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Reasoned justification for Policy Sixteen
151 Wildlife habitats are subject to a range of pressures, including those from development. New development can cause direct loss and degradation of wildlife habitats fragmenting the ecological network and hindering the movement of wildlife through the landscape. Harm can be caused by the degradation, narrowing or severance of corridors (which includes the semi-natural habitats next to them) by the introduction or enlargement of barriers such as buildings, roads, hard landscaping (e.g. tarmac, fencing) or inappropriate landscaping (such as laurel hedges) artificial lighting, and by the culverting or re-direction of watercourses. The intent of this policy is to ensure that such harm does not occur. Policy Sixteen OBJECTIVE 25 support proposals that result retention of natural habitats, for example protecting/creating new green spaces in new housing developments.
152 Conversely, development can have a positive impact on biodiversity by creating new and restoring neglected habitats and by providing high quality links between them. For example, new ponds can be created and existing ones restored, as part of well-designed sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS). Also, new seminatural habitats can be created as part of a landscaping or off-setting scheme and the landscaping within a development (including gardens and parks) can be designed to maximise its value for wildlife such as by using native trees and hedgerows. The intent of this policy is to ensure that these benefits are realised.
153 The National Planning Policy Framework requires that “planning policies and decisions contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by …minimising impacts on and providing net gains for biodiversity, including by establishing coherent ecological networks that are more resilient to current and future pressures.” It further states that plans should:
• Identify, map and safeguard components of local wildlife-rich habitats and wider ecological networks, including the hierarchy of international, national and locally designated sites of importance for biodiversity; wildlife corridors and steppingstones that connect them; and areas identified by national and local partnerships for habitat management, enhancement, restoration or creation;
and
• promote the conservation, restoration and enhancement of priority habitats, ecological networks and the protection and recovery of priority species; and identify and pursue opportunities for securing measurable net gains for biodiversity.”
154 The Environment Bill 2019-2021 sets out the UK government’s latest targets, plans and policies for improving the natural environment and will include a requirement for developers to deliver a biodiversity net gain of at least 10%. This matter is incorporated within Policy fourteen.
155 Significant biodiversity assets within and in close proximity to the Plan area include a number of European, nationally and locally designated sites. The Mells Valley SAC lies at the eastern end of the Mendip Hills National Character Area in the County of Somerset. The Mendip Woodlands SAC located on the southern slope of the Mendip Hills National Character Area is approximately 6.5km east from the Neighbourhood Area boundary. North Somerset and Mendip Bats SAC and Somerset Levels and Moors are both in close proximity to Shepton Mallet.
156 The policy will be used to guide the location, layout and design of new housing development, ensuring the essential components of Shepton Mallet’s ecological networks are protected and enhanced and that resilience to future pressures such as climate change will be boosted. New developments should deliver a net gain for biodiversity.