Local Wildlife Sites
Recommendation (s). We recommend that local authorities should have a duty to establish and maintain a register of local wildlife sites and to give them the status of ‘material consideration’ in development control decisions. This should ensure that there is a general presumption against development on these sites.
As the report identifies, DETR signalled its recognition of the need to address issues associated with local sites in the 1998 consultation paper on SSSIs and subsequently set up a Group to examine them. Following consideration of its recommendations Ministers agreed to take forward their general thrust, through guidance and best practice. However, they take the view that local BAPs, which will feed into the overarching community strategy for the area, will provide the framework for the development of local sites systems and that no further legislative requirement is necessary.
We intend to consult on a revision of Planning Policy Guidance 9 on Nature Conservation (PPG9), including guidance on local sites during 2001. However, the identification of local sites of nature conservation importance in Local Plans, including appropriate policies, is already recommended by PPG 9. Nature conservation matters, including the existence of a local wildlife site, are already capable of being material considerations in the determination of a planning application.
Published 21 May 2001
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