Strategic significance is the local significance of the habitat based on its location and habitat type. Assessors should assign a strategic significance category (Table 5-3) for each individual habitat parcel both at baseline and at post-intervention. Assessors should use published plans, strategies or polices which are relevant to the habitat’s location.

Assessors should split the habitat parcel and apply the scores accordingly when a habitat parcel is intersected by: • a boundary between two areas of different strategic significance • a consenting body or planning authority boundary

Assessors must provide evidence by referencing relevant documents. If published, the relevant strategy is the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS). If an LNRS has not been published, the relevant consenting body or planning authority may specify alternative plans, policies or strategies to use

Alternative plans, policies or strategies must specify suitable locations for habitat retention, habitat creation and or enhancements, and might, for example, be: • Local Plans and Neighbourhood Plans • Local Planning Authority Local Ecological Networks • Tree Strategies • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plans • Biodiversity Action Plans • Species and protected sites conservation strategies • Woodland strategies • Green Infrastructure Strategies • River Basin Management Plans • Catchment Plans and Catchment Planning Systems • Shoreline management plans • Estuary Strategies

. If no alternative is specified, agreement should be sought from the consenting body or Local Planning Authority when determining strategic significance.