Question 14. How do we achieve biodiversity net gain through new developments?

The local plan should identify important and valuable ecological areas, such as designated wildlife sites, and those which can be augmented and connected. Areas identified for new development in the local plan should ideally avoid these wildlife sites to buffer and protect them, reducing potential impacts during and after development, such as disturbance and increased recreation. Loss and/or fragmentation of existing habitats should be avoided as much as possible. These areas should be part of a local nature recovery strategy (LNRS) and be connected to projects and partners who can help deliver the net gain. This can e through both sustainable land management as well as new/improved habitat. These projects could be pooled along with developer contributions to give flexibility on how and when the projects are implemented. There will need to be clear associated metrics. Existing areas of habitat and green spaces within proposed development footprints should be protected and incorporated within landscape designs where possible. As well as protecting existing areas of habitat, mitigation and environmental enhancements can be delivered through appropriate design that includes creation of new habitats and green spaces. New habitats should be representative of and complement the local landscape character, whilst being linked to existing features and the wider countryside, creating joined-up, resilient ecological networks. This is in line with the hierarchy used in biodiversity net gain of avoiding, mitigating and enhancing. Following development the implementation of ecological monitoring will be necessary to demonstrate biodiversity net gain objectives have been achieved. The creation of bigger, better and joined-up habitats will be beneficial to wildlife, contributing towards the local plan’s objective of doubling nature. The creation of large networks will also support ecological resilience to predicted future impacts from climate change. They will also support environmental objectives under section 170 of the National Planning Policy Framework, contributing to and enhance the natural and local environment by ‘minimising impacts on and providing net gains or biodiversity, including by establishing coherent ecological networks that are more resilient to current and future pressures’. The new plan could also acknowledge the significance of invasive non-native species (INNS) and their impacts on wildlife and the environment. INNS are considered one of the top five threats to the natural environment. They can impact on wildlife, flood risk, water quality and recreation. Costs to the economy are estimated at £1.8 billion per year. Prevention through adopting biosecurity measures can help to reduce the spread and impacts of INNS. With predicted local population growth, demand for water is likely to increase, potentially increasing pressure on water resources. The local plan should recognise the importance and value of local water resources and sustainable use. Appropriate management will help to protect and maintain the resource and provide clean water for people, wildlife and the environment. Less water for the environment has the potential to impact on rivers and wetland habitats reliant on water. Less water will reduce river flows and limit natural processes, impact on flow-dependent species and limit transportation of sediments increasing deposition. Low flows can also impact on water quality through reduce dilution of treated effluent and diffuse run-off. These impacts may be exacerbated by the predicted changes in rainfall patterns and average temperatures resulting from climate change. Increasing and prolonged droughts could affect water resource availability, whilst hotter summers could see a rise in demand for water. The plan area will need to be drought and flood resilient, meaning adaptation is needed as much as new habitat. Effects associated with reduced water availability may be mitigated through the local plan promoting sustainable water management such as making space for water and Natural Flood Management (NFM) schemes, which can support delivery of ecosystem services. Appropriate management of wetlands and river catchments, including floodplains, can allow rainwater infiltration supporting ecological benefits, sustainable flood water management, water storage, water resource availability and improved water quality. Managing riparian land sustainably will improve soil condition and reduce run-off, reducing the volume of sediment and associated nutrients, entering watercourses. Appropriate management of wetlands and fenland can also mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration. Appropriate protection and enhancement of rivers and streams will also support WFD objectives. New developments that may impact of watercourses should not lead to deterioration in waterbody’s status. Projects should ideally deliver mitigation measures in place and include environmental enhancements where possible. We support the integrated water management study and this will need to be closely related to the LNRS and green infrastructure/natural capital work.

In part by an alternative to my answer to q13. Make space for pockets of planting (grasses, flowers, trees) that attract wildlife. Include bat boxes/swift nests etc in developments.

Achieving biodiversity net gain in new developments is a myth; urban foxes are an example.

By being creative and copying successful existing projects such as Green roofs and well-considered green spaces/planting

By encouraging designs with biodiversity in mind.

More trees, parks, a commitment to a percentage net increase in biodiversity, rewilding, animalhabitat enhancement (e.g. requiring every new or replacement fence to have holes big enough for small-mammal passage) should be required in every single planning application, from the biggest development down to the smallest domestic extension. Front- and rear-garden green spaces should be protected from paving and car parking; the Green Belt should be retained, and landowners encouraged to rewild and manage the habitat for maximum biodiversity and species health

Natural Cambridgeshire’s Developing with Nature Toolkit seeks to achieve a net gain in biodiversity through new development. It is agreed that development, and in particular large-scale development with sufficient land available, can deliver significant biodiversity enhancements. It is suggested that in deciding sites to allocate for development the emerging GCLP assesses not only whether the potential impacts on protected species and habitats can be mitigated but also whether development can deliver biodiversity enhancements. It should be acknowledged that net biodiversity gains would be more appropriately provided on alternative or existing sites rather than within a development site. It is suggested that the emerging GCLP should also include a policy mechanism that allows for net biodiversity gains to be delivered on alternative sites. The promoted development at land north of Common Lane in Sawston would retain any ecological features on site and seek to provide ecological enhancements. It should be noted that there is sufficient space within the site to include those ecological enhancement measures on site in conjunction with development.

That's a question for our local experts: let's seek their opinions and use them wisely.

An Illustrative Masterplan is submitted with this response. The site is located on the western edge of Orwell, immediately adjacent to the development framework boundary for the village. The site is not within the Green Belt. There are no heritage assets within close proximity of the site. Orwell contains a primary school, village store including a post office, a public house, a hairdresser, a village hall, church hall, recreation facilities and a mobile library service. There is a limited bus service to Cambridge. The proposed development would support the existing services and facilities in the village.

The opportunity to contribute towards off-site biodiversity net gain should be positively planned with community or Council owned land being available for such benefits.

14. How do we achieve biodiversity net gain through new developments? In the sixties many developments surrounded small green spaces that was a really nice way of living. See Woodland Road area Sawston and the Greenleas Estate Histon. Making those combined biodiversity and play areas creates a nice place to live. These greens are overlooked by dozens of houses and your children can access them without crossing more than one small road all of which is a nice way to grow up. If you are building on green belt make sure what you build is green and provides a connection to the natural environment. With reserved green spaces.

New development can achieve biodiversity net gain through a range of methods/tools including the materials and features used i.e. green roofs; landscape design; and providing resilient habitats for animals to support wildlife in a changing climate. USS support the Council’s aim of achieving biodiversity net gain through new development. However, USS encourage the Council to not be restrictive on the amount of biodiversity net gain to be achieved through new development and instead assess the quality of the method/tools implemented to protect and enhance biodiversity.

The effect of the Environment Bill, which was introduced to Parliament in January 2020, is such that Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) will become mandatory on new developments in England. BNG is a tool used to measure net gain allowing existing and future ecological value on a development site to be calculated. As matters stand there are numerous metrics in circulation, each producing varied outputs that can have significant implications for development layouts and masterplanning. In order to achieve BNG it is important that a consistent approach to the BNG calculation is adopted to ensure that developments can be planned comprehensively from an early stage. In the absence of a national standardised metric the Councils should consult on the metric to be used to ensure that it is appropriate to the local context and characteristics. Development that achieves BNG on-site, through the delivery of comprehensive green infrastructure proposals, should be encouraged and the significant benefit of delivering BNG on-site should be recognised in decision taking. However, on-site delivery is not the only way in which BNG can be implemented. Recognised alternative solutions include off-setting (via the delivery of BNG off site) and financial payments (secured via planning obligations) towards biodiversity units. There is no ‘one size fits all’ solution to BNG and the Local Plan should recognise that this is the case.

The new Local Plan must ensure that policy in this matter is sufficiently flexible to accommodate the required biodiversity net gain in the most effective and efficient way for each development, with both on-site and off-site solutions possible.

The new Local Plan must ensure that policy in this matter is sufficiently flexible to accommodate the required biodiversity net gain in the most effective and efficient way for each development, with both on-site and off-site solutions possible. 6.16 Land to the west of Cambridge Road, Melbourn presents an opportunity to deliver biodiversity net gains. The site is currently arable fields of low ecological value and the development proposals, through a landscape-led approach, will seek to deliver open space that is functional whilst also creating resilient habitats. In addition, the walking route to be delivered in the Phase 2 land, will incorporate habitat creation, in the form of field margins, meadow grassland and woodland copses which will provide important habitat for a range of wildlife and plant species.

5.16 The new Local Plan must ensure that policy in this matter is sufficiently flexible to accommodate the required biodiversity net gain in the most effective and efficient way for each development, with both on-site and off-site solutions possible. 5.17 Land at Fishers Lane, Orwell presents an opportunity to deliver biodiversity net gains. The site is currently arable fields of low ecological value and the development proposals, through a landscape-led approach, will seek to deliver open space that is functional whilst also creating resilient habitats. Open spaces will incorporate habitat creation, such as field margins, meadow grassland and woodland copses which will provide important habitat for a range of wildlife and plant species.

5.14 The new Local Plan must ensure that policy in this matter is sufficiently flexible to accommodate the required biodiversity net gain in the most effective and efficient way for each development, with both on-site and off-site solutions possible. 5.15 Land south of Hattons Road, Longstanton presents an opportunity to deliver biodiversity net gains. The site is currently arable fields of low ecological value and the development proposals, through a landscape-led approach, will seek to deliver open space that is functional whilst also creating resilient habitats. The ecological appraisal accompanying these representations confirms that the proposals could deliver a biodiversity net gain of at least 10%.

RSPB believes that biodiversity net-gain needs be an objective built into development design and master-planning. As above, it can be achieved by the provision of suitable habitats (in green space) and building design on-site. For large developments, and other development where net gain is not possible on site, developers should contribute toward strategic habitat creation identified by the Green Infrastructure Plan (and a Local Nature Recovery Strategy if/when these are provided for in the Environment Bill). Intensification of development must not result in loss or damage to the most important sites for wildlife. A principle of biodiversity net gain could be transformative, contributing to a joined-up network of new habitats for wildlife. However, the system’s success will depend on its ability to optimise potential benefits and minimise potential risks. We urge the Greater Cambridge councils to act as advocates for a regulated approach to biodiversity net gain that ensures habitats created through biodiversity gain contribute to a strategic plan that maximises ecological and climate benefits, are secured permanently, that all developments (with very limited exceptions) are in scope, that the level of gain is ambitious enough (at least 20%), and that international / national wildlife sites and irreplaceable habitats are excluded. Such a system will not only ensure that our most special places for nature remain protected but will also deliver more for nature through development. As outlined above, we hope that the Greater Cambridge Local Plan will outline the type and location of habitat that must be delivered through biodiversity net gain and provide a framework for delivery to be co-funded by other beneficiaries. These outlined areas need to be wide enough to avoid land prices rising unnecessarily and to allow a range of projects to be developed, but tight enough to ensure investment delivers against the priorities of the Local Plan in a strategic manner.

5.15 The new Local Plan must ensure that policy in this matter is sufficiently flexible to accommodate the required biodiversity net gain in the most effective and efficient way for each development, with both on-site and off-site solutions possible. 5.16 Land to the rear of Woodcock Close and St George’s Way presents an opportunity to deliver biodiversity net gains. This can be achieved through a sensitively landscape-led designed approach retaining and improving existing ecological features.

The new Local Plan must ensure that policy in this matter is sufficiently flexible to accommodate the required biodiversity net gain in the most effective and efficient way for each development, with both on-site and off-site solutions possible. The Bedlam Farm site is an example of how biodiversity net gain can be achieved onsite, the site is currently of low ecological value but through the development proposal we can provide new planting and landscaping that would provide a clear biodiversity net gain.

5.12 The new Local Plan must ensure that policy in this matter is sufficiently flexible to accommodate the required biodiversity net gain in the most effective and efficient way for each development, with both on-site and off-site solutions possible. 5.13 The site presents an opportunity to deliver biodiversity net gains and, through a landscape-led approach, will seek to deliver open space that is functional whilst also creating resilient habitats. 5.14 It should also be noted that the landowner owns a portion of land to the south of the site, as indicated by the accompanying Site Location Plan. To continue to work towards delivering a biodiversity net gain, the landowner has expressed a desire to enhance this land in ecological terms and would be willing to liaise with the Parish Council and local community in order to deliver the most appropriate outcome which satisfies all parties concerned. This could be achieved, for example, through the planting of wildflower species and enabling the land to be accessed by the local community. Not only would such measures enhance local biodiversity, but they would also result in improving the wellbeing of local residents who would benefit from being able to access natural, ecologically-rich land.

Natural Cambridgeshire’s Developing with Nature Toolkit seeks to achieve a net gain in biodiversity through new development. It is agreed that development, and in particular large-scale development, can deliver significant biodiversity enhancements. It is suggested that in deciding which sites to allocate for development the emerging GCLP assesses not only whether the potential impacts on protected species and habitats can be mitigated but also whether development can deliver biodiversity enhancements. An Ecological Appraisal has been undertaken for the land at Fen Drayton Road in Swavesey as part of the previous application on the site. The promoted development would include planting, trees and habitats to support species, invertebrates and reptiles, a wildlife pond and a swale, and bird and bat boxes. It should be noted that there is sufficient space within the site to include those ecological enhancement measures on site in conjunction with development.

It is acknowledged that DEFRA is piloting a ‘biodiversity net gain calculator’ and there is the ability for Local Authorities to prepare their own calculator, it is highly recommended that there is a clear, transparent and consistent guide to assist in the application of such a tool. This will be of benefit to Developers, the Councils and the local community. The Issues and Options Document identifies that net gains can be achieved from building design level through to strategic landscape management level. Importantly, net gain can be achieved through off-site measures. These measures could become more prevalent through developments within Cambridge City Centre. Here, the river network could provide important spaces for biodiversity net gain. In support of the proposed residential and marina development on land at Fen Road, Cambridge, the provision of a new marina would provide the much needed slack water for larger native fish species like carp and eels. This would also provide opportunities for habitat creation and enhancement along the river network. This is particularly the case at the Cam Conservator’s 11 acre site at Clayhithe, where there exists opportunities for habitat enhancement.

4.15 The new Local Plan must ensure that policy in this matter is sufficiently flexible to accommodate the required biodiversity net gain in the most effective and efficient way for each development, with both on-site and off-site solutions possible. 4.16 M Scott Properties Ltd is a member of the Natural Cambridgeshire Developers’ Forum, seeking to understand the best practice and to understand where opportunities exist to increase biodiversity on sites. Their sites are assessed against the Developing with Nature Toolkit, with a view to exceeding the proposed ‘Charter Mark’ threshold. Through the proposed development at Frog End, Shepreth, there is scope to work with the Wildlife Trust and double the SSSI adjacent to the site. M Scott Properties Ltd are also committed to the ‘doubling with nature’ initiative promoted by Natural Cambridgeshire.

3.16 The new Local Plan must ensure that policy in this matter is sufficiently flexible to accommodate the required biodiversity net gain in the most effective and efficient way for each development, with both on-site and off-site solutions possible.

5.13 The new Local Plan must ensure that policy in this matter is sufficiently flexible to accommodate the required biodiversity net gain in the most effective and efficient way for each development, with both on-site and off-site solutions possible. 5.14 The proposed masterplan for Grange Farm demonstrates the opportunities for biodiversity net gain and how this can be achieved onsite. The development proposal can provide new green infrastructure as well as improving existing planting and landscaping that would provide a clear biodiversity net gain

5.14 The new Local Plan must ensure that policy in this matter is sufficiently flexible to accommodate the required biodiversity net gain in the most effective and efficient way for each development, with both on-site and off-site solutions possible. 5.15 A flexible, diverse approach should be allowed which entails no restrictive elements. For example, policies should not include an exhaustive list of what features must be required to deliver a biodiversity net gain. Rather, it is considered best to allow applicants to bring forward bespoke solutions based on their expertise and the context of their respective sites.

5.12 The new Local Plan must ensure that policy in this matter is sufficiently flexible to accommodate the required biodiversity net gain in the most effective and efficient way for each development, with both on-site and off-site solutions possible.

Natural Cambridgeshire’s Developing with Nature Toolkit seeks to achieve a net gain in biodiversity through new development. It is agreed that development, and in particular large-scale development with sufficient land available, can deliver significant biodiversity enhancements. It is suggested that in deciding sites to allocate for development the emerging GCLP assesses not only whether the potential impacts on protected species and habitats can be mitigated but also whether development can deliver biodiversity enhancements. Land to the east of the Ridgeway and Old Pinewood Way, Papworth Everard was subject to a full suite of biodiversity surveys through the course of the previous applications for the proposed development of the site. These included recommendations for proposed mitigation and ecological enhancements including: retention of existing trees; avoiding vegetation clearance during the nesting bird season; complying with pollution prevention guidance; planting wildlife enhancing plants, trees and hedges; and installing bird, bat, hedgehog and insect boxes across the site.

The new Local Plan must ensure that policy in this matter is sufficiently flexible to accommodate the required biodiversity net gain in the most effective and efficient way for each development, with both on-site and off-site solutions possible.