We welcome the proposal to include a requirement for environmental net gain, incorporating biodiversity net gain and we would like to see the commitment to creation of additional habitats include tree planting and woodland creation. We would like to see the amount of net gain required specified in the policy. We favour a specification of 20% net gain in biodiversity as a means of ensuring that development delivers significant net gain.

We also strongly support policy 38 in the adopted Bedford Local Plan, which requires development in the area of the Forest of Marston Vale to include 30% tree canopy cover. In our Emergency Tree Plan (published in January 2020 and available in the publications section of our website, we set out how trees and woodland can contribute significantly to tackling both the climate and biodiversity emergencies. In this paper, we argue for achievement of 30% tree canopy cover in all new development. So we would like you to consider extending your policy from just the Forest of Marston Vale to the whole of the district.