General Advice
Local validation requirements here
Stafford’s BNG level is set at 10%.
The NPPF states: "applicants are encouraged to consider biodiversity net gain early in the development process and factor it into site selection and design. Where appropriate, they should discuss the biodiversity net gain requirements for their development upfront with the relevant local planning authority utilising any pre-application advice services offered by them. This could help establish whether development proposals would be subject to biodiversity net gain and, if they are, enable feedback on the proposed strategy for achieving the biodiversity gain objective and consideration of the Biodiversity Gain Hierarchy to inform the design of the proposals"
Please note, If you work for the LPA and wish to add additional information, please inform the Joe's Blooms team here.
Pre-Application Advice Service
Stafford’s pre-application advice service can be foundhere.
Local Nature Recovery Strategy
Stafford is part of the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Information can be foundhere.
Specific Requirements
Specific BNG requirements are set out in Policy 47 of the Local Plan Preferred Options.
In accordance with national policy and legislation, planning permission will be refused for development that results in significant harm to biodiversity that cannot be avoided (by locating elsewhere), adequately mitigated, or (as last resort) compensated for.
Within the context of the mitigation hierarchy set out in Paragraph A and subject to the specific requirements applicable to designated sites as detailed below, all development shall, unsell it is in a category of development that is exempted by the Environment Act 2021 or regulation made thereunder from the requirement to deliver biodiversity net gain, achieve biodiversity net gain of at least 10% as defined in national policy, guidance and legislation, secured in perpetuity (at least 30 years) in accordance with the following requirements:
The latest DEFRA metric or agreed equivalent is used to quantify the baseline and post-development biodiversity value of the development site and off-site areas proposed for habitat creation;
The assessment is undertaken by a suitably qualified and experienced ecologist and is submitted together with baseline and proposed habitat mapping with the application;
A 30-year management plan is submitted with the application detailing how the post-development biodiversity values of the site and any supporting off-site mitigation will be achieved; and
Any off-site habitat creation/restoration is located in accordance with Stafford Borough’s Nature Recovery Network and LNRS
Where development is approved which has potential to impact upon biodiversity, developers will be required to:
Minimise disturbance to and protect and enhance the site’s ecological value (unless compensation is justified in accordance with the mitigation hierarchy);
Put appropriate future management arrangements in place; and
Design appropriate mitigation measures into the proposal.
See also the BNG page.
Strategic Significance
N/A