Comment

Representation ID: 22282

Received: 21/01/2022

Respondent: Miss Jodi Stokes

9.0 ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSFORMATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Nature Conservation

9.1 Draft Policy ENV1 (Nature Conservation) states that development within the Black Country will safeguard nature conservation, inside and outside its boundaries. Part 1 b) of draft Policy ENV1 sets out that “development is not permitted where it would harm nationally (Sites of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserves) or regionally (Local Nature Reserves and Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation) designated nature conservation sites”. Part 3 of Policy EN1 states that “where, exceptionally, the strategic benefits of a development clearly outweigh the importance of a local nature conservation site, species, habitat or geological feature, damage must be minimised. Any remaining impacts, including any reduction in area, must be fully mitigated. Compensation will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances. A mitigation strategy must accompany relevant planning applications”.