{"id":4233,"date":"2023-01-13T10:50:40","date_gmt":"2023-01-13T10:50:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eastcambsconservatives.co.uk\/?p=4233"},"modified":"2023-01-13T10:50:41","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T10:50:41","slug":"strongincreasing-land-for-nature-in-east-cambridgeshire-getting-ahead-of-the-legislation-strong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themepalstudio.co.uk\/eccg\/2023\/01\/13\/strongincreasing-land-for-nature-in-east-cambridgeshire-getting-ahead-of-the-legislation-strong\/","title":{"rendered":"Increasing Land for Nature in East Cambridgeshire \u2013 getting ahead of the legislation<\/strong>\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Only 5.5% of land in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is in use for priority habitats, natural green spaces, and designated conservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re getting ahead of forthcoming legislation to help big developers and other planning applicants to understand and deliver biodiversity net gain (BNG) before it becomes mandatory later this year when the Environment Act 2021 comes into force.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The basic idea of BNG is that biodiversity will be in a measurably better state after new development has happened than before the development took place, hence the term \u2018net gain\u2019.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Council has adopted and published a really accessible, and I believe inspiring, guidance document which will also be of interest to landowners, community groups and anyone wanting to increase biodiversity on their land.  The document includes lots of really lovely photos across the district taken by Council staff – they are brilliant photographers! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can view the document here<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re really excited by this at the Council and our planners are geared up to support developers to embrace it.  We\u2019re aiming to inspire developers, to help them see the amazing opportunity that this presents to deliver really high quality and attractive places where people want to live and where nature can thrive.  And it seems to be going down really well! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This work builds on and supports delivery of our Environment Plan.  The guidance describes the BNG hierarchy; developers are asked to achieve BNG on site within the red line boundary of the application.  If it\u2019s impossible to achieve on site, then they are required to boost land for nature within one of the nine priority areas we\u2019ve identified in East Cambs.  We will also be looking to create \u2018stepping stones\u2019 or \u2018corridors\u2019 between sites. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nine areas are spread right across the district. Each one has its own special qualities and recommendations, from improving our wetlands to extensive tree planting, and from meadow creation to chalk grassland improvements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aim will be to save, protect and encourage native species, such as the long horned beetle, great crested newt, dagger moth, snipe, black tailed godwit, green tiger beetle, spotted cat\u2019s ear and black bog rush. It will also help more common species of animals and plants that are in severe decline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nine areas identified are: <\/p>\n\n\n\n