ALL new developments may soon have to include provisions to make sure the area is more “biodiverse” than it was before.

The government is planning a shake-up of the national planning system to boost the nation’s wildlife. Under the plans, a completed development will have to include a 10 per cent “net gain” in biodiversity.

Not only must the development not harm bio-diversity in the area, it must actually boost it.

This could include the introduction of features like bird and bat boxes, wildflower meadows, woodland areas and even otter holts if the development is near a river or beck.

If the developer is unable to provide this boost in biodiversity on the site, they will have to provide funding for biodiversity work elsewhere.

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At a recent meeting of Bradford Council’s Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee, members were given an update on the proposals and how they might impact Bradford.

They heard that the government was still planning to push through the changes, although the plans had been delayed slightly by December’s General Election.

The policy would apply to almost all applications - from single dwellings to huge housing estates.

A recent consultation on the plans attracted hundreds of responses, including from developers and environmental groups.

Just five per cent of the developers felt the net gain should be mandatory.

Councillors were told that the changes would require authorities like Bradford Council to employ more biodiversity experts - although the government has previously said it would provide funding for this.

A report to the Committee acknowledges that many developers will try to avoid these responsibilities: “No doubt developers will cite viability as a barrier to achieving net gain and this is something the Council as planning authority will need to be mindful of.

“The expectation to achieve net gain however is already currently high and if it becomes mandatory in an Environment Act, the viability argument will not stand as a reason to avoid the achievement of biodiversity net gain.”

The report revealed that despite the policy not yet being law, Bradford Council has requested that developments include biodiversity boosts.

These included securing the creation of a new grassland at a development in Derry Hill, Menston.

Danny Jackson, Countryside and Rights of Way Manager, was asked what size of development would trigger the 10 per cent net gain. He replied: “My reading of it is, with a few exceptions like extensions, is that it would apply to every planning permission.

“For a development of one house it might be something like planting a tree and putting a bird box on the house.”

He said it was unclear so far whether the offsetting would have to be near the development.

Despite the delays, Mr Jackson said he was confident the proposals would be made national planning policy this calendar year.