New ReNature Through Planning Partnership

A ground breaking ‘ReNature Through Planning’ partnership is helping to deliver improved biodiversity for local planning authorities across the country

We’re delighted to be working in partnership with the SDNPA on an innovative new scheme to help local planning authorities meet mandatory biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements.

Most new developments, for which planning permission is granted, in England, must now demonstrate an increase in the biodiversity on completion of work, by a minimum of 10 per cent. Work on site cannot commence until this increase has been demonstrated and approved by the local planning authority.

The new legislation has been introduced to protect wildlife habitats, ensuring they are left in an improved state than before development. Read more about the new rules here.

Delivering BNG and why support is essential

However, studies, including ones by the British Property Foundation and the Green Finance Institute, show that local planning authority departments need more support to deliver on the new biodiversity rules.

Rural Solutions has partnered with the SDNPA, one of the busiest planning authorities in the country, to offer local planning authorities across England a tailored, seamless set-up service for BNG.

About the ReNature Through Planning partnership

The partnership, which is called ‘ReNature Through Planning’, develops, disseminates and demystifies best practice guidance around nature-based solutions, allowing local planning authorities to get up-to-speed quickly and navigate the complex system with confidence.

The first of its kind, the set-up package includes a comprehensive set of document templates, training, and consultancy support, which will be delivered by Rural Solutions’ national team.

Nicole Wright, Head of Planning at Rural Solutions, said:

“A dynamic planning system is key to ensuring development interventions provide optimally designed places and the need for development proposals to consider opportunities for enhancing natural habitats is central to achieving the sustainable development goals. This objective must be pursued with or without the mandatory legal requirement.”

Mark Alden, Nature-based Solutions Manager for the SDNPA, said:

“With more than 300 planning authorities in England, there’s a big job to be done in terms of making sure that busy, and frankly, often stretched, planning departments are fully up-to-speed on all the changes around BNG.

We’re excited to be working with the team at Rural Solutions who advise on planning applications daily to offer this set-up service that can make the transition seamless and stress-free.

The SDNPA is proud to be a leading voice nationally around nature-based solutions and we’re now in a very strong position to share our expertise. Working together and sharing best practice, local planning authorities across England can really supercharge nature recovery and it’s exciting to think what we can achieve.”

About SDNPA

The SDNPA is dedicated to conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage of the South Downs.

As a pioneering force in implementing privately funded, high-integrity environmental schemes, the SDNPA has been at the forefront for many years. This includes projects funded through nutrient neutrality, BNG, and, more recently, launching the first voluntary biodiversity credits linked to the compliance market.

Earlier this year they became the first National Park in the UK to open a formal scheme for voluntary biodiversity gain to the private sector – meaning that firms of any size across England can invest in high-integrity, meaningful nature recovery.

Rural Solutions has worked closely with SDNPA for several years. Projects include the production of a Whole Estate Plan for Wiston Estate in West Sussex – the first of its kind to be created for inclusion within the National Park’s now adopted Local Plan.

Learn more about SDNPA here.

ReNature Through Planning Pack

The ReNature Through Planning set-up service includes:

• Detailed guidance material to help local planning authorities navigate BNG end-to-end through the planning process
• Best practice advice and tips based on first-hand experience in delivering BNG (designing, implementing, and securing projects through the planning system)
• Contract templates and suggested text, including Section 106 and Commercial Agreements, Biodiversity Gain Plan and BNG Decision Notice
• Example BNG Compliance Monitoring Fee Calculators
• Habitat banking guidance, including checklist and Landowner Offer Brochure
• Two-hour ReNature Through Planning BNG kick-off workshop for the local planning authority leadership team
• Up to eight hours of additional flexible training and consultancy support

Get in touch

Local planning authorities interested in the scheme should get in touch with our team by emailing renature@ruralsolutions.co.uk or calling us on 01756 797501 for more details.

Images

1. Marbled White Butterfly in South Downs (c) SDNPA
2. Wildflowers in the South Downs National Park (c) Sam Moore and SDNPA
3. Areas like the woods around Harting Down act as carbon sinks (c) Sam Moore and SDNP.