Policies and Guidance
National, regional and local policy and guidance endorses the Design for Biodiversity approach. At the national level the Government's biodiversity strategy and planning guidance acknowledges the importance of greening the urban environment both for the benefit of wildlife and for providing people with contact with the natural world. At the regional level the Mayor's London Plan, Supplementary Planning Guidance on Sustainable Design and Construction, Biodiversity Strategy and Economic Development Strategy expand upon the national guidance and articulate the links between greening new development and broader social, economic and environmental objectives. At the local level London boroughs are producing Supplementary Planning Guidance on Sustainable Design and Construction which provides examples of interventions suitable at the local level.
Below, in italicised text, are extracts from the key documents which justify the Design for Biodiversity approach. Click the titles to visit the full versions of these documents.
WORKING WITH THE GRAIN OF NATURE: A Biodiversity Strategy for England (DEFRA 2002)
The Strategy is a Government strategy, but it has been prepared with the active partnership of a broad range of stakeholders in the public, voluntary and private sectors. The Strategy sets out a series of actions that will be taken by the Government and its partners to make biodiversity a fundamental consideration across all main sectors of public policy.
The proposals for urban areas recognise the need for biodiversity to become a part of the development policy on sustainable communities, urban green space and the built environment. What we want to see and how we will achieve it:
PLANNING POLICY STATEMENT 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation (ODPM August 2005)
Planning Policy Statements (PPS) set out the Government's national policies on different aspects of planning in England. PPS9 sets out planning policies on protection of biodiversity and geological conservation through the planning system.
1 (iv) Plan policies should promote opportunities for the incorporation of beneficial biodiversity and geological features within the design of development.
Biodiversity within Developments 14. Development proposals provide many opportunities for building-in beneficial biodiversity or geological features as part of good design. When considering proposals, local planning authorities should maximise such opportunities in and around developments, using planning obligations where appropriate.
LONDON PLAN: Spatial Development Strategy for Greater London (Mayor of London February 2004)
The London Plan: is the strategic plan setting out an integrated social, economic and environmental framework for the future development of London, looking forward 15-20 years
London Plan Policy 3D.12 Biodiversity and nature conservation
The Mayor will work with partners to ensure a proactive approach to the protection, promotion and management of biodiversity in support of the Mayor's Biodiversity Strategy.
The planning of new development and regeneration should have regard to nature conservation and biodiversity, and opportunities should be taken to achieve positive gains for conservation through the form and design of development
One of the key objectives of the Mayor's Biodiversity Strategy is to ensure that all Londoners have ready access to wildlife and natural green spaces. This is particularly important where there is a shortage of green space and in Areas for Regeneration. Access can be improved by making places more attractive and safer, enhancing or creating new wildlife habitats and opening up access to existing habitats. Wherever appropriate, new development should include new or enhanced habitat, or design (such as green roofs) and landscaping that promotes biodiversity, and provision for their management.
London Plan Policy 4B.6 Sustainable design and construction
The Mayor will, and boroughs should, ensure future developments meet the highest standards of sustainable design and construction and reflect this principle in UDP policies.
Detailed advice is provided in Sustainable Design and Construction - The London Plan Supplementary Planning Guidance
Between Autumn 2006 and Summer 2007 the London Plan will be subject to alteration. The draft Further Alterations to the London Plan has identified climate change adaptation as a key cross-cutting theme for the review. The emerging climate change adaptation policies make specific reference to the contribution that can be made by the greening of buildings (with green roofs, for example) and the expansion and enhancement of soft landscaping and sustainable urban drainage.
CONNECTING WITH LONDON'S NATURE: The Mayor's Biodiversity Strategy (July 2002)
This Strategy is part of an integrated set of strategies to achieve sustainable economic growth and raise the quality of life for London's more than seven million residents. As a requirement of the Greater London Authority Act 1999, it is the first regional biodiversity strategy with a statutory basis.
Regeneration and greening of the built environment
4.110 One way of providing everyday contact with nature is to 'green' the built environment…Greening should play an integral role in the urban renaissance, in infrastructure, the public realm, regeneration initiatives, and development generally. This applies not least to development on 'brownfield' sites.
4.111 Greening is not an alternative to the protection and maintenance of existing wildlife habitat - many wildlife habitats are difficult or impossible to create. Biodiversity aspects should be incorporated into development proposals at the earliest stage…
4.112 Some types of greening provide biodiversity benefits as a complement to a wider suite of sustainability benefits. These may include improved energy efficiency and noise insulation, reduced run-off, local shading and cooling, and improved materials life.
4.115 In schemes for sustainable urban drainage there are many possibilities for creating wildlife habitat with ponds and wetlands, and also on porous surfaces.
Policy 5: The Mayor will seek to ensure that opportunities are taken to green the built environment within development proposals and to use open spaces in ecologically sensitive ways. This is particularly important in areas deficient in open spaces and in areas of regeneration.
SUSTAINING SUCCESS: Developing London's Economy (Mayor of London January 2005)
The Economic Development Strategy is produced on behalf of the Mayor of London by the London Development Agency (LDA). Alongside the London Plan and Biodiversity Strategy, it is one of the eight strategies the Mayor is required by the Greater London Authority Act 1999.
Investment in Places and Infrastructure
Implementation for Sustainable Communities
New developments should aim to protect, maintain and enhance biodiversity through the protection of important features, appropriate landscaping and greening of the built environment.
Objective: Deliver healthy, sustainable, high quality communities and urban environments.
Action: Support improvements in design and management of the public realm, addressing energy efficiency, heritage significance, noise, air quality, safety, health, climate change and biodiversity issues and achieving sustainable design and construction.
National, regional and local policy and guidance endorses the Design for Biodiversity approach. At the national level the Government's biodiversity strategy and planning guidance acknowledges the importance of greening the urban environment both for the benefit of wildlife and for providing people with contact with the natural world. At the regional level the Mayor's London Plan, Supplementary Planning Guidance on Sustainable Design and Construction, Biodiversity Strategy and Economic Development Strategy expand upon the national guidance and articulate the links between greening new development and broader social, economic and environmental objectives. At the local level London boroughs are producing Supplementary Planning Guidance on Sustainable Design and Construction which provides examples of interventions suitable at the local level.
Below, in italicised text, are extracts from the key documents which justify the Design for Biodiversity approach. Click the titles to visit the full versions of these documents.
WORKING WITH THE GRAIN OF NATURE: A Biodiversity Strategy for England (DEFRA 2002)
The Strategy is a Government strategy, but it has been prepared with the active partnership of a broad range of stakeholders in the public, voluntary and private sectors. The Strategy sets out a series of actions that will be taken by the Government and its partners to make biodiversity a fundamental consideration across all main sectors of public policy.
The proposals for urban areas recognise the need for biodiversity to become a part of the development policy on sustainable communities, urban green space and the built environment. What we want to see and how we will achieve it:
- Encouragement to local authorities and developers to see the potential of biodiversity as an enhancement to developments through good practice sharing, partnership and guidance. Work will continue on biodiversity indicators for the construction industry through the DTI-funded CIRIA project.
- Incorporation of more biodiversity elements into green buildings. Our aim is to contribute to making environmentally sound building design a more mainstream practice by encouraging the development of expertise in the biodiversity elements of green buildings through the relevant professional bodies.
PLANNING POLICY STATEMENT 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation (ODPM August 2005)
Planning Policy Statements (PPS) set out the Government's national policies on different aspects of planning in England. PPS9 sets out planning policies on protection of biodiversity and geological conservation through the planning system.
1 (iv) Plan policies should promote opportunities for the incorporation of beneficial biodiversity and geological features within the design of development.
Biodiversity within Developments 14. Development proposals provide many opportunities for building-in beneficial biodiversity or geological features as part of good design. When considering proposals, local planning authorities should maximise such opportunities in and around developments, using planning obligations where appropriate.
LONDON PLAN: Spatial Development Strategy for Greater London (Mayor of London February 2004)
The London Plan: is the strategic plan setting out an integrated social, economic and environmental framework for the future development of London, looking forward 15-20 years
London Plan Policy 3D.12 Biodiversity and nature conservation
The Mayor will work with partners to ensure a proactive approach to the protection, promotion and management of biodiversity in support of the Mayor's Biodiversity Strategy.
The planning of new development and regeneration should have regard to nature conservation and biodiversity, and opportunities should be taken to achieve positive gains for conservation through the form and design of development
One of the key objectives of the Mayor's Biodiversity Strategy is to ensure that all Londoners have ready access to wildlife and natural green spaces. This is particularly important where there is a shortage of green space and in Areas for Regeneration. Access can be improved by making places more attractive and safer, enhancing or creating new wildlife habitats and opening up access to existing habitats. Wherever appropriate, new development should include new or enhanced habitat, or design (such as green roofs) and landscaping that promotes biodiversity, and provision for their management.
London Plan Policy 4B.6 Sustainable design and construction
The Mayor will, and boroughs should, ensure future developments meet the highest standards of sustainable design and construction and reflect this principle in UDP policies.
- conserve and enhance the natural environment, particularly in relation to biodiversity
Detailed advice is provided in Sustainable Design and Construction - The London Plan Supplementary Planning Guidance
Between Autumn 2006 and Summer 2007 the London Plan will be subject to alteration. The draft Further Alterations to the London Plan has identified climate change adaptation as a key cross-cutting theme for the review. The emerging climate change adaptation policies make specific reference to the contribution that can be made by the greening of buildings (with green roofs, for example) and the expansion and enhancement of soft landscaping and sustainable urban drainage.
CONNECTING WITH LONDON'S NATURE: The Mayor's Biodiversity Strategy (July 2002)
This Strategy is part of an integrated set of strategies to achieve sustainable economic growth and raise the quality of life for London's more than seven million residents. As a requirement of the Greater London Authority Act 1999, it is the first regional biodiversity strategy with a statutory basis.
Regeneration and greening of the built environment
4.110 One way of providing everyday contact with nature is to 'green' the built environment…Greening should play an integral role in the urban renaissance, in infrastructure, the public realm, regeneration initiatives, and development generally. This applies not least to development on 'brownfield' sites.
4.111 Greening is not an alternative to the protection and maintenance of existing wildlife habitat - many wildlife habitats are difficult or impossible to create. Biodiversity aspects should be incorporated into development proposals at the earliest stage…
4.112 Some types of greening provide biodiversity benefits as a complement to a wider suite of sustainability benefits. These may include improved energy efficiency and noise insulation, reduced run-off, local shading and cooling, and improved materials life.
4.115 In schemes for sustainable urban drainage there are many possibilities for creating wildlife habitat with ponds and wetlands, and also on porous surfaces.
Policy 5: The Mayor will seek to ensure that opportunities are taken to green the built environment within development proposals and to use open spaces in ecologically sensitive ways. This is particularly important in areas deficient in open spaces and in areas of regeneration.
SUSTAINING SUCCESS: Developing London's Economy (Mayor of London January 2005)
The Economic Development Strategy is produced on behalf of the Mayor of London by the London Development Agency (LDA). Alongside the London Plan and Biodiversity Strategy, it is one of the eight strategies the Mayor is required by the Greater London Authority Act 1999.
Investment in Places and Infrastructure
Implementation for Sustainable Communities
New developments should aim to protect, maintain and enhance biodiversity through the protection of important features, appropriate landscaping and greening of the built environment.
Objective: Deliver healthy, sustainable, high quality communities and urban environments.
Action: Support improvements in design and management of the public realm, addressing energy efficiency, heritage significance, noise, air quality, safety, health, climate change and biodiversity issues and achieving sustainable design and construction.