Policy information sourced from the Mole Valley Local Plan

EN9: NATURAL ASSETS

Biodiversity and Geodiversity in New Developments
1. Where development proposals are likely to affect natural assets planning applications will be required to include an assessment of the impact of their proposals on native biodiversity, protected, otherwise endangered or vulnerable, species and habitats in line with the British Standard for Biodiversity: Code of Practice for Planning and Development BS42020.

2. Development proposals will be supported where they:

  • Demonstrate that consideration has been given to the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity at an early stage in the design process and, where identified, native habitats and species are conserved and enhanced as an integral part of the proposed development;
  • Include measures to retain, protect and enhance significant habitats, species and geological interest;
  • Include natural buffers to protect significant adjoining habitats;
  • Take due note of the biodiversity within established gardens, including their existing and potential importance as wildlife corridors; and,
  • Demonstrate that all practicable opportunities have been taken to:
    1. Create new natural areas alongside the restoration of existing habitats and geological features in less than optimal condition;
    2. Design open spaces to support existing wildlife corridors or create new wildlife corridors, using habitats and species characteristic of the area;
    3. Integrate wildlife habitats into built structures and their curtilages, for example through the incorporation of bird nest boxes, bats’ roosting features and, where appropriate, non-ornamental ponds;
    4. Realise opportunities to control or eradicate non-native invasive species;
    5. Utilise sustainable drainage opportunities to create biodiverse wetland areas where for example balancing ponds or other flood alleviation measures are required; and,
    6. Seek to minimise light disturbance, particularly in semi-rural and rural areas.

Biodiversity Net Gain
3. Planning applications, other than those exemptions specified in the regulations, must be accompanied by a Biodiversity Statement containing the minimum information specified in the regulations.

  • To implement the general biodiversity gain condition, a Biodiversity Gain Plan demonstrating a biodiversity net gain of at least 20% must be approved before development commences.
  • Where it is necessary to use a biodiversity offset site, a higher weighting of the strategic significance multiplier in the Statutory Biodiversity Metric will be applied to sites located within Biodiversity Opportunity Areas (as shown on the Policies Map) within the District or the priority enhancement and restoration areas which may replace them in the future Surrey Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
  • Biodiversity net gain will be secured by planning condition, legal agreement or a conservation covenant, as appropriate, for a period of at least 30 years after the completion of the development (or any amended period the Secretary of State may decide in the future).

Woodland, Trees and Hedges
4. New developments should:

  • Maximise opportunities to protect existing and increase tree cover and extend or introduce new hedgerows, where appropriate, setting it within the context of a plan for biodiversity net gain and having regard to the prevalent tree species and landscape character;
  • Incorporate well-designed soft and hard landscaping within a coherent and long-term management plan for private and communal spaces;
  • Allow sufficient space for existing and newly planted trees to grow to maturity, both above and below ground;
  • Have regard to the changing climate and prevalent tree diseases when selecting tree species, which should preferably be native species and be sourced in accordance with the national strategy for biosecurity.

5. Where woodland, trees and hedgerows are present on a proposed development site:

  • The planning application will be accompanied by a detailed appraisal of their condition, location and ecological and landscape significance both at the time of the application and with an assessment of their potential future value if retained. Applications should include an arboricultural method statement and tree protection plan to be followed during construction, reflecting the latest arboricultural standards for any tree works or development near to trees and demonstrating adequate root protection areas;
  • Support will be given to development proposals that retain existing woodland, trees and hedgerows. Where woodland, trees and hedges are to be removed they should be accurately identified, with a clear justification set out for their loss, together with details of any mitigation or replacement planting as part of an overall approach to achieving biodiversity net gain. Development proposals that have not properly considered or prioritised development options enabling the retention of woodlands, trees and hedgerows will be refused;
  • The removal of protected trees, woodlands and hedgerows will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances. The loss of ancient or veteran trees, ancient semi-natural woodland and ‘important’ hedgerows, as defined in the Hedgerow Regulations 1997, will be wholly exceptional on the grounds that their loss cannot be adequately compensated.

6. When considering applications for the felling or surgery to trees protected by a Tree Preservation Order or trees in conservation areas, account will be taken of the health and stability of the trees, their public amenity value and overriding practical problems that may be caused by retaining them. Where felling is unavoidable, replacement native planting will be required unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Designated Sites
7. Proposals within or adjacent to designated wildlife sites will be required to provide a thorough assessment of their impacts on the recognised nature conservation interests, having regard to the status of the site, its designated interest features and its sensitivity to change.

8. Within the Mole Gap to Reigate Escarpment Special Area of Conservation (SAC), as shown on the Policies Map, there will be a strong presumption against new development unless the impact on the integrity of the SAC can be mitigated. An Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment will be required. Development proposals for sites within 1.5km of the SAC will be required to meet the requirements of the Habitats Directive, particularly in relation

to the Bechstein’s bat qualifying feature. Habitats suitable for foraging and commuting bats from the SAC (such as deciduous woodland, mature treelines, species rich pasture or river corridors) must be preserved unless surveys demonstrate that they are not used by bats. Care must also be taken through development design to ensure that retained features are not impacted by artificial lighting. Developments within the Thames Basin Special Protection Area buffer zone, as shown on the Policies Map, will be required to be screened to ascertain if further assessment under the Habitat Regulations is necessary.

9. Development proposals within or outside Sites of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserves, as set out on the Policies Map, will not be permitted where such proposals have an adverse impact on the biodiversity and/or geological conservation value or the integrity of these sites, including their value to the wider network of green infrastructure, landforms

and wildlife corridors, unless the benefits of the development in the location proposed clearly outweigh both the likely impact on the features of the site that make it of special scientific interest and any broader impacts on the network of Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Conservation of Habitats and Species
10. Development proposals within or adjacent to Sites of Nature Conservation Importance, Regionally Important Geological Sites and Local Nature Reserves, as set out in Appendices 10 and 11 and identified on the Policies Map, will not be permitted where such proposals have an adverse impact on the biodiversity and/or geological conservation value or the integrity of these sites, including their value to the wider network of green infrastructure, landforms and wildlife corridors, unless:

  1. The harm can be fully mitigated or pending that, suitably compensation is provided (in addition to the minimum 20% biodiversity net gain requirement);
  2. The benefits of the development clearly outweigh the irreparable loss of valued habitats or species; and,
  3. The proposals have no reasonable alternative sites that would result in less harm.

Conservation of Habitats and Species
11. Development proposals that have an adverse impact on irreplaceable habitats as listed in the Biodiversity Gain Requirements (Irreplaceable Habitat) Regulations 2024 or the Habitats or Species of Principal Importance as listed under Section 41 of the Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act 2006 will be refused unless there are wholly exceptional circumstances and the impacts can be mitigated. Proposals will be expected to incorporate measures to maintain or restore as far as possible habitats or species of principal importance.

12. Within areas designated as Biodiversity Opportunity Areas (and any priority enhancement and restoration areas which may replace them in the future Surrey Local Nature Recovery Strategy), set out on the Policies Map, applications for development proposals must be accompanied by an assessment of the potential impact on the overall aims, specific objectives and known biodiversity interests therein, as reflected in the Policy Statement for the Biodiversity Opportunity Area concerned. Development proposals that contribute to these aims and objectives will be supported.

For more information please see the Mole Valley Local Plan