Developers may have to enhance wildlife habitats, says Gove

Environment secretary launches consultation into ‘biodiversity net gain’ requirement

Press Association

Sun 2 Dec 2018 21.53 GMT Last modified on Sun 2 Dec 2018 21.54 GMT

Developers could be obliged to enhance wildlife habitats when building houses or commercial property, under new government proposals.

A mandatory “biodiversity net gain” requirement could be put in place, meaning developers would have to leave habitats better off for wildlife than before any construction work.

The plan, applying to developments covered by the Town and Country Planning Act in England, is in a recently launched consultation running until 10 February. In circumstances where green improvements, such as tree planting or local nature area creation, were not possible, developers could be charged a levy to pay for habitat creation or improvement elsewhere.

Michael Gove, the environment secretary, said: “Our commitment to protecting and enhancing our natural world can go hand in hand with [building] more high-quality homes. Mandating biodiversity net gain puts the environment at the heart of planning and development.”

Source  

UK among worst in wildlife league

By Roger Harrabin BBC environment analyst

20 May 2015 

From the section Science & Environment

The UK is among the worst countries in the EU for protecting its wildlife habitats, says an official report.

Britain, Belgium and Denmark report around 70% of habitats are in unfavourable or bad condition.

Holland registered just 4% of its habitats in good condition; environmentalists say the figures are unacceptable.

The report by the European Environment Agency and the European Commission is based on data from member states.

It says EU laws designed to protect wildlife and habitats appear to be working - but only in a patchy way.

The document, State of Nature 2015, comes after the European President Jean-Claude Juncker has launched a review into the fitness of the wildlife and birds directives.

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