Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) Council is poised to introduce some of the country’s most stringent environmental standards for new housing developments. Building on its pioneering stance in addressing the climate emergency, the council aims to significantly raise biodiversity requirements in its upcoming local plan.
B&NES was an early adopter of the 10% biodiversity net gain rule, mandating that new developments increase the biodiversity value of their sites by at least 10%. However, with the government now enforcing this standard nationwide, the council is proposing to double the requirement to 20%. This ambitious goal would place B&NES alongside leading councils such as Guildford Borough Council, which has already implemented a 20% biodiversity net gain mandate.
Matt McCabe, the council cabinet member overseeing the local plan, emphasized the council’s commitment to environmental leadership during a scrutiny panel meeting on October 23. He stated, “We have been at the cutting edge of local authorities in terms of the climate emergency, and we want to stay there.”
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The local plan — a critical document setting planning policies and determining development locations until 2043 — is currently under consultation until November 14. Sarah Warren, B&NES’s cabinet member for sustainability, highlighted the council’s intention to push the biodiversity net gain target higher than national standards. “We were early adopters of 10% biodiversity net gain nearly three years ago, but now the whole country has caught up. By consulting on a 20% target, we’re aiming to lead once again,” she explained.
The biodiversity net gain system involves assessing the existing ecological value of a site before development through an ecological report. Developers then must enhance biodiversity through on-site measures such as creating rain gardens, sustainable urban drainage systems, parks, or meadows. If on-site improvements are infeasible, developers can offset by enhancing biodiversity in alternative locations or contributing to the council’s biodiversity fund.
Despite the ambitious targets, some concerns remain. Andy Wait, chair of the council’s climate emergency and sustainability scrutiny committee, worries that doubling the biodiversity net gain requirement might encourage developers to rely heavily on off-site offsets. He cautioned, “While I support 20% biodiversity, I’m concerned that wealthier parts of the district may gain biodiversity at the expense of areas currently rich in nature, especially those undergoing new housing developments.”
The government has mandated B&NES to accommodate 27,000 new homes by 2043, making the local plan’s housing allocation decisions all the more crucial. To engage the community, the council is touring the district in a converted 1990s Mr Whippy-style ice cream van to host events and gather public input.
The local plan options consultation closes on November 14, and residents are encouraged to participate to shape the future of development and nature conservation in Bath and North East Somerset.