Biodiversity | LocalGov


Councils urged to take action on nature recovery 05/03/2025 As few as one in 10 councils have a plan for nature recovery despite the UK being one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, Woodland Trust says.
Housing plan on MoD site scrapped due to acid grasslands 07/02/2025 Colchester City Council is set to remove a former Ministry of Defence firing range from its development plans due to the site's ‘environmental value.’
Tackling the ecological skills gap 21/01/2025 Catherine Spitzer, chief executive of Environment Bank, explains how private investment can help councils that are struggling to attract skilled ecologists.
Council buys land to plant 25,000 trees 06/08/2024 A Devon council has bought 65 acres of land to develop a ‘community woodland’.
TfL lets the wildflowers bloom 25/06/2024 Transport for London (TfL) says it has delivered its pledge of doubling wildflower verges in roadside areas to encourage biodiversity.
Auditors raise doubts over biodiversity enforcement 17/05/2024 Auditors have questioned whether local authorities will be able to effectively ensure compliance and enforcement of biodiversity net gain (BNG).
Survey reveals support for biodiversity scheme 10/01/2024 Most people in Britain support an upcoming requirement for developers to invest in improving local habitats, a survey has revealed.
Thinking ahead: housing delivery in 2024 21/12/2023 With 2024 almost certain to be an election year, Colin Brown, head of Planning & Development, Carter Jonas discusses what policies for housing delivery we are likely to see discussed.
Getting ready for Biodiversity Net Gain 23/10/2023 Dr Robin McArthur, chair of the Joe's Blooms Advisory Board, discusses Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and what local authorities should do to prepare.
Country park renamed in honour of late Queen 02/10/2023 A Lincolnshire country park has been renamed The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park as a mark of respect for the late monarch.
Biodiversity Net Gain laws delayed 28/09/2023 The Government has confirmed it is delaying the introduction of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) laws until next year.
New Lincolnshire nature reserve a ‘landmark moment’ 19/09/2023 Lincolnshire’s new national nature reserve is ‘a landmark moment for nature recovery in England’, Natural England has said.
Planners unprepared for new biodiversity requirements 07/09/2023 Planning authorities are struggling to prepare for the introduction of biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements, says the Royal Town Planning Institute.
Boosting urban biodiversity with new innovations in green infrastructure 24/04/2023 Cities play a critical role in addressing biodiversity loss. Alexander Ilsink, Mobilane, looks at how to maximise the potential of green infrastructure.
Eco-friendly gardeners should be offered council tax cut 20/04/2023 Residents who look after their gardens in an eco-friendly manner should be offered reduced council tax rates, researchers say.
Councils fear parks services will be ‘seriously affected’ by cuts 19/04/2023 Many councils are expecting cuts in their budgets for parks despite growing numbers of people using them, according to a new survey.
Planning for biodiversity 12/04/2023 Kieron Gregson, associate partner, Carter Jonas (London) discusses local authorities’ uptake of biodiversity net gain policies.
The speed of biodiversity net gain adoption in Local Plans 22/06/2022 New research has analysed the current uptake biodiversity net gain among all of the 322 English Local Planning Authorities. Kieron Gregson reports.
Developments expected to deliver 10% boost to biodiversity 11/01/2022 The Government has launched a consultation that aims to ensure wildlife can be better protected and enhanced in future developments.
What are Biodiversity Net Gains? 02/12/2021 Paul Beaney explains how local authorities can prepare for Biodiversity Net Gain, which is slated to become law in 2023.
Report sets out plan to reverse biodiversity decline by 2030 22/09/2021 A new report has set out nine changes that can be delivered by local government and other partners to reverse biodiversity decline by the 2030s.
Only one third of planning authorities have access to ‘in-house’ ecologist 12/08/2021 A skills shortage in ecologists is a barrier to achieving biodiversity net gain goals, local authorities have warned.
PM pledges to protect ‘additional 4%’ of UK’s land 28/09/2020 The Government has committed to protecting 30% of the UK’s land by 2030 as part of a global effort to protect nature and boost biodiversity.
Council criticised over loss of bat habitat 25/06/2020 Warwick District Council failed to consider bat habitats when approving a new development, an ombudsman has found.
Reduced mowing by councils will protect wild flowers, says charity 09/04/2020 A conservation charity has said the lockdown will benefit wild flowers and help tackle the climate emergency as councils are forced to cancel roadside mowing.
Bristol declares ‘ecological emergency’ 05/02/2020 Bristol has become the first major city to declare an ecological emergency in response to what it describes as escalating threats to wildlife and ecosystems.
What next for the Environment Bill? 04/12/2019 Simon Colvin explores what local government needs to know about the Environment Bill.
The biodiversity challenge 17/07/2019 Alex Robinson explains lessons for councils and their partners from Oxford City Council and Grosvenor’s approach at their Barton Park development.
Developers may be forced to make 'biodiversity net gain' 03/12/2018 Developers will have to improve habitats for wildlife under new rules proposed by environment secretary Michael Gove.
Council worker ‘mistakenly’ cuts Attenborough’s wildflower meadow 02/08/2018 A local authority worker has mistakenly mowed a meadow that was being used for David Attenborough's Big Butterfly Count.
Councils could save thousands with ‘bee-friendly’ policies 18/07/2018 Local authorities can save thousands of pounds by adopting ‘bee-friendly’ grass cutting plans, campaigners say.
Air pollution destroying roadside flowers warns charity 14/05/2018 Air pollution and bad management have caused the diversity of wild flowers on road verges to fall by 20%, new research has found.
Local authorities should produce ‘wildlife recovery maps’, campaigners say 02/05/2018 Councils should be required by law to provide maps of local areas that are important for wildlife to help increase the extent and quality of natural habitats, charity says.
Planning and Ecology 01/05/2018 How can local authorities realize the environmental benefits required by new government legislation? Karen Colebourn reports.