Policy information sourced from Windsor and Maidenhead Local Plan
NR 2 Nature Conservation and Biodiversity
Designated sites of international and national importance, will be maintained, protected and enhanced. Protected species and habitats will be safeguarded from harm or loss and should be enhanced where possible.
Development proposals:
- Will be expected to demonstrate how they maintain, protect and enhance the biodiversity of application sites including features of conservation value such as hedgerows, trees, river corridors and other water bodies and the presence of protected species.
- Will avoid impacts on habitats and species of principal importance, such as those listed under Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006.
- Either individually or in combination with other developments, which are likely to have a detrimental impact on sites of local importance, including Local Wildlife Sites and Local Nature Reserves, or compromise the implementation of the national, regional, county and local biodiversity actions plans, will not be permitted unless it can be demonstrated that the benefits clearly outweigh the need to safeguard the nature conservation value of the site.
- Will be required to apply the mitigation hierarchy to avoid, mitigate or as a last resort compensate for any adverse biodiversity impacts, where unavoidable adverse impacts on habitats and biodiversity arise. Compensatory measures involving biodiversity offsetting will be considered as a means to prevent biodiversity loss where avoidance and mitigation cannot be achieved.
Biodiversity
Development proposals will be expected to identify areas where there is opportunity for biodiversity to be improved and, where appropriate, enable access to areas of wildlife importance. Development proposals shall also avoid the loss of biodiversity and the fragmentation of existing habitats, and enhance connectivity via green corridors, stepping stones and networks. Where opportunities exist to enhance designated sites or improve the nature conservation value of habitats, for example within Biodiversity Opportunity Areas or a similar designated area, they shouldbedesignedintodevelopment proposals. Development proposals will demonstrate a net gain in biodiversity by quantifiable methods such as the use of a biodiversity metric.
Development proposals shall be accompanied by ecological reports in accordance with BS42020 to aid assessment of the proposal. Such reports should include details of any alternative sites considered, and any mitigation measures considered necessary to make the development acceptable.
The biodiversity of application sites should be protected and enhanced by measures to:
- conserve and enhance the extent and quality of designated sites
- conserve and enhance the diversity and distribution of habitats
- restore and recreate habitats lost as a result of development
- recognise the importance of green corridors, networks and open space including water bodies, green verges, woodland and hedges; they should also ensure that all new developments next to rivers will not lead to the deterioration of the ecological status of the waterbodies and where feasible will contribute to raising their status in line with the aims of the NPPF, the Water Framework Directive and Thames River Basin Management Plan (RBMP)
- avoid the fragmentation of existing habitats
- where appropriate recognise the importance of urban wildlife
- conserve soil resources to protect below ground biodiversity which in turn helps retain and enhance above ground biodiversity.
For more information please see the Local Plan