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Purpose and local context
Local plans
A local plan forms part of the development plan for an area once adopted. It contains both strategic and non-strategic policies that development proposals are considered against and sets out a strategy for meeting the development needs of an area. This includes allocations for specific types of development.
In Dorset, there are two Local Planning Authorities, Dorset Council and BCP Council. Their role is to strategically plan to meet the development needs of the area and determine planning applications for development.
BCP Council draft Local Plan has been submitted for examination. Find out more at BCP Local Plan. The Dorset Council Local Plan is being developed. Find out more about the developing Dorset Council Local Plan or view the Adopted Local Plans.
Local nature recovery strategies
48 local nature recovery strategies are being created across England as a requirement of the Environment Act to create a national nature recovery network. They are spatial strategies that will help target future funding and efforts for nature recovery over the next 3-10 years.
Each local nature recovery strategy will:
- agree local priorities for nature recovery
- suggest activities to achieve the priorities
- identify locations to create or improve the habitats most likely to provide the greatest benefit for nature and the wider environment
Dorset's local nature recovery strategy covers the whole county and is being collectively created with a wide range of stakeholders. Find out more about Dorset's local nature recovery strategy and how it is being prepared.
How local plans and local nature recovery strategies work together
Informing sustainable development
The local nature recovery strategy guidance explains "The government intends for local nature recovery strategies to inform the local planning process. Local planning authorities must have regard to them in complying with the strengthened biodiversity duty".
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government are working with Defra to provide additional guidance on how Local Planning Authorities must have regard to local nature recovery strategies.
| Local nature recovery strategy | Local plan |
|---|---|
| Agree nature recovery priorities | Identify strategic priorities for the development and use of land |
| Map sites that are recognised and protected within the land-use planning system for their nature value (Nature Areas - National Importance) | Identify, map and safeguard components of local wildlife-rich habitats and wider ecological networks |
| Map proposals for creating or improving habitat for nature and wider environmental goals (High Opportunity Nature Areas) | Promote the conservation, restoration and enhancement of priority habitats, ecological networks and the protection and recovery of priority species. Identify and pursue opportunities for securing measurable net gains for biodiversity. |
See mapping for Nature Recovery Dorset for more information about what maps are being created, what they will show and where they will be available.
The Dorset local nature recovery strategy will therefore be a tool for the Local Planning Authority to use to inform the delivery of sustainable development.
In drafting policies and making allocations for development the Local Planning Authority balances many different planning issues such as the requirement to provide houses in sustainable locations, or key infrastructure such as new roads and community facilities, against the potential impacts of that development. The Dorset local nature recovery strategy will become part of the planning balance and inform actions Local Authorities take to deliver on their duty to conserve and enhance biodiversity.
The local nature recovery strategy is a tool to identify areas which are already important for nature and areas which have potential to become better for nature. It is not intended as a tool to restrict activity or development and is not a planning constraint or designation.
The local nature recovery strategy guidance explains that "the strategies do not force the owners and managers of the land identifies to make any changes. Instead, the government is encouraging action through, for example, opportunities for funding and investment".
Joined-up policy
Planning policy officers from Dorset Council and BCP Council are members of the Dorset local nature recovery strategy steering group to ensure Dorset's strategy informs both local plans.
Both local plans will include similar policy wording regarding the Dorset local nature recovery strategy. The strategy will also link to Dorset Council's Natural Environment, Climate & Ecology Strategy and new Council Plan.
The Dorset Council draft Local Plan will have regard to the Dorset's local nature recovery strategy through policies on the natural environment and biodiversity.
BCP Council draft Local Plan will have regard to Dorset's local nature recovery strategy through reference within the Natural Environment chapter and Biodiversity Policy, and support the response to the declared Climate and Ecological emergency.
Dorset's local nature recovery strategy will also align with other relevant strategies and plans, such as river catchment and forest management plans.
Opportunities for nature recovery and sustainable development
The Dorset local nature recovery strategy will map High Opportunity Nature Areas where effort should be targeted to achieve the most for nature recovery and the wider environment.
As one tool to help sustainable development, the Dorset local nature recovery strategy can:
- provide ideas on the sorts of habitats and actions that could be considered as part of development using the priorities and potential activities
- help inform and showcase how a development site can contribute to the wider nature recovery network by linking existing nature areas and creating additional ones
- guide how development delivers wider environmental benefits, such as carbon sequestration, natural flood risk management, through habitat creation or enhancement either on-site or off-site
- demonstrate how the Local Planning Authority is fulfilling its role in ensuring the planning system is meeting its overall purpose of achieving sustainable development
Biodiversity Net Gain
The High Opportunity Nature Areas will be used to help identify locations where Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) will be especially helpful to wider nature recovery.
The BNG metric scores biodiversity net gain sites by their strategic significance. This means that developers will be incentivised to choose locations for their off-site BNG units within the High Opportunity Nature Areas of the Dorset local nature recovery strategy.
If a local plan were to allocated housing within a High Opportunity Nature Area, this will help guide early discussions about site design and the delivery of on-site BNG.
Dorset's local nature recovery strategy therefore will:
- help developers to identify cost-efficient BNG
- help connect landowners interested in offering biodiversity units to buyers by identifying land that is being proposed for inclusion
- help identify the best places for off-site biodiversity gain habitat banks (places to buy or sell off-site BNG units)
Read more on Incorporating Local Nature Recovery Strategies when planning for Biodiversity Net Gain at GOV.UK
Find up-to-date information on BNG at Dorset Council Biodiversity Net Gain. The BCP Council webpage on BNG is currently being updated.
Advice on how to achieve BNG through good design can be found at: