Policy information sourced from the Guildford Local Plan: Develpment Managment Policies
P6: Protecting Important Habitats and Species
Development proposals for sites that contain or are adjacent to irreplaceable habitats, priority habitats, habitats hosting priority species, sites designated for their biodiversity value and all aquatic habitats are required to preserve the relevant ecological features through the application of the mitigation hierarchy, and to deliver enhancements to the ecological features in line with Policy P7. The habitats should be protected by appropriate buffers and, if necessary, barriers in order to prevent adverse impacts, including those resulting from recreational use.
Irreplaceable habitats
Irreplaceable habitats will be protected. Development proposals that result in the loss, damage or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats will be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons and the exceptional benefits of the development proposal outweigh the loss of the habitats. Proposals for compensation will not form part of this assessment. However, if wholly exceptional reasons have been demonstrated, a suitable compensation strategy to address the level of harm predicted will be required that delivers appropriate and proportionate compensation in terms of quality and quantity. Proposals for compensation will be additional to other requirements relating to biodiversity, including biodiversity net gain requirements.
A habitat will be considered to be irreplaceable if it meets the definition in the NPPF glossary or guidance issued by the Surrey Nature Partnership, or if it is identified as irreplaceable in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, or it is on land identified in an established inventory, such as the Revised Ancient Woodland Inventory (RAWI).
Ancient woodland and significant trees
Where ancient woodland falls within or adjacent to a development site, the following measures are required.
- The submission of information setting out the location of all significant ancient or veteran trees (a BS5837 Survey).
- An appropriate buffer between new development and the ancient woodland of a minimum of 15 metres or a greater distance if specified by national policy.
- A clear separation between the woodland and the rest of the development, delineated by a physical feature such as a wildlife permeable barrier, a cycle lane, path or lightly trafficked road.
- Site design that discourages harmful activities such as the use of the woodland as a cut-through where well-used paths do not currently exist
Development proposals for sites that contain significant trees, including ancient and veteran trees and ancient woodland, are expected to incorporate the trees and their root structures and understorey in undeveloped land within the public realm, and to provide green linkages between them.
Priority species and habitats
Development proposals are required to protect and enhance priority species and habitats. They include:
- Species and Habitats of Principal Importance for Conservation (of biological diversity in England);
- species and habitats identified as priorities in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy and strategies produced by Natural England and the Surrey Nature Partnership;
- wildlife corridors and stepping-stones as defined by the NPPF or identified in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, in Development Plan Documents, by Natural England, in Supplementary Planning Documents and in Surrey Nature Partnership documents; and
- compensatory habitat sites and biodiversity net gain sites.
For more information please see the Local Plan