Local Nature Conservation Policies

Community Plan

The Community Plan  ("Chester's Way Ahead") sets out the vision of the Council, along with its partners for the next 10 years.  In this Plan it is stated that the Council, in conjunction with its partners will "endeavour to increase the biodiversity of Chester District" as part of the Council's policy on sustainability.

Corporate Plan

The Corporate Plan  sets out how the Council will respond to that vision over the next 5 years.  In the Corporate Plan, as part of the Quality Environment Priority Area, this aim is set out in more detail as follows:

Objective 8: Create more opportunities for wildlife to thrive in amenity open space managed by the Council.

Targets:

i. Establish baseline information by 2003

ii. Vary maintenance specifications to promote wildlife habitats

iii. Percentage increase in habitats from baseline position. (Site Management, Projects link)

This Objective provides the base from which our direction is derived.

Chester District Local Plan

The Council ensures the conservation of biodiversity through Development Control.  We are consulted on any planning applications received that may have an adverse effect on nature conservation.  Consultation is carried out according to guidance set out in the Local Plan policies Env 27, 28, 29 and 30 (shown below).  These are derived from Planning Policy Statement 9 (PPS9): Biodiversity and Geological Conservation (external link). These policies include the designation of locally important sites Areas/Sites of Nature Conservation Value (A/SNCV's) by the Council.

Local Plan Policies

POLICY ENV 27

DEVELOPMENT LIKELY TO ADVERSELY AFFECT, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FEATURES OF IDENTIFIED NATURE CONSERVATION VALUE WILL BE PERMITTED ONLY WHERE:

• THERE IS ADEQUATE MITIGATION TO CONSERVE THE FEATURES OF VALUE;
• THERE IS ADEQUATE COMPENSATION, MANAGEMENT AND ENHANCEMENT OF THE NATURE CONSERVATION RESOURCE.

POLICY ENV 28

DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS WITHIN INTERNATIONALLY IMPORTANT SITES AND SITES OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST, WITHIN THEIR SPHERES OF INFLUENCE AND CONSULTATION ZONES OR WITHIN SITES PROPOSED FOR SUCH DESIGNATION, WILL BE REFUSED UNLESS IT IS CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED THAT THE SITE WOULD NOT BE EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ADVERSELY AFFECTED, OR WHERE POTENTIAL ADVERSE EFFECTS ARE IDENTIFIED, MITIGATION MEASURES WOULD OVERCOME THEM.

POLICY ENV 29

DEVELOPMENT IN SITES OR AREAS OF LOCAL NATURE CONSERVATION VALUE WILL ONLY BE PERMITTED WHERE IT IS CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED THAT FEATURES OF NATURE CONSERVATION VALUE OR THE PUBLICS ENJOYMENT OF THEM WILL NOT BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR WHERE COMPENSATORY FEATURES OF EQUAL VALUE ARE PROVIDED.

POLICY ENV 30

STRATEGIC WILDLIFE CORRIDORS ARE INDICATED ON THE PROPOSALS MAP. DEVELOPMENT LIKELY TO ADVERSELY AFFECT, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, THE CONTIGUITY OR INTEGRITY OF THESE CORRIDORS WILL BE REFUSED UNLESS SUITABLE MITIGATION CAN BE PROVIDED.

At a regional level, SBI's (Sites of Biological Importance) are designated by the Council and Cheshire Wildlife Trust, also with the aim of protecting important sites from adverse impacts of development.

For advice or information please contact us, details below.

Contact Details

Countryside Service

Email - countryside@chester.gov.uk

Opening hours - 8.45am - 4.45pm

Phone number - 01244 402397

Fax - 01244 310071

Address - Countryside Service, Green Space Team, Culture & Community Directorate, Chester City Council, The Forum, Chester, CH1 2HS