Planning and Biodiversity Net Gain

Planning advice

Credit: Nick Upton/2020VISIONĀ 

Planning and Biodiversity Net Gain

Giving wildlife a voice

With ever increasing development pressures across Staffordshire, we are working to ensure that wildlife and valuable habitats are fully considered within the planning system,Ā and that Biodiversity Net Gain legislation creates or restores habitat in the right places.

Planning - public

Credit: Ben Hall /2020VISION

Planning advice for the public

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Planning - developers

Planning advice developers

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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 toĀ developersĀ and working with planners and consultants.
Wildflowers by Kieron Huston

Wildflowers by Kieron Huston

Biodiversity Net Gain

Almost all developments need to result in a 10% increase in natural habitat. Many developers will be able to achieve this on the development site itself but they can't, they will create this natural habitat elsewhere. This is where we come in - we're working to ensure off-site habitat creation and restoration is done in the right place, for the maximum benefit of wildlife.

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Current development issues and planning applications

2201612FULM The National Memorial Arboretum, Croxall Road Alrewas Burton Upon Trent Staffordshire DE13 7AR - 15 August 2023

Newcastle under Lyme First Draft Local Plan 2023 SWT comments -14 August 2023

SMD/2023/0336 EIA screening - solar farm New House Farm, Cotton - July 2023

Stafford Station Gateway SRF SWT letter 28-Sep-2022

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council Local Plan Consultation - January 2022

Former Meaford Power Station - Response January 2022

South Staffordshire Local Plan response - December 2021

Planning for the Future Consultation October 2020

M54-M6 Link representation May 2020