RSS East Of England Plan - Broads Authority

East of England Plan 55
POLICY ENV3: Biodiversity and Earth Heritage
In their plans, policies, programmes and proposals planning authorities and other agencies should ensure that
internationally and nationally designated sites are given the strongest level of protection and that development does
not have adverse effects on the integrity of sites of European or international importance for nature conservation.
Proper consideration should be given to the potential effects of development on the conservation of habitats and
species outside designated sites, and on species protected by law.
Planning authorities and other agencies should ensure that the region’s wider biodiversity, earth heritage and natural
resources are protected and enriched through the conservation, restoration and re-establishment of key resources
by:
• ensuring new development minimises damage to biodiversity and earth heritage resources by avoiding harm to
local wildlife sites and, wherever possible, achieving net environmental gains in development sites through the
retention of existing assets, enhancement measures, and new habitat creation;
• promoting the conservation, enhancement, restoration, re-establishment and good management of habitats
and species populations in accordance with East of England regional biodiversity targets (Appendix B) and the
priorities in the East of England Regional Biodiversity Map (Figure 7);
• identifying and safeguarding areas for habitat restoration and re-establishment, in particular large-scale (greater
than 200 ha) habitat restoration areas which will deliver human and wildlife benefit;
• identifying, safeguarding, conserving, and restoring regionally important geological and/or geomorphological
sites and promoting their good management;
• ensuring the appropriate management and further expansion of wildlife corridors important for the migration
and dispersal of wildlife;
• having regard to the need for habitats and species to adapt to climate change; and
• establishing networks of green infrastructure, maximising their biodiversity value, as provided for under Policy
ENV1.
The East of England Regional Assembly and its partners should work with authorities in neighbouring regions on
strategic natural resource and biodiversity issues in areas such as the Chilterns, the Wash and Thames Estuary.
8.11 PPS9 Biodiversity & Geological Conservation, supported by wildlife legislation, accords the strongest possible level of
protection to internationally and nationally designated sites; Circular 06/05 provides guidance on the protection of such
sites. Designated sites cover some 6.6% of the region, comprising 567 Sites of Special Scientific Interest of which many
are European sites – Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas – and Ramsar sites (wetlands
designated for their international importance to wildlife). Some are also national nature reserves.
8.12 National policy also reflects wider nature conservation objectives, aimed at reversing past habitat losses. The UK
Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) identifies ambitious targets to create and restore new wildlife habitats and species
populations. There is considerable potential for the East of England to achieve its targets and reverse recent reductions in
biodiversity. Local Development Documents should take account of BAP targets and priorities identified in county
biodiversity network maps. Action plans for the management of the region’s biodiversity are set out in the Regional
Environment Strategy. BAP priorities and targets are summarised in Appendix B.