Policy information sourced from the Elmbridge Development Management Plan

DM21 - Nature conservation and biodiversity

In accordance with Core Strategy policy CS15 – Biodiversity, all new development will be expected to preserve, manage and where possible enhance existing habitats, protected species and biodiversity features. The Council will work in partnership to explore new opportunities for habitat creation and restoration.

Support will be given to proposals that enhance existing and incorporate new biodiversity features, habitats and links to habitat networks into the design of buildings themselves as well as in appropriate design and landscape schemes of new developments with the aim of attracting wildlife and promoting biodiversity. Conditions will be used to secure the provision of mitigation measures, as appropriate.

Development affecting designated international sites of biodiversity importance and compensatory sites will be considered against Core Strategy policies CS13 – Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area, CS15 – Biodiversity, the Framework and relevant legislation.

Development affecting national sites of biodiversity importance will not be permitted if it will have an adverse effect, directly or indirectly, individually or in combination, on the site or its features. In exceptional circumstances, proposals that have an adverse effect on a national site may be permitted if the benefits of the development clearly outweigh the harm. If a development is approved under these circumstances, appropriate avoidance, mitigation and compensation will be sought wherever possible.

Development affecting locally designated sites of biodiversity importance or sites falling outside these that support national priority habitats or priority species will not be permitted if it will result in significant harm to the nature conservation value of the site or feature.

Sites identified on the Policies Map as having potential to be designated in future as Suitable Accessible Natural Greenspace (SANG) will be protected from development that may compromise its ability to serve that function, taking into account the level of existing SANG when the development is proposed and any wider benefits of the proposal.

For more information please see the Elmbridge Development Management Plan