Kiera Chapman’s Post

Kiera has managed to express more eloquently than me (and with far fewer four letter expletives) the frustration - and (for me at least), the feeling of abject betrayal - by a Labour Government that seems hell-bent on pitching people against nature. This is amplified by the announcement today by DEFRA that they are going to undertake a ‘wholesale review’ of biodiversity net gain… The findings of Kiera’s paper are almost exactly the same as another forthcoming article led by Ian Thornhill MCIEEM that shows developers are not delivering on their legal commitments to deliver for nature. The Government know that there a suite of reasons that mean house prices are high and that there is not enough housing for people that want ‘new’ houses in the UK. Other reasons include (but are not limited to): - developers and volume house builders ‘land banking’; holding on to large areas of land that already have planning permission but are not currently deemed profitable enough to develop - that the appeal of developing on greenfield sites for volume housebuilders is far greater than developing on brownfield - that there are delapidated housing estates in towns and cities across the country that people don’t want to live in but which could be regenerated or redeveloped to provide affordable housing Most depressing is that Kier Starmer, Angela Rayner et al are not stupid, they have just ‘lent their ears’ to only one side of the debate: the developers. These new attacks on planning policies and their protection of nature have nothing whatsoever to do with housing supply or demand (if they did, their reforms would be inextricably linked with delivering affordable housing rather than merely eulogising that this is what they want). Instead, their current attack of planning policy is entirely about a misfounded idea that getting the development sector producing houses at scale will boost the economy - plain and simple. So what for nature? In the midst of a biodiversity crisis, we need strong leadership that recognises the nuance needed for development- there is no silver bullet to rectifying the need for housing. But pitching this as a war against nature is about as short-sighted as building a house for your kids’ inheritance that has an explosive device with a timer in it. As well as growing the economy we have a commitment to protecting 30% or our land for nature by 2030. We could have been the country that tried to take a lead on this - a complex issue bound up with a myriad of challenges but eminently worth fighting for. Instead, with the very little time we have left to make a difference and transform people’s attitudes towards nature, Labour have decided to destroy it for short-term economic gain. #conservativesalloveragain

Tree laws have changed to protect Adelaide's tree canopy coming into effect immediately 📣 The South Australian Government is taking immediate action to better protect Adelaide’s urban tree canopy. Taking immediate effect, the new regulations will protect trees with a smaller trunk circumference. Key Facts: 🌳 The trunk size for regulated trees will be reduced from two metres to one metre, while significant trees will go from three metres to two. 🌳 Exemptions for trees based on distance from homes and pools have also been reduced 🌳 Fees for destroying or removing protected trees will also increase 🌳Existing development applications and approvals will have 12 months to be actioned before being impacted by these changes For more information about this could affect you visit the Plan SA website 👉 https://ow.ly/NEFH50RQohy

Farmland could unlock 587 homes to help meet Middlesbrough’s needs. Around 587 private and affordable homes could be built to address Middlesbrough’s housing needs under plans submitted by Bellway Strategic Land.   Middlesbrough Council has been asked to consider a detailed application for a 106-acre site at Stainton Vale Farm.   The proposals show open spaces and environmental improvements, including work to enhance Stainton Beck.                                                                          🗣 Martyn Earle, Strategic Land Director for Bellway Strategic Land, said: “These plans for Stainton Vale Farm would bring more high-quality, energy-efficient private and affordable homes to Middlesbrough. This would help people looking to buy, rent or explore shared ownership options.   “We shared our vision for the scheme with the council and the local community before submitting a planning application. Taking their feedback on board, we have proposed a scheme which would provide ecological benefits, great transport connections and a boost to the local economy through job creation.   “The development would be centred around a green open space. Our landscaping proposals would protect and enhance wildlife habitats, and a new bus loop would provide easy access to public transport.”   Stainton Vale Farm borders the A19. The new homes would be accessed via Low Lane with a new crossing for Stainton Beck.   Martyn said: "This location is highlighted as an allocation in the Draft Local Plan. As a responsible national housebuilder, we have the expertise and resources to ensure the homes are built in a timely manner and to the highest standards, all while increasing biodiversity and natural habitats on the site.” For more information on Bellway’s commitment to sustainable building, see ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eNEGfe93

Last year colleagues in the School of Geography and Planning, University of Sheffield walked over 291 hectares of land, surveyed nearly 6,000 newbuild houses and searched for 4,654 trees and 868 bird boxes. They found that just 53% of the ecological features that should have been there were actually present.

Campaign for National Parks's Health Check report continues to receive great coverage 5 months on from release, with our suggested reforms for nature permeating through to Government with references from politicians in both Y Senedd and UK Parliament. It's clear that we need big changes fast. These include more money, new powers and governance reforms which The Guardian picked up on and investigated further last week here: https://lnkd.in/evM_D3XN Guy Shrubshole's excellent research (and now new book Lie of the Land) also helped us highlight in the report how much land in National Parks is privately owned and how this can affect the pace of change needed to restore nature in National Parks. One of the suggestions in our report is that we need reforms which support greater public and community ownership of land in National Parks, including a requirement that any land over a certain size in England and Wales is first offered for community or public purchase when put up for sale. To expand on this further I have written a mini blog exploring the idea: https://lnkd.in/eyC8Gs_x

On the day of the NPPF launch, our new research report is out, published by Wild Justice. We looked at how many of the ecological enhancements and mitigations promised as part of planning permissions were actually in place. We surveyed 42 new build estates across the country. The results were shocking - only 53% of the ecological enhancements (trees, bat boxes, wildflower areas, ponds) were actually in place. Housebuilders just aren't installing these features, and management companies just aren't maintaining public spaces according to the planning consent. Some of the estates we visited had more than 50% of their trees dead or dying. We need far greater resources for ecological enforcement in local authorities. It isn't about newts vs. people - people who live in new build housing need high quality, ecologically rich areas in which to live. If we are to build 1.5m homes and continue to rely on the same system, with housebuilders evading their responsibilities, this will be a huge loss for nature and people alike.

Rather depressing but important research insight into implementation of biodiversity measures in new housing. Planning Democracy has done some similar research work - and we’ve a write up of that in the next issue of the Scottish Planner coming out in the next day or two. #planningresearch #implementationgap #planningfornature

📢 🎉 We've done it! 📢 🎉 Ground-breaking first biodiversity net gain S106 completed in Braintree District A developer working in Braintree District secured the required off-site habitat units from our pioneering nature recovery project after maximising the on-site compensation they could achieve. This approach was supported by Braintree District Council through the planning process and secured using the first BNG Section 106 agreement in the district. Edward Worthy ably supported the estate through the legal process. An area of 1.3 hectares of new grassland and scrub will be created and maintained at Spains Hall Estate for at least the next 30 years. Archie Ruggles-Brise, Estate Manager of Spains Hall Estate, said, “This deal is fantastic as it will enable us to dedicate some of our less productive land to nature. This fits brilliantly alongside our transition to sustainable farming and other nature based projects (including our famous beavers who continue to reduce flood risk in Finchingfield!) We hope it is the first of many such deals we secure as we aim to restore over 100 hectares of wildlife habitats on the farm through our Ecological Landscape Plan." Archie added, “Credit should also go to the team at Braintree District Council. This is the first BNG Section 106 agreement they’ve approved, and their collaborative approach was instrumental in getting it done. We hope it will ultimately help establish Braintree District as a focus for sustainable development that results in nature recovery as well as economic growth. ” This first BNG deal builds on many years pioneering work to restore nature at the Spains Hall Estate. Since 2020 the estate have been one of only five Natural England Biodiversity Net Gain pilot sites, helping the government and regulators develop the policy that underpins this and other BNG deals. The estate now offers BNG Units to developers through the country, but with a focus on East Anglia and London. #BNG #Naturerecovery #Sustainability #environmentact #climatechange

We are delighted to welcome Kirstie Ellis as Project Manager for "Heaths to Sea: Landscape recovery of the Lower Otter Valley". After a successful bid for Government funding, the Estate is embarking on the development phase of an ambitious landscape-scale project to improve the environment for wildlife and for people. The project will include: - Engaging with local people, neighbouring landowners and other stakeholders to agree landscape priorities. - Considering what actions are feasible and achievable. - Assessing what the delivery of the project will cost – and identifying sources of private, as well as public funding. - Producing a fully costed plan for Government outlining what the gains for nature and society will be in the long-term. Kirstie said: "Although this scheme has a focus on nature recovery, it is not about stopping food production; we believe that nature recovery and agriculture can - and indeed must - co-exist.” Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e_a2ck3P #ClintonDevonEstates #LandscapeRecovery #NatureRecovery #Conservation #LandManagement

Garden Town partners, Harlow Council, have identified six locations that could benefit nature and the wider environment in the future. The six areas feature as part of the draft Essex Local Nature Recovery Strategy from Essex County Council which is currently open for consultation and aims to create, invest and improve local habitat across the region. Harlow Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Garden Town and Planning, Alastair Gunn, said: “Harlow is blessed with abundant green spaces, from our town park to our green fingers and wedges. “If protected, these can allow nature to thrive within our town and that’s why I believe it is important Harlow is included in Essex’s nature recovery strategy.” Harlow Council’s six locations for nomination are: · Harlow Woods (Special Site for Scientific Interest). · Parndon Lock Meadow and Parndon Moat Marsh · River Stort ‘gap’ – located north of Harlow between the A414/Fifth Avenue bridge and the Mead Park industrial estate at Templefields. · Jean McAlpine and Canons Brook Country Park · Church End Pond and Netteswell Pond Conservation Area · Latton Common and Harlow Common Cllr Gunn added: “Harlow Council has worked to secure the nomination of six important local sites from across the district as part of the draft strategy Essex County Council is consulting on. “If included, this will protect their status as areas for nature and wildlife and may help secure investment to improve them further in future. “I would encourage Harlow residents to respond to Essex’s consultation to let them know we want to see Harlow’s natural assets protected.” Part of Harlow & Gilston’s status as a Garden Town from Government means that development must enhance the natural environment, provide a comprehensive green infrastructure network and net biodiversity gains plus the use of zero-carbon and energy-positive technology to ensure climate resilience. All four of HGGT’s new community developments will meet the requirement set out in the Environment Act which states that there must be a minimum requirement of 10% biodiversity net gain for local flora and fauna. The draft Essex Local Nature Recovery Strategy consultation closes on October 25, link below. https://lnkd.in/eMpcn479 #environment #community #development #nature #habitat #biodiversity #greeninfrastructure #essex #herts #hertfordshire #eastherts #flora #fauna #climate #wildlife