Agenda item

The Head of Planning and Conversation presented the report to approve the incorporation of the biodiversity duty and reporting into the 2023-2028 Peak District National Park Management Plan (NPMP).  This was a requirement of DEFRA and not a decision item.

There were no updates to the report since it was circulated.

There was a duty in the Environment Act 2021 requiring all public authorities must consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity, agree policies and objectives, and act to deliver those policies and achieve those objectives.  All granted planning permissions were required to deliver at least 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).  There was an expectation from DEFRA that reporting biodiversity duty should take place.

The following areas were discussed:

•         BNG wouldn’t deliver nature recovery because of the level of development in the National Park.  Placing flagstones on the footpath over Kinder Scout had been positively impactful for nature recovery, but resulted in the loss of irreplaceable habitat, which was covered by BNG legislation.

•         The government was looking into the BNG requirements on development and thresholds had been increased.

The recommendation as set out in the report was moved, seconded, put to the vote and carried.

Resolved:

1.      To note the Biodiversity Duty Statement, as set out in appendix 1, as incorporated into the Peak District National Park Management Plan 2023-28.

2.      To note the Biodiversity Net Gain Report, as set out in appendix 2, as incorporated into the Peak District National Park Management Plan 2023-28.