Biodiversity Net Gain Supplementary Planning Document

The County Council has sought improvements in biodiversity in association with restoration of mineral working for many years and many former quarries have become important wildlife reserves.  From 2024 a new statutory requirement has come into effect to require all qualifying development to provide at least 10% net gain in biodiversity.  The County Council has prepared a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) to support the policy requirements as set out in the adopted Minerals Local Plan and submitted Joint Waste Local Plan and provide guidance to all those making planning applications to the County Council on how the statutory requirements and Local Plan policies on biodiversity net gain may be delivered.

The Biodiversity Net Gain SPD has been published in draft [PDF] to seek comments and views from interested parties on our consultation and engagement portal Citizen Space and will be amended as needed before it is adopted.