Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, which is supported by over 18,000 members across the county, has contributed to the Preferred Options consultation on South Staffordshire Council’s new Local Plan. This has gathered views on how the area should grow and develop up to 2038, to inform the final plan which will be consulted upon in summer 2022.

In its response, the Trust has welcomed steps towards greener policies, but has recommended further actions. The Trust believes these actions are essential to help nature recover, people access greenspaces, and fight the climate emergency in South Staffordshire:

• Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) will soon to be mandatory following the passing of the Environment Bill. While the plan sets out the basics for its delivery, more detailed policy is needed, as well as engaging with landowners to identify and register more potential BNG sites.

• Decisions on potential site allocations must be informed by further site-specific studies, to ensure important habitats and species are protected and that proposed housing numbers are realistic. This would include checking whether areas may qualify as Local Wildlife Sites, irreplaceable and priority habitats such as ancient woodland and heathland, or brownfield sites of high environmental value.

• New green infrastructure proposed alongside four strategic housing sites is a positive step, but may not be large enough, and doesn’t cover the 35 other housing sites proposed. The plan would benefit from adopting Natural England’s Accessible Natural Greenspace Standards, which would ensure that local residents can enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of accessing nature on their doorstep, as well as further afield.

• Nature Recovery Network (NRN) mapping has been carried out, but could be used more fully in the plan. Key wildlife corridors should be identified, protected and enhanced through policies and as part of site allocation choices. The Trust is currently working with partners, including the National Trust and Natural England, on a habitat project, to link heathlands at Kinver Edge SSSI with Highgate Common SSSI. This and other large-scale initiatives could be supported by the local plan.

• The plan doesn’t yet consider a Local Nature Recovery Strategy, which will be mandatory as part of the Environment Bill, or a Green Infrastructure Strategy, which would help ensure green assets are delivered strategically for multiple benefits. Planning for the ‘bigger picture’ would ensure that environmental limits are considered, rather than being driven by the existing built environment.

• While the plan’s commitment to compensating for any greenbelt loss is welcomed, we want to see 30 per cent of land protected for nature’s recovery; beyond just preserving the status quo. The adoption of ‘Wildbelt’ as a new designation would to join-up scattered habitats and make sure the countryside on our doorstep is wild, as well as green.

• Finally, climate change policies should be extended to encourage the use of nature-based solutions, such as restoring habitats such as peatlands, natural flood management and increasing carbon storage.

Kate Dewey, The Trust’s Senior Planning Officer, said: “In addition to the climate emergency, we are facing a nature crisis, with many wild species facing huge declines or even extinction due to threats to their habitats and habitat isolation. We also know that now more than ever we need nature: for our mental and physical wellbeing, and to tackle threats like flooding, heatwaves and air pollution that we are seeing much more of.

“We’re keen to continue working with South Staffordshire Council to integrate nature’s recovery more fully within the Local Plan and across all policy areas.

“We are currently engaging with a number of local authorities around the county to encourage them to adopt a motion for nature's recovery, and next year we hope to get South Staffordshire Council on board with this too. The benefits will go further than helping wildlife - making places more beautiful and healthy to live, storing carbon and supporting landowners as well.”

You can view the Trust’s full response to the South Staffordshire Local Plan Consultation at www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk/what-we-do/planning-advice