Policy information sourced from the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan

DM 3 Ecological Impact Assessment

Proposals for minerals and waste developments will be required to ensure that they result in no unacceptable adverse impacts on Kent’s important biodiversity assets. These include internationally, nationally and locally designated sites, European and nationally protected species, and habitats and species of principal importance for the conservation of biodiversity / Biodiversity Action Plan habitats and species.

Proposals that are likely to have unacceptable adverse impacts upon important biodiversity assets will need to demonstrate that an adequate level of ecological assessment has been undertaken and will only be granted planning permission following:

  1. an ecological assessment of the site, including preliminary ecological appraisal and, where likely presence is identified, specific protected species surveys
  2. consideration of the need for, and benefits of, the development and the reasons for locating the development in its proposed location
  3. the identification and securing of measures to mitigate any adverse impacts (direct, indirect and cumulative)
  4. the identification and securing of compensatory measures where adverse impacts cannot be avoided or mitigated for
  5. the identification and securing of opportunities to make a positive contribution to the protection, enhancement, creation and management of biodiversity

For more information please see the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan