Policy information sourced from Runnymede Local Plan

EE9: Biodiversity, Geodiversity and Nature Conservation

Development on or adjacent to the following hierarchy of important sites in the Borough will need to pay particular attention to the requirements of this policy.

  1. Ramsar sites (international).
  2. Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation (European).
  3. Sites of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserves (National).
  4. Ancient Woodland, ancient or veteran trees; and/or trees and hedgerows protected by a Tree Preservation Order.
  5. Sites of Nature Conservation Importance, Local Nature Reserves.
  6. Other priority habitats and priority species not identified in 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 above (Local); designated Local Green Space where richness of wildlife has been identified as a contributing factor in its designation; and any area in Runnymede that may be in future identified as a Nature Improvement Area; trees considered to make a significant contribution to their surroundings, individually or as a group.

The Council will seek net gains in biodiversity, through creation/expansion, restoration, enhancement and management of habitats and features to improve the status of priority habitats and species. Development proposals should demonstrate how this will be achieved and should be in accordance with any Supplementary Planning Document the Council prepares.

Development proposals not directly related to the management of Ramsar, SPA, SAC as well as SSSI units forming part of these designations will not be permitted unless it can be demonstrated that the impact of proposals, either alone or in combination, will not result in likely significant adverse effects. If significant adverse effects remain even with the implementation of suitable avoidance and/or mitigation, development proposals will need to demonstrate that alternatives to the proposal have been fully explored and that Imperative Reasons of Overriding Public Interest (IROPI) exist. In these exceptional circumstances the Council will only permit development where suitable compensatory measures can be implemented.

For development proposals that affect national, regional or locally protected sites not forming part of a Ramsar, SPA or SAC, permission will only be granted where it can be demonstrated that the benefits of the development proposal clearly outweigh the harm to the site and has followed the hierarchy of mitigation so that biodiversity/geodiversity damage from development should first be avoided, then mitigated on-site and finally, as a last resort and where acceptable, offset.

For more information please see the Local Plan