The LNRS website can be accessed here.
The LNRS is a statutory plan (under the Environment Act 2021) that sets local priorities, maps the most valuable existing areas for nature, and maps where habitat creation/enhancement should go. Use it to justify your design choices, BNG plan and HMMP (it’s published and live for North Northants).
Find out if there are Strategic Significance issues on your site
Open the LNRS mapping portal and overlay your red-line boundary. Check for intersections with:
• Areas already important for biodiversity (designations/irreplaceable habitats)
• Potential locations / opportunity areas identified for creating or improving habitat
• Character areas or any location-specific measures shown
If you intersect any of these, treat the site as strategically significant and design your net gain to help deliver the mapped opportunities. Grab layer screenshots for your submission bundle.
Find out if there are habitats of importance
Use the Strategy (and the council’s “Delivery options” guide) to pick actions that fit both your site’s context and any mapped opportunities you intersect—e.g., species-rich grassland creation, hedgerow/woodland connectivity, riparian/wetland improvements, and urban green-infrastructure in settlements. Reference the exact LNRS doc sections/layers you’re following in your BNG/HMMP.
If you would like specific guidance, please ask the chatbot and ask for a human to get site-specific support
