West Berkshire Council takes significant steps to conserve biodiversity

West Berkshire Council is proactively gearing up for the implementation of crucial legislation aimed at conserving and enhancing biodiversity across the district.

Scheduled to commence on 12 February, the Mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) legislation will come into force for major planning applications to ensure the natural environment and habitat for wildlife is in a better state than it was before the development. BNG will be applicable to minor sites starting from April 2024, and is anticipated to expand to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects by November 2025, some exemptions apply.

As the local planning authority, the planning process will play a fundamental role in the delivery of BNG. This would require developers to provide a minimum of 10% biodiversity gain, with the BNG habitat needing to be secured for at least 30 years via planning conditions and obligations.

Like most countries across the world, the UK is facing a substantial loss of biodiversity, and is now amongst one of the most nature-depleted nations globally according to the State of Nature 2023 report.

West Berkshire boasts a variety of valuable nature conservation sites, including Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) like Greenham Common and the rare chalk stream of the River Lambourn. The North Wessex Downs National Landscape - previously referred to as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) - covers 74% of the district. We are tasked with achieving a sustainable balance between the protection of these important natural assets and facilitating relevant development requirements.

The Environment Act 2021 reinforces local authorities' duty to conserve and enhance biodiversity, which we are already making strides to achieve through a myriad of actions. In October 2023, we strengthened our climate emergency declaration to include an ecological emergency declaration, addressing the biodiversity crisis and the importance we place on our natural environment in West Berkshire. Tackling the Climate and Ecological Emergency is a key priority in our newly adopted Council Strategy 2023-2027. Our Environment Strategy 2020 to 2030 and accompanying Delivery Plan provides further details.

Cllr Stuart Gourley, Executive Member for Climate Action, Recycling and Biodiversity at West Berkshire Council, said:

"We are already working hard to deliver a variety of key actions to conserve and enhance biodiversity across West Berkshire. This new legislation is a positive step forward and we welcome the opportunity to strengthen our commitment to tackle the climate and ecological emergency."

Cllr Tony Vickers, Executive Member for Planning and Development at West Berkshire Council, said:

"There are tremendous opportunities for the planning system to contribute to the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain and secure meaningful enhancements for the environment. We look forward to working with all stakeholders to achieve this following the introduction of mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain."

Whilst the BNG legislation suggests on-site biodiversity net gain is preferred, we recognise it will not always be possible to achieve sufficient biodiversity gain within a development site. We are looking at opportunities to work with landowners and other interested parties to put forward sites and schemes that could help deliver positive off-site enhancement of local biodiversity. This will strengthen the work that is happening through the Natural Solutions Delivery Partnership. We urge interested parties to keep an eye on our Biodiversity and the Natural Environment webpage for further developments.