Regulation 19 - Proposed Draft Local Plan Submission

At policy 4.35 we suggest that the following is added:
"The council's Green & Blue Infrastructure Study sets out details of how Natural England's Green Infrastructure Framework Standards can be used to guide new development. These standards include:
• S1: Green Infrastructure Strategy Standard
• S2: Accessible Greenspace Standard
• S3: Urban Nature Recovery Standard
• S4: Urban Greening Factor Standard
• S5: Urban Tree Canopy Cover Standard"

Whilst Natural England generally supports this policy we suggest that the policy would be strengthened with reference to Natural England's Green Infrastructure Framework standards and the recommendations for the local application of these set out in the Council's Green & Blue Infrastructure Study (2024).
The Green Infrastructure Standards are a key component of the Green Infrastructure Framework. They define what good green infrastructure ‘looks like’ and how it can be planned strategically to deliver multiple benefits for people and nature.
The five Headline Green Infrastructure Standards are:
• S1: Green Infrastructure Strategy Standard
• S2: Accessible Greenspace Standard
• S3: Urban Nature Recovery Standard
• S4: Urban Greening Factor Standard
• S5: Urban Tree Canopy Cover Standard
These standards are a way to set out requirements for developers for the expected quantity and quality of GBI provision and management. We therefore consider that this policy should include a link to the GBI Study for a clearer join up to this advice.

We suggest the following change of wording for clarification:
"If full mitigation cannot be provided, compensation will be required as a last resort, where there is no alternative."

Whilst Natural England generally supports this policy we consider that the last sentence at bullet point 3 of the policy wording is unclear.

We suggest that bullet point 5 of this policy is reworded as follows:
Biodiversity and geodiversity sites and networks will be protected in accordance with their statutory and policy status:
a) development which has the potential to harm a candidate or designated Habitats Site (European site) must be subject to Appropriate Assessment and will not be permitted unless harm to the integrity of the site is ruled out;
a) development which is likely to harm a Site of Special Scientific Interest will not be permitted unless the benefits of the development clearly outweigh the harm;
b) development leading to the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats such as ancient woodlands and veteran trees will only be permitted for wholly exceptional reasons;
c) development likely to have an adverse effect on locally designated sites, their features or their function as part of the ecological network, will only be supported where the benefits of the development clearly outweigh the loss, and the coherence of the local ecological network is maintained.
d) Development which harms, directly or indirectly, species which are legally protected, or species and habitats that have been identified as Species or Habitats of Principal Importance in England (also known as Section 41 or ‘Priority’ species and habitats) will not be permitted unless the harm can be avoided or mitigated by appropriate measures.

Whilst Natural England generally welcomes this policy we consider that bullet point 5 requires clarification with respect to the requirements for internationally, nationally and locally designated sites and we suggest this is reworded.

We suggest the following should be included within the explanatory text:
Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) are central to enhancing the nature recovery network by improving, expanding and connecting existing areas of importance for nature. The LNRS for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland is being developed by Leicestershire County Council and identifies key habitats and species that require immediate attention and sets out strategic aims to enhance biodiversity and create a connected and resilient landscape for people and nature.

Natural England suggest that the explanatory text for this policy specifically mentions the Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Local Nature Recovery Strategy.