Planning for Brownfield Conservation · Alice Farr – Planning Manager, ... •Raised profile of...
Transcript of Planning for Brownfield Conservation · Alice Farr – Planning Manager, ... •Raised profile of...
![Page 1: Planning for Brownfield Conservation · Alice Farr – Planning Manager, ... •Raised profile of brownfield conservation issues •First time that biodiversity protection has been](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022043019/5f3b90df1666f1786740cc8f/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
www.buglife.org.uk @buzz_dont_tweet
Planning for Brownfield Conservation Alice Farr – Planning Manager, Buglife
![Page 2: Planning for Brownfield Conservation · Alice Farr – Planning Manager, ... •Raised profile of brownfield conservation issues •First time that biodiversity protection has been](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022043019/5f3b90df1666f1786740cc8f/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Introduction
• What is the problem?
• Protection of brownfield land
• Two case studies
• Mitigation
![Page 3: Planning for Brownfield Conservation · Alice Farr – Planning Manager, ... •Raised profile of brownfield conservation issues •First time that biodiversity protection has been](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022043019/5f3b90df1666f1786740cc8f/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
What’s the problem?
• Some (but definitely not all) brownfield land is good for wildlife (and people!)
• 50% of Buglife planning work focusses on wildlife rich brownfield sites under threat from development
• Often invertebrate conservation is the lowest priority….
![Page 4: Planning for Brownfield Conservation · Alice Farr – Planning Manager, ... •Raised profile of brownfield conservation issues •First time that biodiversity protection has been](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022043019/5f3b90df1666f1786740cc8f/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
National Planning Policy Framework
These 12 principles are that planning should….
….encourage the effective use of land by reusing land that has been previously developed (brownfield land), provided that it is not of high environmental value;
Paragraph 17
![Page 5: Planning for Brownfield Conservation · Alice Farr – Planning Manager, ... •Raised profile of brownfield conservation issues •First time that biodiversity protection has been](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022043019/5f3b90df1666f1786740cc8f/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
National Planning Practice Guidance
Can brownfield land have a high ecological value?
It may do. Information on brownfield land of high ecological value (‘Open Mosaic Habitats’) has been published by Defra. Where insufficient information is available survey work may be appropriate to assess ecological value before decisions on development are taken.
![Page 6: Planning for Brownfield Conservation · Alice Farr – Planning Manager, ... •Raised profile of brownfield conservation issues •First time that biodiversity protection has been](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022043019/5f3b90df1666f1786740cc8f/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act
Section 41 Species - species and habitats that require specific consideration in dealing with planning and development control cases
At least 35 priority species found and Open Mosaic Habitat is habitat of principal importance
![Page 7: Planning for Brownfield Conservation · Alice Farr – Planning Manager, ... •Raised profile of brownfield conservation issues •First time that biodiversity protection has been](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022043019/5f3b90df1666f1786740cc8f/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Buckmans Hill Quarry
Plans to infill an existing
quarry with inert waste
Refused – • OMH priority habitat
• Hornet robber fly (Asilus crabroniformis),
• Solitary wasp (Cerceris quinquefasciata)
• Brown-banded carder bee (Bombus humilis)
![Page 8: Planning for Brownfield Conservation · Alice Farr – Planning Manager, ... •Raised profile of brownfield conservation issues •First time that biodiversity protection has been](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022043019/5f3b90df1666f1786740cc8f/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
West Thurrock Marshes
Third best site in the UK for endangered species
1300 species - 32 Hectares, 17 Priority species
36 Red Data Book species,
116 Notable, 352 Local
![Page 9: Planning for Brownfield Conservation · Alice Farr – Planning Manager, ... •Raised profile of brownfield conservation issues •First time that biodiversity protection has been](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022043019/5f3b90df1666f1786740cc8f/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
West Thurrock legal challenge
• Established that Section 41 species are legally ‘protected’
• Raised profile of brownfield conservation issues
• First time that biodiversity protection has been tested – unfortunately exposed frailty of system
• First UK Protective Costs Order for environmental case
![Page 10: Planning for Brownfield Conservation · Alice Farr – Planning Manager, ... •Raised profile of brownfield conservation issues •First time that biodiversity protection has been](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022043019/5f3b90df1666f1786740cc8f/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Impacts of development
Easily under-estimated for brownfield sites
• Loss of a crucial resource
• Individually habitat components may appear uninteresting
• We don’t always know what is on site
• Some species have specific requirements
• Specialist mitigation is often needed
![Page 11: Planning for Brownfield Conservation · Alice Farr – Planning Manager, ... •Raised profile of brownfield conservation issues •First time that biodiversity protection has been](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022043019/5f3b90df1666f1786740cc8f/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Mitigation hierarchy!
Information
Avoid
Reduce/mitigate
Compensate
![Page 12: Planning for Brownfield Conservation · Alice Farr – Planning Manager, ... •Raised profile of brownfield conservation issues •First time that biodiversity protection has been](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022043019/5f3b90df1666f1786740cc8f/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Conclusions
• There is protection for high value brownfield land
• Survey guidelines should be followed - OMH and Natural England
• Mitigation hierarchy observed
• Invertebrate focussed mitigation
![Page 14: Planning for Brownfield Conservation · Alice Farr – Planning Manager, ... •Raised profile of brownfield conservation issues •First time that biodiversity protection has been](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022043019/5f3b90df1666f1786740cc8f/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
www.buglife.org.uk Tel: 01733 201210 @buzz_dont_tweet
Buglife is a registered charity at Bug House, Ham Lane, Orton Waterville, Peterborough, PE2 5UU Registered Charity No: 1092293, Scottish Charity No: SC040004, Company No: 4132695
Planning for Brownfield Conservation Alice Farr