Policy information sourced from the Watford Local Plan 2021-2038.

NE9.8 Biodiversity

New development should seek to achieve an overall net gain in biodiversity. This must be measured through the use of the latest Defra Biodiversity Metric. The Biodiversity Metric should demonstrate an improvement in biodiversity units of 10% or more from the existing baseline value of the site.

Development should apply the Mitigation Hierarchy to minimise or mitigate harmful effects on biodiversity. Mitigation and compensation measures must offset any losses to achieve a measurable net gain for biodiversity. Where it is not possible to avoid or mitigate all impacts on site, an offsite Biodiversity Offset Agreement should be submitted to demonstrate that any offsite measures proposed seek to enhance locally and nationally important priorities.

To ensure the long-term net gain, all development proposals should prepare a long-term monitoring and maintenance plan for biodiversity and habitat proposals, for a minimum period of 30 years, including both on and off site measures.

All development proposals will be required to prepare a proportionate ecological survey and assessment report. Where a protected species or habitat is found to be present, the proposal must mitigate or compensate appropriately in accordance with the legislation that protects them. Protected sites of international, national and local importance will be protected from inappropriate development based on the importance of the designation.

For more information, please see the Watford Local Plan 2021-2038.