Planning Application Advice

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out the government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied. The NPPF states that the policies should contribute to the conservation and enhancement of the natural and local environment, and that planning decisions should protect and enhance habitats and biodiversity.

Both certain habitats and specific species are protected under UK and international law.

Prior to submitting or registering an application for planning, two important points should be considered with regard to ecology and biodiversity:

• Most ecology surveys cannot be ‘conditioned’ as an afterthought; they need to be presented in advance, in order that the assessing planning officer has the required information on which to base a decision.
• Many ecology surveys have seasonal constraints which can present a level of risk that may not have been considered at the outset.

The appropriate use of ecological surveys and expert planning advice at the early stages of a development helps to reduce the risk of project delays and supports Biodiversity Net Gain planning requirements. Identifying ecological constraints and opportunities at the outset is key to successful project delivery.