Therefore we suggest the following wording change to make the policy more effective:
1. Development proposals adhere to the NPPF mitigation hierarchy, and in addition, demonstrate that proposals provide a minimum of 10% net gain in biodiversity against a pre-development baseline. Where it is achievable, a 20%+ onsite net gain is encouraged

The Woodland Trust supports this policy and the protection for ancient woodland as an irreplaceable habitat, and the exclusion of irreplaceable habitats from net gain calculations.

We support setting a greater than 10% target for net gain where appropriate. By setting a more ambitious target, the Local Plan increases the chances that an average net gain of at least 10% will be delivered across the Plan area, given the possibility that some sites may not be able to deliver net gain within the District or that initiatives intended to deliver such gain may fall short in practice.

Therefore we suggest the following wording change to make the policy more effective:
1. Development proposals adhere to the NPPF mitigation hierarchy, and in addition, demonstrate that proposals provide a minimum of 10% net gain in biodiversity against a pre-development baseline. Where it is achievable, a 20%+ onsite net gain is encouraged.