Following consultation in 2010 the Biodiversity SPD has been amended to reflect consultation feedback. The Joint Planning Committee endorsed the SPD at its 7th December 2010 meeting, and the partner Local Planning Authorities have all adopted the SPD.
The SPD explains how biodiversity shall be incorporated into the development process to ensure that the requirements of legislation and policy are met. It is designed to be used by those considering and applying for planning permission but should also be considered as a key tool by those developing broader planning policy, site allocations as well as the development plan process more widely. In doing this it offers a standardised approach which all applicants should follow, although the impact of any development on biodiversity needs to be considered on a case by case basis. The SPD provides guidance on the interpretation of the main principles set out by Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation, and the relevant local planning policies, and is to be used in conjunction with expert ecological assessment of the details of each specific case.
The SPD can be viewed via:
http://www.nnjpu.org.uk/docs/Adopted%20SPD.pdf