What’s new?
16 August 2005
More Government action needed on planning and wildlife
States The Wildlife Trusts partnership
The Wildlife Trusts are calling for more action to protect important species and habitats - such as water voles and ancient meadows - through the planning system, as new Government policy on development and nature is published today (16/8/05).
Planning Policy Statement 9 (PPS9) on biodiversity and geological conservation is the first major update of Government planning policy on this subject in England for more than a decade and much has changed over that time.
The Wildlife Trusts are concerned that PPS9, while taking a step in the right direction, is brief and lacking detail. They believe it does not go far enough to enable the Government to meet some of the most pressing challenges posed by climate change and biodiversity conservation, such as the commitment to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010.
The Wildlife Trusts support the thrust of the new policy - that the planning system should enhance as well as protect biodiversity - but believe more thorough guidance and increased resources are needed to help Local Authorities rise to this challenge of planning with nature in mind. Without that they fear that important species and habitats will continue to lose ground and opportunities to create new accessible natural green spaces will be missed.
John Everitt, Head of Conservation at The Wildlife Trusts, said "We are in danger of failing both people and wildlife. There is a wealth of evidence to show that building biodiversity into new developments rather than squeezing it out adds enormously to our social and economic wellbeing and improves local quality of life." To make this happen The Wildlife Trusts are calling for the early publication of a promised new companion guide to PPS9 containing strong, detailed advice on the practicalities of delivering biodiversity through planning.
The Wildlife Trusts also believe that more training and financial support will be necessary for planners to fully embrace biodiversity conservation and deliver a better environment for all to enjoy.