Planning and Biodiversity Net Gain

Inappropriate development can have a significant impact on wildlife; while considerate planning can help protect, enhance and even create new habitats.

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust gives wildlife a voice by:

• Responding to strategic planning consultations, such as Local Plans. These form a backbone to the planning system and contain policies that planners use for many years. We work to make sure that appropriate policies are in place for protecting wildlife; that areas are set aside for wildife and that local authorities have access to up-to-date data on valuable wildlife habitats and species.

• Commenting on certain types of planning applications where there is potential for significant effects to wildlife. We have limited resources and so must prioritise which cases we become involved in. This is done according to where the potential wildlife gains or losses are greatest, whether other bodies are commenting on the ecological aspects of an application and its location in terms of our Living Landscape projects.

• Providing advice to developers and working with planners and consultants.

• Providing advice to members of the public.