheadle


What can you do?

If you are concerned about an application

Let us know where the site is and the application number

Record the species and habitats that you or others have seen on the site –you’ll need to be as specific as you can with species, date and location, and report these to us and to Staffordshire Ecological Record.

Contact Staffordshire Ecological Record for existing species and habitat records –free to the general public

Submit your own comments, highlighting issues relevant to planning.

Legally protected and UK Priority species are the most important in planning terms, but planners must also ‘have regard’ to the conservation of all biodiversity.

Check out your local council’s current policies such as their Validation Guidance (what developers need to submit) and Local Plan or Local Development Framework.

Refer to nature conservation guidance online- see links below.

If you are a developer

Check what species may be on your site using the Staffordshire Biodiversity checklist or Natural England’s Standing Advice for Protected species.

Contact Staffordshire Ecological Record for existing data (there is a fee for any commercial work), also check online for previous applications in the area which may have conducted surveys.

Talk to local residents where possible to get an idea of any issues such as flooding or wildlife sightings that may be relevant in future.

Plan surveys in advance –most are limited to a certain season and timescale, and consultants get very busy!

Engage a reputable Ecology Consultant – use members of Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM). Members are listed on their website, you can also use ENDS directory or search Google for local consultants.

Contact us

Contact SWT for advice at any stage on how you can avoid problems and maximise wildlife on your site; also talk to your local planning department and council Biodiversity/ Countryside officer.

Think ahead as to how you can stay ‘biodiversity neutral’ by maintaining, replacing or enhancing green areas on/ near your site.

There’s lots of guidance online to help you avoid pitfalls and promote wildlife, from natural drainage and low-maintenance meadows to bringing in birds and butterflies –see links below.

 

Useful Links