Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) – First Consideration Report (Date of first consideration January 2024)
The Environment Act 2021 introduced a strengthened ‘biodiversity duty’ which requires all public authorities in England to consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity. Defra has published guidance on complying with the biodiversity duty.
The action local authorities take for biodiversity will contribute to the achievement of national goals and targets on biodiversity.
The Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23), published in January 2023, sets out the government’s plans for improving the natural environment with the apex goal recognised as "improving nature and halting the decline in our biodiversity to achieve thriving plants and wildlife". This is recognised as crucial to enabling all the other relevant goals to be achieved.
By 2030, the government has committed to:
By 2042, the government has committed to:
As a public authority, Brighton & Hove City Council must:
This report addresses step 1. It's the first consideration and is essentially a scoping exercise.
Following the first consideration, Brighton & Hove City Council must report on:
Planning authorities must report within 3 years, by 1 January 2026, and then within 5 years of the previous reporting period.
Declared Climate and Biodiversity Emergency 2018.
Brighton & Hove City Council has recognised global climate and biodiversity emergencies.
Explore any required follow-up on the motion of notice.
The Council Plan includes 4 outcomes:
The plan commits to:
Additionally, we will consider the:
The programme has 3 key strands:
Consult and approve the City Downland Whole Estate Plan and develop a 10-year action plan.
Review the use of council-owned land to encourage uses that promote biodiversity and mitigate climate change, such as:
Build on Brighton & Hove’s Gold Sustainable Food City award with campaigns for:
Invest in the biodiversity of our parks, green and blue networks, development sites and urban fringe.
Encourage and facilitate:
Additionally, we will:
Supporting Authority for LNRS for East Sussex including Brighton & Hove. This is In progress, with an expected publication date of summer 2025.
Work with Responsible Authority ESCC and key stakeholders to develop LNRS for East Sussex and Brighton & Hove.
Share/publicise LNRS information and help engage with stakeholders by promoting through social media and communications channels.
Determination of planning applications following current wildlife legislation and policy - SPD11 - Biodiversity and Nature Conservation.
City Plan Part 1 – policy CP10 Biodiversity identifies the Nature Improvement Area (NIA) within which a strategic approach to nature conservation enhancement should be taken.
NIA is mapped on the policies map. NIA does include various sites within urban areas which probably have zero baselines currently – such as strips of tarmac on a roadside but was developed based on increasing connectivity between existing green/nature conservation sites. So, although some of the habitats within the NIA may not be of significance, the location is.
Policy CP16 Open Space seeks to safeguard, improve, expand and promote access to open space. This includes natural/semi-natural open space, as well as other open space typologies.
City Plan Part 2 – policy DM37 identifies the sites of nature conservation value within (or adjacent) to the LPA area, including SAC, SSSIs, LNRs and LWS. Also MCZ. All sites are mapped on the policies map.
DM37 requires development to provide measurable BNG - a minimum 10% BNG brought in for major developments from autumn 2022.
DM37 seeks development to secure long-term management of new or existing habitats as well as secure opportunities to connect habitats to ensure a network of nature recovery.
DM37 requires GI to be safeguarded.
DM43 – Sustainable Drainage policy requires SuDS to be provided with all new development.
Shoreham Harbour Joint Area Action Plan – policy SH7 seeks to:
East Sussex, South Downs and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Plan (2013). Relevant objectives and policies include:
The plan is currently under review. Proposed modifications include the replacement of WMP27 with RD1.
The purpose of RD1 is to conserve and enhance the built and natural environment. This includes the requirement to provide measurable biodiversity net gain, as guided by any future LNRS.
Brighton & Hove City Council holds a District Licence for great crested newts, administered on our behalf by NatureSpace.
The scheme provides for investment in the creation and long-term management of new and restored aquatic and terrestrial habitats for the species where healthy populations are present.
Continue to work with NatureSpace, as relevant, to target the delivery of new habitats in the most appropriate locations for the species.
Other Brighton & Hove City Council strategies which could impact biodiversity, either positively or negatively include:
Review all Brighton & Hove City Council strategies and plans to:
Brighton & Hove City Council webpages have up-to-date information on:
We have a climate action hub detailing what is being done locally to reduce the impacts of the climate and biodiversity emergency.
Biodiversity campaigns have included a plant blindness campaign celebrating local species during the months they can be found across the city.
The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere Brighton & Hove City Council lead partners have created a Biosphere Management Plan.
This is a school/education programme (Family Children and Learning FCL Department). The programme promotes:
"Learning from and connecting with nature. Early contact with nature plays an important role in developing pro-environmental values and behaviours.
Time in nature is not just leisure time, it’s an essential investment in our children’s health, well-being and education. However, there is growing evidence that children are increasingly disconnected from the natural world.
Without direct experiences in nature, research findings suggest that children are missing opportunities to enhance their health and well-being, and to develop responsible long-term environmental behaviour.
Connection with nature and outdoor learning needs to be at the heart of the curriculum. Schools should therefore be aware of the potential for this in their grounds, in the very local environment (walkable from their school) and within the city, including the beach and the South Downs."
Brighton & Hove City Council is a partner in the Sussex Local Wildlife Site (LWS) Initiative (SxLWSI). There are 88 registered LWS in Brighton & Hove City Council of which c.43% are known to be in positive conservation management.
Webpages have information on protecting our coast from flooding and coastal erosion (brighton-hove.gov.uk).
A new plan is being drafted (December 2023) and includes an objective for being ‘Climate Change Responsive’, using nature-based solutions and ‘promotes the use of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in new developments which aim to:
The Brighton Marina to River Adur Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy.
SPD16 - Sustainable Drainage Systems Supplementary Planning Document.
The Aquifer Partnership (TAP) BHCC is one of the 4 partners of ‘TAP’ together with EA, Southern Water and SDNPA. Together they are:
Brighton & Hove City Council's property and land portfolio includes:
Brighton & Hove City Council has approximately 147 parks including:
Brighton & Hove City Council’s rural estate consists of approximately 13,000 acres of land. Most fall within SDNP (c. 94%).
There is a plan set out to protect and enhance the land for future generations. This plan includes:
The Brighton & Hove Local Biodiversity Action Plan.
The Brighton & Hove Local Biodiversity Action Plan was adopted in February 2012. The plan identifies species and habitats of importance. No habitats are mapped. No spatial element.
Explore updating the plan in line with LNRS evidence and baseline.
The e-learning course Climate Change which includes information on biodiversity was made mandatory for all staff in 2022. All new staff are asked to complete the training as part of their induction process.