Policy information sourced from the Elmbridge Core Strategy

CS15 - Biodiversity

The Council will seek to avoid loss and contribute to a net gain in biodiversity across the region and the objectives of the Surrey Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), by:

  • Protecting and seeking to improve all sites designated for their biodiversity importance, as identified on the proposals map, in accordance with PPS9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation and CS13-Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA), including those sites considered as being relevant to the integrity of the South West London Waterbodies SPA and Ramsar site. Criteria based policies against which proposals will be judged for any development on, or affecting, sites of regional or local significance will be brought forward through future DPDs that address Development Management and Site Allocations.

Support the implementation of the Regional Forestry and Woodland Framework by:

  • Protecting all woodland, including ancient woodland, as shown on the proposals map, from damaging development and land uses;
  • Promoting the effective management, and where appropriate, extension and creation of new woodland areas including, in association with areas of major development, where this helps to restore and enhance degraded landscapes, screen noise and pollution, provide recreational opportunities, helps mitigate climate change, and contributes to floodplain management;
  • Replacing woodland unavoidably lost through development with new woodland on at least the same scale;
  • Promoting and encouraging the economic use of woodlands and wood resources, including wood fuel as a renewable energy source;
  • Promoting the growth and procurement of sustainable timber products.

Protecting and enhancing BAP priority habitats and species and seeking to expand their coverage by supporting the development of the Biodiversity Opportunity Areas; as shown on the proposals map.

Managing and maintaining a mosaic of habitats and rich variety of wildlife across the Council’s landholdings in accordance with the Elmbridge Countryside Strategy.

Working in partnership to re-store and enhance:

  • the Thames Basin Heath SPA, in accordance with CS13-Thames Basin Heaths SPA, which is an area of strategic opportunity for biodiversity improvement.
  • Brooklands Community Park and Esher Commons Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in accordance with the Council’s most up-to-date mitigation strategy for the Thames Basin Heath SPA and the Esher Commons SSSI Restoration and Management Plan.

Maximising the contribution of other green spaces and features, where appropriate, to the area’s biodiversity resources including identifying and developing wildlife corridors to provide ecological ‘stepping stones’ and form a coherent local and regional biodiversity network in accordance with CS12-The River Thames and its tributaries and CS14-Green Infrastructure;

Directing development to previously developed land in accordance with CS1-Spatial Strategy, taking account of its existing biodiversity value.

Ensuring new development does not result in a net loss of biodiversity and where feasible contributes to a net gain through the incorporation of biodiversity features.

For more information please see the Elmbridge Core Strategy