Issue - meetings
The delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain through the Planning and Development Management process
Meeting: 07/03/2024 - Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme South Area Committee (Item 9)
PDF 144 KBTo consider a report of the Director of Place Management.
The report provides an update on the activities relating to the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain through the Planning and Development Management process.
The Area Committee is recommended to note the report.
Officer contact: Melanie Craven on 0161 474 4378 or email melanie.craven@stockport.gov.uk
Additional documents:
Minutes:
A representative of the Assistant Director Place Making and Planning submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the activities relating to the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain through the Planning and Management process.
Members welcomed the report and commented that it was the aim of the Administration to achieve 100% biodiversity net gain.
RESOLVED – That the report be noted.
Meeting: 07/03/2024 - Central Stockport Area Committee (Item 7)
To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.
The report provides an update on the activities relating to the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain through the Planning and Development Management process.
The Area Committee is recommended to note the report.
Officer contact: Melanie Craven 0161 474 4378 | melanie.craven@stockport.gov.uk
Additional documents:
Minutes:
A representative of the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance submitted a report of the Director of Place Management (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the activities relating to the delivery of biodiversity net gain through the planning and development management process.
RESOLVED – That the report be noted.
Meeting: 06/03/2024 - Marple Area Committee (Item 7)
To consider a report of the Assistant Director Place Making and Planning.
The report provides an update on the activities relating to the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain through the Planning and Development Management process.
The Area Committee is asked to note the report.
Officer contact: Melanie Craven | melanie.craven@stockport.gov.uk
Additional documents:
Minutes:
A representative of the Assistant Director Place Making and Planning submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the activities relating to the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain through the Planning and Management process.
The following comments were made/issues raised:-
· Concern was expressed that developers would be able to buy their Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirement by having this off site, and that it would be better provided locally.
· How the minimum 10% BNG requirement had been determined was discussed and if the final requirement would always be proportionate to the development. In response, it was stated that it would be, as the BNG assessment would be carried out at the first stage.
· It was commented that an all member briefing on the matter would be useful as it was a complex issue.
RESOLVED – That the report be noted.
Meeting: 05/03/2024 - Cheadle Area Committee (Item 8)
To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.
The report provides an update on the activities relating to the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain through the Planning and Development Management process.
The Area Committee is recommended to note the report.
Officer contact: Melanie Craven 0161 474 4378 | melanie.craven@stockport.gov.uk
Additional documents:
Minutes:
A representative of the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance submitted a report of the Director of Place Management (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the activities relating to the delivery of biodiversity net gain through the planning and development management process.
RESOLVED – That the report be noted.
Meeting: 05/03/2024 - Stepping Hill Area Committee (Item 10)
To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.
The report provides an update on the activities relating to the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain through the Planning and Development Management process.
The Area Committee is recommended to note the report.
Officer contact: Melanie Craven on 0161 474 4378 or email melanie.craven@stockport.gov.uk
Additional documents:
Minutes:
A representative of the Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the activities relating to the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain through the Planning and Development Management process.
The following comments were made/ issues raised:-
· It was reported that, under the proposals outlined in the report, an ecologist would undertake a baseline survey to calculate the biodiversity value of the site, which the developer would be obliged to increase by ten per cent.
· Examples of increasing biodiversity included planting, the addition of bird boxes of plugging gaps in fencing. Biodiverstiy additions could take place off the site of the development in a landbank.
· A statutory metric tool had been introduced to secure biodiversity outcomes and there would be a sequential policy requirement to deliver biodiversity additions first on-site then off-site.
RESOLVED – That the report be noted.
Meeting: 04/03/2024 - Werneth Area Committee (Item 7)
To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.
The report provides an update on the activities relating to the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain through the Planning and Development Management process.
The Area Committee is recommended to note the report.
Officer contact: Melanie Craven on 0161 474 4378 or email melanie.craven@stockport.gov.uk
Additional documents:
Minutes:
A representative of the Assistant Director of Place Making and Planning submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the activities relating to the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain through the Planning and Development Management process.
The following comments were made/ issues raised:-
· Members welcomed the proposed on-site biodiversity enhancements. It was noted that the proposals were beneficial to local nature and assisted with the council’s aim of building on brownfield sites where possible.
· Members queried what requirements for biodiversity net gain might be required in circumstances where a site’s biodiversity baseline score was zero. In response it was stated that developers could be required to add features such as planters in order to add biodiversity where there none previously existed.
RESOLVED – That the report be noted.
Meeting: 04/03/2024 - Heatons & Reddish Area Committee (Item 8)
To consider a report of the Assistant Director Place Making and Planning.
The report provides an update on the activities relating to the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain through the Planning and Development Management process.
The Area Committee is asked to note the report.
Officer contact: Melanie Craven | melanie.craven@stockport.gov.uk
Additional documents:
Minutes:
A representative of the Assistant Director Place Making and Planning submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the activities relating to the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain through the Planning and Management process.
The following comments were made/issues raised:-
· It was questioned how off-site provision of Biodiversity Net Gain would be monitored.
· In response, it was stated that there were mandatory conditions applied to major applications and as a local planning authority, the council was unable to mandate where that off-site provision of Biodiversity Net Gain was produced, providing that the submission detailed where it would be located. It was commented that on site Biodiversity Net Gain would be the first preference, however off-site provision of Biodiversity Net Gain would be monitored at intervals over several years in line with the conditions applied.
· It was suggested that Biodiversity Net Gain could increase costs for developers and questioned if this would be considered within the application process.
· In response, it was stated that Biodiversity Net Gain would be a developer cost which would be factored into the viability considerations of any development.
RESOLVED – That the report be noted.