Policy information sourced from Camden Local Plan

A3 Biodiversity

The Council will protect and enhance sites of nature conservation and biodiversity. We will:

  • designate and protect nature conservation sites and safeguard protected and priority habitats and species;
  • grant permission for development unless it would directly or indirectly result in the loss or harm to a designated nature conservation site or adversely affect the status or population of priority habitats and species;
  • seek the protection of other features with nature conservation value, including gardens, wherever possible;
  • assess developments against their ability to realise benefits for biodiversity through the layout, design and materials used in the built structure and landscaping elements of a proposed development, proportionate to the scale of development proposed;
  • secure improvements to green corridors, particularly where a development scheme is adjacent to an existing corridor;
  • seek to improve opportunities to experience nature, in particular where such opportunities are lacking;
  • require the demolition and construction phase of development, including the movement of works vehicles, to be planned to avoid disturbance to habitats and species and ecologically sensitive areas, and the spread of invasive species;
  • secure management plans, where appropriate, to ensure that nature conservation objectives are met; and
  • work with The Royal Parks, The City of London Corporation, the London Wildlife Trust, friends of park groups and local nature conservation groups to protect and improve open spaces and nature conservation in Camden.

Trees and vegetation

The Council will protect, and seek to secure additional, trees and vegetation. We will:

  • resist the loss of trees and vegetation of significant amenity, historic, cultural or ecological value including proposals which may threaten the continued wellbeing of such trees and vegetation;
  • require trees and vegetation which are to be retained to be satisfactorily protected during the demolition and construction phase of development in line with BS5837:2012 ‘Trees in relation to Design, Demolition and Construction’ and positively integrated as part of the site layout;
  • expect replacement trees or vegetation to be provided where the loss of significant trees or vegetation or harm to the wellbeing of these trees and vegetation has been justified in the context of the proposed development;
  • expect developments to incorporate additional trees and vegetation wherever possible.

For more information please see the Local Plan