Protecting and Enhancing
Biodiversity and Geodiversity

10.3 The Borough Council considers it is possible, with sensitive planning and development, to promote and enhance biodiversity and geological conservation. Nature conservation sites, both statutory and non-statutory, together with other countryside features which provide wildlife corridors and links, form an essential network which is necessary to ensure the continuation of the range and diversity of flora and fauna and the survival of important species. Development proposals should seek to conserve or enhance the biodiversity and geological interests of the area and in particular ensure that species and habitats set out in UK and local biodiversity action plans will be protected and, where possible, enhanced. The Borough Council will achieve this through the use of conditions and planning obligations.

10.4 Where there is a possibility that development will affect nature conservation, the level of impact needs to be determined and a survey of species and/or habitat will be required before a planning application is considered. The local planning authority will also refer closely to policies on habitat mitigation and creation set out in St Edmundsbury's Biodiversity Strategy. This includes the requirement to make suitable compensatory habitat provision and ensure enhanced management. Encouragement will also be given to measures which improve public access to natural habitats where appropriate.

10.5 European and national sites: Within the borough there are a number of internationally, nationally and locally important sites that will be protected. Internationally and nationally important sites include Ramsar sites, Special Protected Areas, Special Areas of Conservation, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserves.

10.6 Regional and local sites: There are also other areas of nature conservation interest of regional and local importance in both the countryside and built up areas which merit protection. The biodiversity value of these areas will be taken into account when considering development proposals that would affect them. These sites include Local Nature Reserves, County Wildlife Sites, Local Wildlife Sites, Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological Sites (RIGS) and other sites of local nature conservation importance, including ancient and semi-natural woodland and veteran trees. The Suffolk Biological Records Centre is recognised as a valuable source of information and data on the borough.

POLICY NE1: IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT ON SITES OF BIODIVERSITY AND GEOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

When considering development proposals which may have an adverse impact on nature conservation sites or interests, the local planning authority will have regard to the expert nature conservation advice provided by English Nature, Suffolk Wildlife Trust and other specialist sources and the following criteria:

• i) The ecological value and objectives for which the site was classified or designated;
  ii) The integrity of the site in terms of its wildlife value, its diversity and relationship with other ecological resources;
  iii) The cumulative impact of the proposal and other developments on the wildlife value of the site;
• iv) The presence of protected species, habitat areas and wildlife corridors and proposed measures to safeguard and enhance them;
  v) The opportunity to create new habitat areas and to improve the conservation status of locally vulnerable species;
  vi) Guidance set down within biodiversity action plans, St Edmundsbury Borough Biodiversity Strategy, St Edmundsbury Nature Conservation Strategy, habitat management plans and other relevant sources; and
  vii) The extent to which the imposition of conditions or planning obligation:
• • - would mitigate the effects of the development and/or protect the nature conservation value of the locality;
    - ensure replacement habitat or features; and/or
    - ensure that resources are made available for the future enhancement and management of the replacement habitat or feature to enable it to attain the quality and attributes that have been lost.

Development which would have an adverse impact on areas of international and national nature conservation importance, as indicated on the Proposals Map, will not be permitted unless there are imperative reasons of overriding national public interest and that there is no alternative solution.

Development which would have an adverse impact on regionally and locally designated sites will not be permitted unless the need for the development outweighs the importance of the nature conservation value of the site.

Note: With respect to criterion (vii) the provision of replacement habitat or features is viewed as a last resort, rather than a regular development tool. Where compensation has been established as an acceptable alternative, it will be necessary to provide replacement areas to an equivalent value to the lost habitats. The local planning authority will normally expect that new habitats to be in place to a satisfactory standard before the original habitats are lost. At the same time the local planning authority will expect such compensation areas to be larger than the original.

In considering development proposals which may give rise to serious or irreversible environmental damage to important wildlife interests, the local planning authority will apply the precautionary principle.

10.7 Species protection: The presence of a protected species such as bats, barn owls and great crested newts is a material consideration when considering a development proposal. The Borough Council will seek to ensure that development will not harm the conservation status of such protected species and will consult English Nature before granting planning permission.

POLICY NE2: PROTECTED SPECIES

Development which would have an adverse impact on species protected by schedules 1, 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, The Conservation Regulations 1994 and listed in the Suffolk Biodiversity Action Plan, or subsequent legislation, will not be permitted unless there is no alternative and the local planning authority is satisfied that suitable measures have been taken to:

• a) facilitate the survival of the protected species;
  b) reduce disturbance to a minimum;
  c) provide adequate alternative habitats to sustain at least the current levels of population.

Note: Developers should take into account separate legislation, Acts, regulations, planning guidance and any subsequent replacement Supplementary Planning Documents and laws preventing interference with protected species.

Where appropriate, the local planning authority will use planning conditions and/or planning obligations to achieve appropriate mitigation and/or compensatory measures and to ensure that any potential harm is kept to a minimum.