Issue - meetings

Decision:

1.            Approved the creation of a habitat bank on Tyting Farm Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG).

2.            Authorised the Joint Executive Head of Environmental Services, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Environment and relevant ward councillors, to deliver, manage, and operate habitat banks on appropriate council owned land.

Reason(s):

1.            The proposed pilot habitat bank at Tyting Farm SANG would deliver tangible and significant environmental improvements that would not be delivered without the proposal. The project would be cost neutral or provide an income for the Council so can be considered a ‘win-win’ option.

2.            The provision of habitat banks on Council land will generally provide strong environmental benefits, with wider direct and indirect social and economic benefits, and direct benefits for the Council.

3.            Habitat banks would emerge regardless of Council action but by taking a leading position now the Council could ensure that the public good from BNG was maximised and that other planning benefits were not jeopardised by unreasonably high costs levied by private habitat banks seeking maximum profits.

4.            The proposed pilot habitat bank at Tyting Farm SANG was considered a low-risk option as it would be cost neutral at worst, result in no opportunity cost, entail limited and manageable risks, and would enhance the existing SANG function.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

To do nothing

The government envisaged that a market in biodiversity credits would develop, and the Council was under no obligation to create habitat banks. It was therefore possible to leave the provision of habitat banks to other landowners.

However, private providers of credits, at least in the early years, may be able to corner the market and demand high sums which in turn could impact on both development viability and/or the provision of other planning benefits.

In the event that no local habitat banks come forward, developers may seek credits provided by other boroughs or the proposed national habitat banks of last resort, resulting in development in Guildford funding environmental improvements elsewhere in the country.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) was a requirement for developers to ensure that total biodiversity value would be higher following a development than at the outset. Both national and local policy set out that BNG was a planning requirement for new development. The Environment Act 2021 and the new Local Plan: Development Management Policies (LPDMP) would set minimum BNG levels for new development of 10% and 20% respectively from November 2023 (major development) and April 2024 (minor development). Developments that were unable to achieve the minimum BNG through bespoke works on or off site would need to purchase biodiversity. As a significant landowner, the Council had an opportunity to provide habitat banks funded through the sale of biodiversity credits to developers (and potentially others).

The Lead Councillor for Planning, Environment and Climate Change introduced the report who likened BNG to carbon off-setting. The Council was one of the first local authorities to create a habitat bank and the benefits were noted, since BNG could now be purchased within in Guildford rather than outside of the borough.

Tyting Farm was taken into public ownership by the Council some years ago to benefit residents and to create a wildlife habitat. It was stated that the Council saw a real opportunity via the BNG process to be able to maintain and to invest in the local ecology.

The Executive considered the report that sought authority to set up the habitat banks. A second recommendation would be submitted to the Executive in due course with regard to a charging schedule for the BNG credits. It was noted that there would be no cost to the Council to manage the habitat banks as this would be funded by the BNG credits. The Council would be permitted to make a small profit, but credits should be competitively priced so as to encourage develops to purchase credit within the borough.

The Executive were in agreement that the proposal was positive for the borough and consequently,

RESOLVED:

1.            Approved the creation of a habitat bank on Tyting Farm Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG).

2.            Authorised the Joint Executive Head of Environmental Services, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Environment and relevant ward councillors, to deliver, manage, and operate habitat banks on appropriate council owned land.

Reason(s):

1.            The proposed pilot habitat bank at Tyting Farm SANG would deliver tangible and significant environmental improvements that would not be delivered without the proposal. The project would be cost neutral or provide an income for the Council so can be considered a ‘win-win’ option.

2.            The provision of habitat banks on Council land will generally provide strong environmental benefits, with wider direct and indirect social and economic benefits, and direct benefits for the Council.

3.            Habitat banks would emerge regardless of Council action but by taking a leading position now the Council could ensure that the public good from BNG was maximised and that other planning benefits were not jeopardised by unreasonably high costs levied by private habitat banks seeking maximum  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7