Suggests a more positive and strengthened policy within the Spatial Strategy in relation to the environment rather than solely constraints. This should include the opportunity to restore, enhance, or create priority biodiversity areas and contribute to the delivery of the upcoming Local Nature Recovery Strategy which will be a mandatory requirement of CDC during the timeline of this Local Plan.

Para 3.5 (p.33-34) outlines the range of factors informing the Local Plan’s Spatial strategy, including:
‘Environmental constraints – taking a sequential approach to avoiding flood risk areas, protecting environmental designation, landscape quality, the historic environment and settlement character’
The RSPB would like to see more positive and strengthened policy within the Spatial Strategy in relation to the environment rather than solely constraints. This should include the opportunity to restore, enhance, or create priority biodiversity areas and contribute to the delivery of the upcoming Local Nature Recovery Strategy which will be a mandatory requirement of CDC during the timeline of this Local Plan.
The RSPB supports other policies within the Local Plan which address the above need for landscape recovery and connectivity, such as Policy NE4 (Strategic Wildlife Corridors) which has the potential to provide a focus for habitat connectivity and enhancement across the district.