Policy information sourced from the Buckinghamshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan
18: Natural Environment
Minerals and waste development should conserve and enhance natural assets and resources, including protected and notable species. Proposals for minerals and waste development will be supported where in compliance with the following criteria, which reflects the hierarchy of designated sites and affords a level of protection that is commensurate with the sites status:
- International or national designations, including Special Area of Conservation and Sites of Special Scientific Interest, are to be protected with no likely adverse effects on the sites notified special interest features resulting from the development. Where adverse effects are likely permission will only be granted where it can be demonstrated that the benefits of the development clearly outweigh the impacts.
- Local designations including Local Wildlife Sites, Biological Notification Sites, Local Nature Reserves and Local Geological Sites should be protected from significant adverse effects. Where adverse effects are likely permission will only be granted where it can be demonstrated that the effects can be avoided and/or minimised to an acceptable level, or as a last resort, appropriate compensatory measures provided.
- Ancient woodland along with aged and veteran trees are an irreplaceable resource that should be protected. Permission will only be granted where it can be demonstrated that the need for, and benefits of, the development clearly outweigh the loss.
- Regarding undesignated natural environmental assets, proposals should: conserve and enhance biodiversity; and prevent harm to geological conservation interests. Where significant harm is likely to result from the proposed development permission will only be granted where it can be demonstrated that the effects can be avoided and/or minimised to an acceptable level, or as a last resort, appropriate compensatory measures provided.
Development should provide net gains in biodiversity, in doing so: enhance strategic ecological networks, particularly within the Colne Valley Regional Park, and contribute towards the achievement of UK and Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Biodiversity Action Plan targets and the restoration and re-creation of priority habitats and the protection and recovery of priority species populations.
Proposals for minerals and waste development must include an assessment of the natural environmental asset(s), both on-site and wider, with the purpose of: identifying the nature, extent and status of the asset(s); connection with and contribution to wider ecological networks; potential adverse impacts that are likely to arise as result from the proposed development; and measures required to avoid and/or minimise potentially adverse impacts to an acceptable level, or as a last resort, identification of appropriate compensatory measures. Where compensatory measures are deemed to be appropriate it will also be necessary to demonstrate how the long-term management and maintenance of the site will be secured.
For more information please see the Buckinghamshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan