Response 4080862

Response to request for information

Reference

4080862

Response date

6 August 2026

Request

1. Does the Council have an adopted development plan policy requiring planning applications to deliver a minimum of 10% BNG?
2. Does the Council have an adopted development plan policy requiring planning applications to deliver more than the minimum of 10% BNG and do these apply to all sites? i.e. greenfield or brownfield
3. If no planning policies are currently adopted requiring a minimum of 10% BNG, or more than the minimum of 10% BNG are local plans published at Regulation 18 or 19 stage which require these levels to be met? 
4. Does the Council provide pre application advice on BNG to developers other than as part of the general pre application advice service?
5. Has the Council developed its own environmental bank to enable applicants/developers to deliver BNG off site where the need arises, or does it provide a list of recommended sites that have been secured through section agreements or conservation covenants? 
6. Does the Council keep information on the level of BNG which has been provided on and off site since 12 February 2024? If yes can amounts in area and linear units be provided? 
7. Has the council published its Biodiversity Duty Report as required under the Environment Act 2021?  

Response

1. Does the Council have an adopted development plan policy requiring planning applications to deliver a minimum of 10% BNG? – No
2. Does the Council have an adopted development plan policy requiring planning applications to deliver more than the minimum of 10% BNG and do these apply to all sites? i.e. greenfield or brownfield -  No
3. If no planning policies are currently adopted requiring a minimum of 10% BNG, or more than the minimum of 10% BNG are local plans published at Regulation 18 or 19 stage which require these levels to be met? Yes.  Please see GNSP Publication Draft March 2025 Policy 17.
4. Does the Council provide pre application advice on BNG to developers other than as part of the general pre application advice service? No.
5. Has the Council developed its own environmental bank to enable applicants/developers to deliver BNG off site where the need arises, or does it provide a list of recommended sites that have been secured through section agreements or conservation covenants? – No
6. Does the Council keep information on the level of BNG which has been provided on and off site since 12 February 2024? If yes can amounts in area and linear units be provided? Please see Biodiversity Duty Report 2024_2025
7. Has the council published its Biodiversity Duty Report as required under the Environment Act 2021? Yes