Biodiversity Duty Report January 2024 to December 2025

Rushcliffe Borough Council Biodiversity Duty Report January 2024 to December 2025

Introduction from Cabinet Member Councillor Rob Inglis

“I’m pleased to endorse this report, which highlights the Council’s work across its diverse services to tackle climate change and biodiversity. Through a range of internal and external strategies, we are making significant progress in conserving and enhancing biodiversity across the borough. This report also sets out our collaborative work with key partners and our commitment to meeting statutory duties. As a local authority, we recognise our responsibility to protect the environment and will continue to deliver our action plan to support nature recovery over the next five years and beyond.”

Councillor Rob Inglis
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety

Pictured above from left to right RBC’s Senior Ecology and Sustainability Officer Paul Phillips and RBC’s Cabinet Member Councillor Rob Inglis

Contents

Introduction from Cabinet Member Councillor Rob Inglis

Executive Summary
Introduction
Information About Rushcliffe Borough Council
Policy, Objectives and Actions
Biodiversity net gain information
Monitoring and evaluating our actions
Our Top Achievements this reporting period
Future action
References

Appendix 1 – Principal recent resolutions of Rushcliffe Borough Council impacting on Biodiversity
Appendix 2 - Biodiversity Net Gain Implications Consideration for reports

1. Executive Summary

1.1. This Biodiversity Duty Report outlines the actions taken by Rushcliffe Borough Council between January 2024 and December 2025 to conserve and enhance biodiversity, as required under the strengthened duty of the The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 as amended by the Environment Act 2021. It also sets out the council’s planned actions to further support nature recovery over the period 2026–2030.

1.2. Rushcliffe Borough Council has embedded biodiversity considerations across its strategic framework, including the Corporate Strategy 2024–2027, Environmental Policy 2023, Climate Change Strategy 2021–2030, and the Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy 2026–2030. Biodiversity implications are routinely assessed in council decisions, with many actions delivering positive environmental outcomes.

1.3. During the reporting period, the council delivered an extensive programme of habitat management, ecological enhancement and community-focused environmental activity. This includes active management of 11 key nature conservation sites, additional land managed for wildlife, and the continued provision of eight Local Nature Reserves. Three of the council’s sites maintained Green Flag status, reflecting high standards of environmental management. Significant progress has also been made in tree planting, wildflower initiatives and habitat-friendly grounds maintenance, supported by professional ecologists and trained operational staff.

1.4. Investment in biodiversity remains strong, with £285,300 allocated in 2024/25 for biodiversity, tree planting and open space management, alongside several strategic partnerships with organisations including Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, the Canal & River Trust, parish councils and volunteer groups. The council continues to host active networks such as the Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy Implementation Group and the Rushcliffe Tree Warden Network, is an active member of the midlands parks forum and supports collaborative nature recovery.

1.5. The council has successfully implemented systems and governance for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), including assessment and monitoring processes, specialist staff roles and adoption of digital monitoring tools. Four BNG plans were approved during the reporting period, all delivering positive habitat outcomes, with a combined net gain of +2.23 biodiversity units across on- and off-site delivery.

1.6. The period saw several notable achievements, including major habitat improvements at The Hook, infrastructure works at Sharphill Wood to protect sensitive habitats, initiating the creation of a new 20-hectare carbon offset woodland at Upper Broughton, wildflower enhancement projects, and the planting of over 1,042 new trees in 2024/25.

1.7. Looking forward to 2026–2030, the council plans to expand habitat creation, increase the proportion of land managed for biodiversity from 51% to 56%, declare additional Local Nature Reserves, secure more Green Flag sites, deliver major tree and habitat works, update key management plans, and explore new opportunities for rewilding and habitat banking. This work will align closely with the Local Nature Recovery Strategy and the next stage of the Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan and Rushcliffe Local Plan.

1.8. Through its policy commitments, land management practices, ecological expertise and partnership working, Rushcliffe Borough Council continues to make strong progress in supporting nature recovery and meeting its statutory biodiversity responsibilities.

2. Introduction

2.1. This report sets out the actions to conserve and enhance biodiversity that Rushcliffe Borough Council has undertaken between January 2024 and December 2025 and consider what future action the council intends to take.

2.2. This report is the first report required under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (NERC Act) section 40 duty, as amended by the Environment Act 2021.

2.3. The Environment Act 2021 strengthened the existing biodiversity duty so that public authorities must periodically consider what action they can take to conserve and enhance biodiversity and then take that action.

2.4. As a local authority, Rushcliffe Borough Council must publish a biodiversity report at least every 5 years. This documents the policies and actions we have carried out to comply with our biodiversity duty.

2.5. An initial first consideration assessment of the councils existing functions, plans, and operations to identify opportunities to help nature, was undertaken in November 2023. This report follows on from that first consideration.

3. Information about Rushcliffe Borough Council

3.1. Rushcliffe Borough Council is a borough (tier 2) Local Authority and Local Planning Authority in Nottinghamshire.

3.2. Rushcliffe lies immediately south of the City of Nottingham and the River Trent and extends towards Newark in the northeast and Loughborough in the southwest. Rushcliffe covers 158 square miles (40,923 ha) and the circumference of the borough is 123.3km.

3.3. Although parts of the borough lie close to Nottingham, Rushcliffe has a strong identity of its own. The main centre of population is West Bridgford, where around 41,000 of the borough's 111,100 population live. The remainder of the district is largely rural, with the centres of population split between small towns and villages.

3.4. The council’s primary responsibilities are delivering the following services:

Streetwise – including Street cleansing, graffiti removal, playground maintenance and the mowing of multiple open spaces and sports pitches.
Recycling2Go - Waste collection and recycling. Including emptying 3.3 million bins per year.
Events - Delivering high quality family events all year round, welcoming over 30,000 residents and visitors to the borough in 2023.
Benefits - Ensuring those who are eligible access the support they need, processing over £12,000,000 of housing benefit in 2023.
Economic Growth - supporting businesses large and small in the borough to access funding and training.
Elections – Delivering parliamentary, county, borough and other elections and referendums.
Leisure Centres - Leisure centres with swimming pools, fitness suites and exercise rooms across the borough.
Planning – Processing planning applications large and small. The team has processed 13,265 applications between since 2019 and 2023.
Open Spaces – providing and managing public open space, including Rushcliffe Country Park, Nature Reserves, playing fields and land for formal and informal recreation.
Council Tax and Business Rates - Collecting essential income and distributing it across public services in Nottinghamshire to fund the services residents value and need.
Environmental Health - Services including dog and pest control, food outlet inspections and enviro-crime investigations.
Strategic Housing - Working with partners to provide suitable accommodation for a range of residents, and to prevent homelessness. (Rushcliffe Borough Council, 2024).

3.5. Rushcliffe Borough Council has landholdings (excluding buildings) amounting to approximately 295 hectares.

4. Policy, Objectives and Actions

4.1.1. The council’s priorities and objectives are set out in the Rushcliffe Borough Council Corporate Strategy 2024 - 2027, this identifies four priorities:

The Environment
Quality of Life
Sustainable Growth
Efficient Services

4.1.2. Under ‘The Environment’, the council states “The Council is committed to nature conservation, working to strike the right balance between facilitating necessary development without sacrificing the borough’s rural identity that the Council and so many residents value. Nature conservation is also vital for wildlife in the borough as well as for its role in mitigating the effects of climate change”. (Rushcliffe Borough Council, 2024)

4.1.3. The corporate strategy also commits the council for 2024 – 2027, too “Implement the Environment Act commitments. Fulfilling obligations as a Local Authority To make environmental improvements in relation to waste, resource efficiency, air quality, water, nature and biodiversity, and conservation”. Including “Introduction of a Biodiversity Net Gain Duty which means that when planning permissions are granted the end development must have” at least “10% more biodiversity than before development took place” (Rushcliffe Borough Council, 2024)

4.1.4. The council implements its environmental commitment through its Environmental Policy 2023, which on commitment 8 states “The Council will protect and enhance our natural environment and protect our geological heritage. We will improve the extent, quality and variety of wildlife and will seek to reflect these aims in strategies adopted by, or relevant to, the borough. We will also endeavour to improve existing green open space and create new, quality, accessible areas and seek Nature Based solutions where appropriate.” (Rushcliffe Borough Council, 2023)

4.1.5. This in turn supports our Climate Change Strategy 2021 - 2030, updated 2024, this set out our ‘Conservation of Biodiversity’ commitment (pg8), (Rushcliffe Borough Council, 2024), and also states that we need “to address the Climate Emergency and Biodiversity Crisis”.

4.1.6. The Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy 2026 – 2030 sets out actions to “safeguard existing known species, habitats and sites of interest, but also to encourage the creation of new sites supporting species and habitats, while seeking to address the Climate Emergency and Biodiversity Crisis. The strategy also seeks to preserve the existing links between wildlife sites and to establish new links to allow the spread of wild native plants and animals”. (Rushcliffe Borough Council, 2025)

4.1.7. Other policies have been set through elected members at Council or by Cabinet, a record of decisions is provided in Appendix 1.

4.1.8. The council considers any biodiversity implications for all its decisions, Appendix 2 shows if the consideration was positive, neutral or negative for the period 2024 -2025. For full Council decisions 30 were deemed to be neutral and 2 provided positive impacts, with no negative impacts. For Cabinet 43 decision were deemed to be neutral and 15 had positive impacts, with no negative impacts.

4.2 Actions undertaken by the council include

4.2.1. Managing 11 sites (150.52ha) under nature conservation management plans. The sites managed under management plans are:

Collington Common, West Bridgford (1.4ha, predominantly grassland)
Green Line, West Bridgford (1.4ha, grassland and woodland)
Greythorne Dyke Open Space, West Bridgford (2.6ha, Grass; Marsh; Wood; Reedbed)
Meadow Covert Wood, West Bridgford (2ha, woodland)
Meadow Park, East Leake (18ha, grassland and stream)
Rushcliffe Country Park, Ruddington (85ha, Pond; Grass; Wood; Lake; Reedbed)
Sharphill Wood, Edwalton (9.6ha, woodland)
Silverdale (3.72ha, grassland, woodland)
The Hook, Lady Bay (15ha, grassland, stream)
Wilford Claypits SSSI, West Bridgford (4.3ha, Pond; Marsh; Grass; Wood; Reedbed)
Wilwell Farm Cutting, Ruddington (7.5ha, Marsh; Grass; Wood; Reedbed).

4.2.2. In addition to the above sites the council manage a further 24ha across its estate for nature conservation and 35 grassland sites (5.3h) on the council estate are left uncut between April and August as summer pollinator sites.

4.2.3. The council has declared 8 sites across the borough as Local Nature Reserves (LNR).

4.2.4. The council has achieving Keep Britain Tidy Green Flags for 3 of its sites (Rushcliffe Country Park, Sharphill Wood and The Hook).

4.2.5. The council has undertaken a programme of tree planting across its estate, to community sites and supplied trees to residents. At the end of the current season (December 2025) the council will have delivered 13,763 trees through its resident tree scheme since 2018/2019. Planting on the council property portfolio and for communities is as shown on our tree statistics page.

4.2.6. A wildflower scheme has provided 1000 packets of wildflowers (5g) to residents in 2025. A wildflower enhancement project was undertaken in 2025 at the councils The Hook Local Nature Reserve, funded by a Seven Trent Water grant administered by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.

4.2.7. The council has trained its grounds staff to be aware of and protect hedgehogs that could be impacted by its operations, the council has achieved The British Hedgehog Preservation Society Hedgehog Heroes Roll of Honour accreditation for its Rushcliffe Borough Council – Streetwise and its Rushcliffe Oaks Crematorium services.

4.2.8. The council provides the use of a remote controlled brushcutter and operator to nature reserve managers (both council owned and community owned) to assist management of sites with difficult to manage grasslands.

4.2.9. The council employs professional ecologists (1.5FTE) to provide internal and external advice across the authority (including to development management, property and facilities teams) and to borough residents and organisations. In addition, the council employs a Country Park and Open Spaces Manager and 2.5 Country Park Rangers.

4.2.10. The council provides core funding for biodiversity, tree planting, tree maintenance and management of the country park and biodiversity management across the council property portfolio, this amounted to £287,300 for 2024/2025 (excluding staff salaries, oncosts and building costs).

4.2.11. Within the above budget the council funds Service Level Agreements with the following external partners to deliver biodiversity actions:

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust – Biodiversity Services (£15,750) and SSSI Management (£9140 from 2025/26)
Nottinghamshire Ecological and Geological Data Partnership (£5158)
Canal and River Trust - Grantham Canal (£24,000)
East Leake PC - Meadow Park Management (£7500)
Friends of the Green Line - Green Line Management (£2000)

4.2.12. Within the above budget the council also provides Nottinghamshire County Council – Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Group with a grant of £1000 p.a. and operates a Biodiversity Support Grant providing small grants by application to groups and landowners in Rushcliffe; Five applications to the Rushcliffe Biodiversity Support grant were paid during 2024/25, totalling a value of £2,196.93.

4.2.13. The council hosts a partnership of local public bodies, organisations and other interested parties to develop, implement and monitor the Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy Implementation Group (RNCSIG). The group meets 6 times per year, and its activity is shown on its Facebook page. Annual reports are published on the groups Dropbox page.

4.2.14. The council also hosts the Rushcliffe Tree Warden Network, a group of volunteers working to promote, protect and monitor trees in their local community. The activity of the network is shown on the Rushcliffe Tree Warden Network Facebook page.

4.3 External Strategies

4.3.1. Rushcliffe Borough Council has considered / supported the following other strategies produced by external partners:

4.3.2. Protected Site Strategies – this is a “new power for Natural England to ‘…prepare and publish a strategy for a) improving the conservation and management of a protected site, and b) managing the impact of plans, projects or other activities…on the conservation and management of the protected site’ “(Planning Advisory Service, 2026). Currently no Protected Site Strategies exist that impact on Rushcliffe.

4.3.3. Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Plan - identifies rare, important and threatened habitats and species in Nottinghamshire and provides action plans for their conservation. Species and Habitats relevant to Rushcliffe are listed in the online Nature in Rushcliffe Storymap.

4.3.4. Rushcliffe Borough Council is a member of the Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Group (NBAG), the author of the Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Plan. The Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy seeks to deliver actions from the Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Plan. The councils Senior Ecology and Sustainability Officer is currently chair of the NBAG Steering Group.

4.3.5. Nottinghamshire and Nottingham Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) - Nottinghamshire County Council as Responsible authority, published online the Nottinghamshire and Nottingham Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) in November 2025.

4.3.6. Rushcliffe Borough Council as a supporting authority has been significantly involved in the development of the LNRS, chairing the LNRS Strategic Oversight Group and acting as representative of the other Nottinghamshire district / borough councils on the LNRS Advisory Group

4.3.7. Rushcliffe Borough Council has developed the Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy 2025-2030 in tandem with the LNRS, and has sought to support the LNRS with its aims, objectives and actions

4.3.8. At the Rushcliffe Borough Council Cabinet held on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, it was resolved that Cabinet supports the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS); and supports Nottinghamshire County Council publishing the LNRS.

4.3.9. A replacement Rushcliffe Local Plan is currently being developed through the development of the Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan. As this is developed the strategies of the LNRS will be incorporated. The March 2025 Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan Publication Version included aspects of the draft LNRS, however any subsequent changes to the LNRS are yet to be incorporated.

4.3.10. At the Rushcliffe Borough Council Cabinet held on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, it was resolved that the council support the further development, examination and approval of the revised Local Development Scheme.

4.3.11. On 22nd December 2025 in accordance with Regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012; the Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan, including supporting documents, was submitted to the Secretary of State by the Greater Nottingham Strategic Partnership.

4.3.12. At the Rushcliffe Borough Council Cabinet held on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, it was resolved that council adopt and publish a Rushcliffe Design Code SPD. This sets out some requirements for biodiversity provision within new developments (particularly tree planting requirements, swift boxes and hedgehog highways).

4.3.13. The council provides standing advice on biodiversity requirements for new developments online and the councils ecologist team are consulted on ecological issues within planning applications.

5. Biodiversity net gain information

5.1. Actions the council has carried out to meet the biodiversity net gain obligations
• Established a system for assessing BNG (set out in our online advice)
• Established a system for monitoring BNG (set out in our online advice)
• Employed an Assistant Ecology and Biodiversity Officer to undertake onsite monitoring of BNG sites
• Liaised with potential landbank developers
• Implemented use of Linckia's Sweet BNG lifecycle app to support monitoring
• Provided training to external bodies and internal partners

5.2. Details of biodiversity gains resulting, or expected to result, from biodiversity gain plans the LPA has approved:

5.2.1. In the reporting period four Biodiversity Net Gain reports submitted under planning permissions have been approved. Three (75%) of these approved biodiversity Net Gain Plans securing BNG through on-site units only, and one (25%) securing BNG through a combination of on-site and off-site units. The offsite units used have been units located outside of LPA (Local Planning Authority) or NCA (Nature Character Areas) of impact site and neighbouring LPA or NCA.

5.2.2. No biodiversity gain plans approved in the reporting period negatively impacts irreplaceable habitats.

5.2.3. At the time of this report none of the biodiversity gain plans approved have had time to trigger monitoring reporting.

5.2.4. The overall expected gains and losses across all biodiversity gain plans approved in the reporting period are shown in the following table:

5.2. Details of biodiversity gains resulting, or expected to result, from biodiversity gain plans the Local Planning Authority has approved.

5.2.2. No biodiversity gain plans approved in the reporting period negatively impacts irreplaceable habitats.

5.2.3. At the time of this report none of the biodiversity gain plans approved have had time to trigger monitoring reporting.

5.2.4. The overall expected gains and losses across all biodiversity gain plans approved in the reporting period are shown in the following table:

Overall expected gains and losses across all biodiversity gain plans
ID	Overall Expected Gains and Losses	Implication
A	Total number of pre-development biodiversity units approved on-site broken down by area / hedgerow / watercourse	Gain: 2.56 area units and 0.31 hedgerow units
B	Total number of post-development biodiversity units approved on-site broken down by area / hedgerow / watercourse	Gain: 4.02 area units and 1.08 hedgerow units
B	Total net unit change in biodiversity units, on-site broken down by area/hedgerow/watercourse	Gain: 1.46 area units and 0.77 hedgerow units
D	Average percentage (%) change in biodiversity units, on-site	Gain: 94.44%
E	Total number of baseline biodiversity units approved off-site broken down by area / hedgerow / watercourse	Gain: 0.03 units
F	Total number of post-intervention biodiversity units approved off-site broken down by area / hedgerow / watercourse	Gain: 0.13 units
G	Total net unit change in biodiversity units, off-site broken down by area / hedgerow / watercourse	Gain: 0.1 units
H	Average percentage (%) change in biodiversity units, off-site	Gain: 316.19
I	Total number of biodiversity units offset using statutory credits broken down by area / hedgerow / watercourse	0
J	Total net unit change in biodiversity units (including any units offset using credits)	Gain: 2.23
K	Average percentage (%) change (including statutory credits)	Gain: 38.25

5.2.5. The composition of habitats for biodiversity gains approved are:

Composition of habitats for biodiversity gains approved
ID	Habitat Type - Area	Total Biodiversity Units at Baseline	Total Hectares at Baseline	Total Biodiversity Units Post Development	Total Hectares Units Post Development	Net Change in Biodiversity Units	Net Change in Hectares
A	Cropland	0.65	0.32	0	0	minus 0.65	minus 0.32
B	Grassland	1.52	0.66	3.16	0.82	1.64	0.24
C	Heathland and Scrub	0.1	0.02	0.16	0.02	0.06	0
D	Lakes	0	0	0	0	0	0
E	Sparsely Vegetated Land	0	0	0	0	0	0
F	Urban	0.07	0.94	0.09	1.09	0.02	0.15
G	Wetland	0	0	0	0	0
H	Woodland and Forest	0	0	0	0	0	0
N	Watercourse footprint	0	0	0	0	0	0
O	Individual trees	0.22	0.03	0.61	0.17	0.39	0.15
-	Total	2.56	1.97	4.02	2.1	1.46	0.22

5.2.6 The composition of hedgerows and lines of trees for biodiversity gains approved are:

Composition of hedgerows and lines of trees for biodiversity gains approved
ID	Habitat Type - Hedgerows and Lines of Trees	Total Biodiversity Units at Baseline	Total Kilometres at Baseline	Total Hedgerow Units Post Development	Total Kilometres Post Development	Net Change in Hedgerow Units	Net Change in Kilometres
A	Species-rich native hedgerow with trees - associated with bank or ditch	0	0	0	0	0	0
B	Species-rich native hedgerow with trees	0	0	0	0	0	0
C	Species-rich native hedgerow - associated with bank or ditch	0	0	0	0	0	0
D	Native hedgerow with trees - associated with bank or ditch	0	0	0	0	0	0
E	Species-rich native hedgerow	0	0	0	0	0	0
F	Native hedgerow - associated with bank or ditch	0	0	0	0	0	0
G	Native hedgerow with trees	0	0	0	0	0	0
H	Ecologically valuable line of trees	0	0	0	0	0	0
I	Ecologically valuable line of trees - associated with bank or ditch	0	0	0	0	0	0
J	Native hedgerow	0.25	0.05	0.66	0.24	0.41	0.19
K	Line of trees	0	0	0.23	0.12	0.23	0.12
L	Line of trees associated with bank or ditch	0	0	0	0	0	0
M	Non-native and ornamental hedgerow	0.06	0.06	0.19	0.19	0.13	0.13
-	Total	0.31	0.11	1.08	0.55	0.77	0.44

5.3 The council will continue to meet its biodiversity net gain obligation in the next reporting period by continuing the actions in 4.1 and 4.2 above and updating them as required, the council also intends to carry out the actions list in section 9 below.

6. Monitoring and evaluating our actions

We monitor our achievements along with the Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy through a series of key performance indicators annually, annual reports are published online on the councils website, on the RNCSIG Facebook page and on the RNCSIG Dropbox page.

7. Our Top Achievements this reporting period

Ditch de-silting and bank side vegetation reduction over 450m of the ditch (~900m2), to increase open water and open banks to support wading birds and aquatic mammals, was completed at The Hook in October 2024, supported by the UKSPF (UK Shared Prosperity Fund).
A UKSPF funded project has delivered 350m of path stabilised, by building up the surface with clean pebble type stone and an extension of 18m to the boardwalk in Sharphill Wood protecting a sensitive wildlife area within the wood.
Purchased land and commenced work to create a new council owned 20ha carbon offset woodland at Upper Broughton (Rushcliffe Woods), rewilding previously livestock farmed pastures with support from The Nottinghamshire County Council Trees for Climate scheme.
Began the purchase of a second site off Fosse Way, Kinoulton (to be called Wolds Wood).
Undertaken a wildflower enhancement project at The Hook Nature Reserve working with The Friends of The Hook and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
Planted 1042 trees in 2024/25 across the RBC estate with support from The Nottinghamshire County Council Trees for Climate scheme.

8. Future action

Between 2026 and 2030 the council, will deliver the Rushcliffe Climate Change Strategy 2021-2030 and the Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy 2025-2030. This is expected to include:

Continuation of the management and schemes listed above.
Development (including planting out) of both Rushcliffe Wood and Wolds Wood as Rewilding and Carbon Offset sites.
Investigating options for wetlands creation / enhancement at Rushcliffe Woods for Nature-based Flood Management controls and improved biodiversity.
Investigating opportunities for nature-based water quality improvements and biodiversity enhancement on Kingston Brook.
Increasing the % of council land managed for biodiversity purposes by at least 5% (from 51% to 56%).
Declaration of a further two Local Nature Reserves.
Achieving a further two council sites with Green Flags.
Large scale tree works at Sharphill Wood and Edwalton Golf Course.
Implement the Management Plan for Edwalton Golf Course, including management / development of Great Crested Newt ponds.
Updating management plans at Wilford Claypits, Wilwell Cutting, The Green Line, Meadow Park East Leake and Rushcliffe Oaks Crematorium.
Adopting a new Rushcliffe Local Plan Part 1 incorporating aspects from the LNRS (estimated for December 2026).
Review buildings within the council property portfolio by undertaking surveys for buildings used by protected / priority species and seek opportunities for enhancement features.
Consider opportunities to develop ‘habitat banks’ on existing or future council property portfolio holdings.
Continue to liaise with potential ‘habitat bank’ suppliers to develop further opportunities for offsetting sites within Rushcliffe that deliver the priorities identified in the Nottinghamshire and Nottingham Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) and the Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy 2025-2030.
Undertaking a further review of impacts and opportunities for the council impacting on biodiversity.

9. References

Planning Advisory Service. (2026). Protected Site Strategies (PSS). Retrieved from Local Government Association: https://www.local.gov.uk/pas/environment/protected-site-strategies-pss

Rushcliffe Borough Council. (2023). Environment Policy. Retrieved from Rushcliffe Borough Council: https://www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/about-us/about-the-council/policies-strategies-and-other-documents/accessible-documents/environment-policy-2023/

Rushcliffe Borough Council. (2024). Climate Change Strategy 2021-2030. Retrieved from Rushcliffe Borough Council: https://www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/media/1wppzj00/climate-change-strategy-2021-30.pdf

Rushcliffe Borough Council. (2024). Corporate Strategy 2025 - 2027. Retrieved from Rushcliffe Borough Council: https://www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/media/yvcplutb/rbc-corporate-strategy-2024-2027.pdf

Rushcliffe Borough Council. (2025). Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy 2026 - 2030. Retrieved from Rushcliffe Borugh Council: https://www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/about-us/about-the-council/policies-strategies-and-other-documents/accessible-documents/rushcliffe-nature-conservation-strategy-2026/

Appendix 1 Principal recent resolutions of Rushcliffe Borough Council impacting on Biodiversity

Cabinet - 8 December 2009 (Item 52, Local Nature Reserves)
Cabinet - 11 September 2012 (Item 9, Grass Cutting on New Wildflower Meadows)
Cabinet - 10 November 2015 (Item 5, Nature Conservation Strategy 2016-2020)
Cabinet - 9 January 2018 (Item 37, Trees and Woodland)
Cabinet - 10 March 2020 (Item 55, Carbon Management Plan)
Cabinet - 9 February 2021 (Item 49, Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy)
Council - 1 July 2021 (Item 20, Hedgehogs)
Cabinet - 14 December 2021 (Item 47, Climate Change)
Cabinet - 8 February 2022 (Item 64, Edwalton Golf Course Strategic Review)
Council - 3 March 2022 (Item 66b, Pesticides)
Council - 7 July 2022 (Item 23, Grantham Canal)
Council - September 2022 (Item 37, Hedgerows)
Council - 2 March, 2023 (Item 61, Artificial Grass)
Council - 13 July 2023 (Item 20, Soil)
Cabinet - 10 October 2023 (Item 31, Tree Management and Protection Policy 2023-2028)
Cabinet - 10 October 2023 (Item 33, Assigning Strategic Significance for Biodiversity Net Gain Assessments)
Council - 7 December 2023 7.00 pm (48a) – Swift Boxes
Cabinet - 14 May 2024 (Item 70, Management of Open Spaces in New Developments)
Cabinet - 14 May 2024 (Item 71, Rushcliffe Carbon Offsetting Framework)
Council - 26 September 2024 (Item 33a, Environment Agency’s Adaptive Investment for Growth July 2023 prospectus)
Cabinet - 12 November 2024 (Item 26, Rushcliffe Carbon Offsetting Framework - Land Acquisition)
Cabinet - 13 May 2025 (Item 63, Rushcliffe Carbon Offsetting Framework - Land Acquisition)
Cabinet - 8 July 2025 (Item 6, Rushcliffe Design Code Supplementary Planning Document)
Cabinet - 8 July 2025 (Item 7, Management of Open Spaces)
Cabinet - 14 October 2025 (Item 22, Nottinghamshire and Nottingham Local Nature Recovery Strategy)
Cabinet - 11 November 2025 (Item 33, Rushcliffe Carbon Offsetting Framework - Land Acquisition)
Cabinet - 9 December 2025 (Item 42, Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy)

Appendix 2 Biodiversity Net Gain Implications Considerations for reports

Biodiversity Net Gain Implications Considerations
Date	Item	Implication
13 February 2024	Item 50, 2024/25 Budget and Financial Strategy	None
13 February 2024	Item 51, UKSPF Programme for 2024/25	None
13 February 2024	Item 52, Potential Relocation of the West Bridgford Customer Service Centre	None
12 February 2024	Item 57, Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring 2023/24 – Financial Update Quarter 3	None
12 February 2024	Item 58, Mobile Homes Fees Policy 2024 – 2029	None
9 April 2024	Item 63, LGA Corporate Peer Challenge	None
9 April 2024	Item 64, Bingham Car Parking Project Update	None
14 May 2024	Item 69, Revised Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy 2024-2029	None
14 May 2024	Item 70, Management of Open Spaces in New Developments	None
14 May 2024	Item 71, Rushcliffe Carbon Offsetting Framework	Positive
14 May 2024	Item 72, Empty Homes Strategy 2024-2029	None
14 May 2024	Item 73, Review of Smoke Control Areas	None
9 July 2024	Item 5, Freeport Business Rates Relief Policy	None
9 July 2024	Item 6, Housing Enforcement Policy	None
9 July 2024	Item 7, Financial Outturn 2023/24	Positive
10 September 2024	Item 12, Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring 2024/25 – Financial Update Quarter 1	None
10 September 2024	Item 13, Tollerton Neighbourhood Plan	None
8 October 2024	Item 18, Economic Growth Strategy	None
8 October 2024	Item 19, The Future of the East Midlands Development Corporation Programme	None
12 November 2024	Item 23, Planning Enforcement Policy	Positive
12 November 2024	Item 26, Rushcliffe Carbon Offsetting Framework - Land Acquisition	Positive
10 December 2024	Item 31, Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring 2024/25 – Financial Update Quarter 2	Positive
10 December 2024	Item 32, LGA Corporate Peer Challenge Progress Review	None
14 January 2025	Item 36, Rushcliffe Design Code Supplementary Planning Document	None
14 January 2025	Item 37, Simpler Recycling Update	None
14 January 2025	Item 40, Parkwood Leisure Ltd Contract Variation	None
11 February 2025	Item 45, 2025/26 Budget and Financial Strategy	None
11 February 2025	Item 46, Revocation of the Borough’s Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA 1 and 1/2011)	None
11 February 2025	Item 47, Rushcliffe Play Strategy 2025-2030	Positive
11 February 2025	Item 48, Asset Investment Group Terms of Reference	Positive
11 February 2025	Item 49, Officer and Member Indemnity	None
11 March 2025	Item 54, Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring 2024/25 – Financial Update Quarter 3	None
11 March 2025	Item 55, UK Shared Prosperity Fund Programme 2025/26	None
13 May 2025	Item 60, Communications and Engagement Strategy	None
13 May 2025	Item 61, Renewal of Public Space Protection Order (Dog Control)	None
13 May 2025	Item 63, Rushcliffe Carbon Offsetting Framework - Land Acquisition	Positive
8 July 2025	Item 5, Financial Outturn 2024/25	None
8 July 2025	Item 6, Rushcliffe Design Code Supplementary Planning Document	None
8 July 2025	Item 7, Management of Open Spaces	Positive
9 September 2025	Item 12, Technological, Digital and Customer Access Strategy 2025-2028	None
9 September 2025	Item 13, Quarter 1 Finance Report	None
9 September 2025	Item 14, Confirmation of Rushcliffe Borough Council (67-69 Loughborough Road and 2A Patrick Road, West Bridgford) Article 4(1) Direction	None
9 September 2025	Item 17, Proposed Sale of Telecom Mast Sites	None
14 October 2025	Item 22, Nottinghamshire and Nottingham Local Nature Recovery Strategy	Positive
14 October 2025	Item 23, West Park Strategic Opportunity	None
11 November 2025	Item 28, Conservation Area Review Project – Summary	None
11 November 2025	Item 29, Draft Revised Character Appraisal and Conservation Area for Colston Bassett	None
11 November 2025	Item 30, Draft Character Appraisal and Proposed Conservation Area for Screveton	None
11 November 2025	Item 31, Ratcliffe on Soar Local Development Order	Positive
11 November 2025	Item 33, Rushcliffe Carbon Offsetting Framework - Land Acquisition	Positive
25 November 2025	Item 35, Local Government Reorganisation in Greater Nottinghamshire	None
9 December 2025	Item 6, Renewal of Public Space Protection Order	None
9 December 2025	Item 7, Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document	Positive
9 December 2025	Item 8, Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy	Positive
9 December 2025	Item 9, Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan	None
9 December 2025	Item 10, Quarter 2 Finance Report	None
9 December 2025	Item 12, Proposed Sale of Council's Freehold Interest at Debdale Lane, Keyworth	None
9 December 2025	Item 13, Proposed Sale of Council's Freehold Interest at Hilton Crescent, West Bridgford	None

Council - Biodiversity Net Gain Implications (where reports were prepared)

Council - Biodiversity Net Gain Implications
Date	Item	Implication
7 March 2024	Item 56, 2024/25 Budget and Financial Strategy	None
7 March 2024	Item 57, Council Tax Resolution 2024/25	None
7 March 2024	Item 58, Amendments to the Constitution	None
23 May 2024	Item 9, Appointments of Committees and Member Groups 2024/25	None
23 May 2024	Item 10, Approval of Timetable of Meetings 2024/25	None
23 May 2024	Item 11, Appointment of Representatives to Outside Bodies 2024/25	None
23 May 2024	Item 12, Appointment to the Monitoring Officer Role	None
18 July 2024	Item 20, Approval of the Scrutiny Annual Reports 2023/24	None
18 July 2024	Item 21, Productivity Plan	None
26 September 2024	Item 31, Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan	Positive
5 December 2024	Item 40, Appointment of the Chief Executive	None
5 December 2024	Item 41, Tollerton Neighbourhood Plan	None
5 December 2024	Item 42, Barton in Fabis Community Governance Review	None
5 December 2024	Item 43, Gambling Act 2005 - Draft Statement of Licensing Principles 2025-2028	None
5 December 2024	Item 44, Street Trading Policy 2025 to 2030	None
5 December 2024	Item 45, Polling District and Polling Places Review	None
6 March 2025	Item 56, 2025/26 Budget and Financial Strategy	None
6 March 2025	Item 57, Council Tax Resolution 2025/26	None
6 March 2025	Item 58, Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan	Positive
6 March 2025	Item 59, Amendments to the Constitution	None
6 March 2025	Item 60, Appointment of Independent Person to Governance Scrutiny Group	None
20 March 2025	Item 64, Local Government Reorganisation in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire	None
22 May 2025	Item 9, Appointments of Committees and Member Groups 2025/26	None
22 May 2025	Item 10, Approval of Timetable of Meetings 2025/26	None
22 May 2025	Item 11, Appointment of Representatives to Outside Bodies 2025/26	None
17 July 2025	Item 19, Approval of the Scrutiny Annual Reports 2024/25	None
17 July 2025	Item 20, Appointment of Independent Persons	None
17 July 2025	Item 21, Local Government Reorganisation in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire	None
18 September 2025	Item 30, Rushcliffe Sport and Tourism Charter	None
18 September 2025	Item 31, Councillors' Learning and Development Policy 2026 to 2029	None
20 November 2025	Item 35, Local Government Reorganisation in Greater Nottinghamshire	None
27 November 2025	Item 9, Rushcliffe Borough Council Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy 2025-2030	None

Accessible Documents