Support

Representation ID: 6377

Received: 13/09/2021

Respondent: CPRE Bedfordshire

Paras 7.30 to 7.40 – SUPPORT with comments

The draft plan Policy NE1 –Environmental Net Gain is welcomed as an indication of the way the Council is setting out its approach to delivering biodiversity net gain on development sites. The Bedfordshire Natural Capital Assessment supporting document which provides a detailed natural capital (habitat) basemap for Bedford Borough, is noted.

However, it is not clear to us how the delivery of biodiversity net gain will work in practice and whether this will be achieved though further policy development by the Council or whether it is intended that this will be delivered through the net environment gain metric, referred to in para 7.40, which is to be developed from the Arc Environment Strategy. Further explanation in this respect would be welcome.