New requirements to consider 'BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN' in all Planning Applications decisions!

 On March 8th, Ipswich Borough Council Planning Committee voted in interim guidance on 'Biodiversity Net Gain' (BNG) requirements, which were outlined in law within the 2021 Environment Act.

 https://democracy.ipswich.gov.uk/documents/g2808/Public%20reports%20pack%2008th-Mar-2023%2009.30%20Planning%20Development%20Committee.pdf?T=10 

page 159, Item 6- 
COMMITTEE: PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT REF NO: PD/22/14 

DATE: 8 MARCH 2023 SUBJECT:INTERIM BIODIVERISTY NET GAIN PLANNING GUIDANCE NOTE FOR SUFFOLK REPORT AUTHOR:  

ANNA ROEHEAD OF SERVICE: JAMES MANN

This 'BNG' consideration is hugely important to 'greenfield sites such as the Red House Park Application which has proven and recorded protected species - as Great Crested Newts- SOCS registered them in 2015 with the Suffolk Biological Records office following a resident's survey.

New surveys and work will be required, as outlined in the above BNG guidance document, for all current and future determinations! 

The Ipswich Borough Area Committees, Planning & Development Department, local MP Tom Hunt, stakeholders Suffolk Wildlife Trust, 'Place' Biodiversity Consultancy, Natural England and the Environment Agency have been approached and petitioned by SOCS on this.These photos were taken in November 2022 by a licensed rescuer of some 20 Newts at risk, along the Westerfield Watercouse & tributary of the Gipping which flows alongside and within these important Ipswich Garden Suburb site. If you live in  IP4 bordering the area, please look out and report all sitings of protected species.