We’re proud of our natural environment and want to take care of it. That’s why we’ve brought together a range of strategies, planning policies and programmes to protect, maintain and enhance our biodiversity and landscapes.
We expect development proposals to take account of biodiversity and landscape policies and we’ll work with our partners to ensure this happens.
Biodiversity net gain
Mandatory biodiversity net gain (BNG) came into force on 12 February 2024.
This means that when putting in a planning application, developers will need to show how 10% BNG can be achieved on site, or off-site locations as close as possible to the development. As a last resort, this can be achieved via the statutory biodiversity credit scheme.
Biodiversity net gain guidance what you need to know – GOV.UK
Two important documents which you will need to know about when preparing your BNG calculation.
The significant on site enhancement document sets out what we consider to represent ‘significant enhancement’ within development proposals.
Local Nature Recovery Strategy – The Nottinghamshire and Nottingham Local Nature Recovery Strategy has been produced by Nottinghamshire County Council.
It is part of an England-wide network of strategies which aim to help reverse the ongoing decline of nature by establishing priorities for nature recovery and Identify locations to create or improve habitat most likely to provide the greatest benefit for nature and the wider environment. It should be used to calculate the strategic significance in BNG calculations supporting planning applications.
Notts Nature Recovery Strategy
Call for sites
We are issuing a call to local landowners to identify land that might be suitable as a BNG site. If you are interested in getting involved, get in touch.
Complete the expression of interest form and email it to planningpolicy@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk
You can print and post the form:
We will then aim to support landowners who have sites we are interested in developing for nature with the objective of then being able to sell biodiversity units to developers who have a shortfall in meeting their BNG requirements.
Biodiversity in Newark and Sherwood
Newark and Sherwood contains an impressive range of habitats and species. The district also has a number of sites which receive specific protection because of their international, national or regional importance for nature conservation including:
- Birklands and Bilhaugh special area of conservation (SAC) on the Defra website
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) on the Natural England website
- Sherwood Forest national nature reserve on the national government website
- Local nature reserves on the Natural England website
- Sites of interest for nature conservation on the Nottingham City Council website
Landscape character assessment
To assist the conservation and enhancement of our landscapes and to inform the production of the local development framework (LDF) we’ve carried out a landscape character assessment of the district.
Green infrastructure strategy
The protection and enhancement of the area's biodiversity and open spaces should be seen not just as the protection of individual elements of our towns and villages. It is part of the development of an overall green infrastructure network of green spaces, landscapes and natural elements which intersperse and connect our settlements and surrounding areas.
To help create this network we’ve produced a green infrastructure strategy championing the need for a high level of environmental quality, provision of recreational opportunities and access to green space by developers.
Nottinghamshire local biodiversity action plan
The Nottinghamshire local biodiversity action plan seeks to focus resources to conserve and enhance biodiversity through local partnerships. It’s part of a national approach to biodiversity and identifies important species and habitats in our area, giving each one an action plan to aid in their conservation.
Southwell Landscape Setting Study (2012)
Appendix 1 and 2 are too big for website and so are available on request.