Comment

Representation ID: 55955

Received: 05/10/2020

Respondent: Natural England

Natural England fully supports policy requirements for development to apply the ecological
mitigation hierarchy and for delivery of a minimum 10% measurable biodiversity net gain.

We welcome the proposal to deliver a coherent and high-quality ecological network as part of the
wider green infrastructure network including habitat and water quality improvements to The First
Public Drain, Chesterton Fen and Milton Country Park. Our advice is that the AAP requires a more
ambitious and strategic approach to biodiversity; the AAP should identify and map the existing GI /
ecological network along with viable opportunity areas to create a GI / Biodiversity Expansion and
Enhancement Framework Plan. Whilst this could include areas such as Chesterton Fen and Milton
CP it should draw on the GI and Biodiversity Opportunity Mapping Project being undertaken for the
Greater Cambridge Local Plan and the recommendations / opportunity areas identified in the
Biodiversity Assessment (MKA Ecology, June 2020). This will need to be sufficiently ambitious to
deliver mitigation measures identified through the revised HRA/SA. Policy requirements should be
set to secure delivery of the Framework through each phase of development.

The requirement for ecological assessment should address the HRA recommendation for this to
demonstrate no adverse impact to Eversden and Wimpole Woods SAC functional habitat for
barbastelle bats.