Object

Representation ID: 5068

Received: 16/03/2023

Respondent: Sussex Wildlife Trust

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

We note that this allocation policy seeks to ensure impacts to biodiversity are avoided and that net gains for biodiversity are achieved, in line with section 174 of the NPPF. We note that again this policy doesn’t specify a minimum for Biodiversity Net Gain. We question whether the policies should be more specific, as we have seen in other Local Authority Plans. For example, the Environment Act will make a minimum of 10% Biodiversity Net Gain mandatory by November 2023, and as such this should be made clear in the policy. Alternatively, if CDC is seeking to be more ambitious by setting a minimum of 20% BNG for major development, as seen in the Adopted Worthing Local Plan, this could be specified.