Policy information sourced from Brentwood Local Plan

NE01: Protecting and Enhancing the Natural Environment

The Council will require development proposals to use natural resources prudently and protect and enhance the quality of the natural environment. All proposals should, wherever possible, incorporate measures to secure a net gain in biodiversity, protect and enhance the network of habitats, species and sites (both statutory and non-statutory) and avoid negative impacts on biodiversity and geodiversity. Compensatory measures will only be considered if it is not possible fully to mitigate any impacts.

When determining planning applications, the council will apply the principles relevant to habitats and biodiversity as set out in National Planning Policy.

International Designated Sites

Where a proposed development is likely to have an adverse impact on European Designated Site (whether individually or in combination with other plans or proposals) permission will not be granted unless there is due compliance with the requirements of the Habitats Regulations.

New residential development within the Essex RAMS and Epping Forest SAC Zones of Influence will be required to provide appropriate on-site measures for the avoidance of, and/or reduction in, recreational disturbance on European Designated Sites through the incorporation of recreational opportunities, including the provision of green space and footpaths in the proposals. Proposals will be required to follow the mitigation hierarchy by seeking to avoid creating recreational impacts first and foremost, with mitigation measures considered separately to avoidance.

Nationally Designated Sites

Development proposals within or outside a SSSI, likely to have an adverse effect on a SSSI (either individually or in combination with other developments), will not be permitted unless, exceptionally, the benefits of the proposed development clearly outweigh both the adverse impacts on the features of the site that make it of national importance and any impacts on the wider network of SSSIs.

Sites of Local Importance

Development proposals that are likely adversely to affect locally designated sites, including their functional status within any identified ecological network, will only be permitted where the applicant can demonstrate that: