Biodiversity Net Gain - Freedom of information requests
Title or Description
Biodiversity Net Gain
FOI Number
15448
Date Received
17/07/2021
Type of Request
EIR
Request or Question
I would like to request, under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the following information:*When is the Local Planning Authority planning to introduce Biodiversity Net Gain as a mandatory requirement for all small development projects in the LPA’s jurisdiction? Please provide a specific date and a short definition of what the LPA classes as a ‘small development project’.* If a specific date has not yet been decided, does your Local Planning Authority intend to introduce a requirement for planning applications to include localised Biodiversity Net Gain plans for small development project within the 24 months following the passing of the Environment Bill? (Please define ‘Biodiversity Gain Plan’ as any document that is analogous to the type of document specified in the Environment Bill).* Is there any material that sets out what criteria a Biodiversity Gain Plan needs to meet in order to be accepted by the authority for a small development project? If such material exists please can it be attached to your response. If such material does not exist, please provide a brief description of what criteria a Biodiversity Gain Plan needs to meet within your LPA. (Again, please define ‘Biodiversity Gain Plan’ as any document that is analogous to the type of document specified in the Environment Bill).
* Who is the official at your Local Planning Authority that is tasked with ensuring that Biodiversity Net Gain is implemented for the LPA?
* Does the LPA’s approach to Net Gain require all ‘Biodiversity Gain Plans’ to be produced by an accredited ecologist?
Response
In response to all the above points please note the Biodiversity Net gain does not apply in Scotland and therefore we give notice under 10(4)(a) of EI(S)R 2004. It refers to requirements in England for Biodiversity Gain under their Environmental Bill. There may be a similar requirement for Scottish planning authorities to address this when the new National Planning Framework 3 is published, though full details of this are not known at this stage.
