Biodiversity Duty report

4.1Corporate priorities for biodiversity

4.11The next reporting period for the Biodiversity Duty will span a time of organisational transition, during which the Council's structure and governance arrangements may change. However, the core functions the Council delivers, and the natural assets on which local communities depend, will continue to require active stewardship. The Council's existing strategic policy framework therefore remains central to guiding biodiversity‑related priorities over the coming years.

4.12The Corporate Plan 2025-2030 establishes a clear commitment to maintaining a high‑quality and sustainable local environment, recognising the importance of the Borough's coastline, natural habitats and relationship with the Broads National Park. These priorities will continue to shape the Council's approach during the next reporting period, particularly in relation to:

• protecting and enhancing green spaces, beaches and waterways
• supporting environmentally sustainable management of coastal and inland environments
• reducing the Council's carbon footprint and promoting active and sustainable travel
• ensuring that natural and built environments remain accessible, inclusive and resilient

4.13Together, these priorities embed environmental considerations across the Council's operations and provide an ongoing foundation for meeting the biodiversity duty.

4.14The Sustainability Strategy (2022) also remains a key driver of the Council's biodiversity ambitions. The Strategy identifies the "Nature Challenge" as a core priority, committing the Council to protect, manage and enhance the Borough's natural resources, including wetlands, coastal habitats, grazing marshes and nationally significant landscapes. The Strategy also sets a long‑term objective for the Council to achieve net zero emissions from its estate and operations by 2035, recognising the role of healthy ecosystems in supporting climate adaptation, flood resilience and community wellbeing. The Council has already taken actions to meet this objective, including estate and building consolidation.

4.15Both the Corporate Plan and the Sustainability Strategy are scheduled for review within their normal cycles. These reviews will provide opportunities to strengthen the Council's approach to biodiversity, ensuring that future priorities reflect emerging legislation, local environmental needs and the long‑term requirements of Biodiversity Net Gain monitoring and habitat delivery.

4.2Implementation of Local Plan policies

4.2.1The emerging Great Yarmouth Local Plan will play a central role in shaping how the Council delivers its biodiversity commitments over the next reporting period. Once adopted, the Plan will introduce a strengthened policy framework designed to protect, enhance and expand the Borough's natural environment. The most relevant policies for biodiversity are summarised below to demonstrate how the Local Plan will support the Council in meeting the biodiversity duty.

4.2.2As outlined above, the Local Plan is at an advanced stage of examination as of March 2026 and, subject to the outcome of that process, is expected to be adopted in Summer 2026. The policies referenced below are currently part of the consultation on proposed Main Modifications, which the independent Planning Inspectors have identified as necessary for soundness. These policies may therefore be subject to further modification pending the outcome of that consultation and subsequent Inspector's report.

4.2.3Please note that this Biodiversity Report will be republished immediately after the adoption of the new Local Plan (expected in June 2026) to provide access to the adopted document and its policies.

Emerging Policies NAT1 and NAT2 - designated sites

4.2.4Together, these policies will ensure that development would protect sensitive ecological assets and designated sites, strengthen habitat connectivity and contribute positively to long‑term biodiversity recovery.

Emerging Policy NAT3 - biodiversity net gain

4.2.5Policy NAT3 represents a significant strengthening of the Council's approach to biodiversity enhancement. By requiring major residential, employment and retail development to deliver a minimum 20% measurable biodiversity net gain (on greenfield sites) the policy ensures that new development will make a substantial and lasting contribution to ecological recovery across the Borough. Even where the 20% requirement does not apply, the policy embeds the statutory 10% BNG as a baseline expectation and promotes on‑site habitat creation wherever feasible.

Emerging Policies NAT4 - national site network designated habitat sites, Ramsar sites, and species impact avoidance and mitigation

4.2.6Policy NAT4 will ensure that development does not adversely affect the integrity of internationally designated habitat sites by requiring robust assessment, avoidance and mitigation of impacts, including those arising from recreation pressure. A key element of the policy is the requirement for new residential and tourist accommodation to contribute to the Norfolk Green Infrastructure and Recreational Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy (GIRAMS), ensuring that cumulative recreational impacts on sensitive sites are effectively managed.

Emerging Policy NAT5 - nutrient neutrality

4.2.7Policy NAT5 will require that development within the nutrient neutrality catchment must connect to the mains sewerage system or otherwise demonstrate through a shadow Habitat Regulations Assessment that nutrient neutrality will be achieved, ensuring no adverse effects on designated sites.

Emerging Policies NAT6 and NAT7 - landscape character

4.2.8Policies NAT6 and NAT7 will ensure that development protects and enhances the Borough's landscape character, safeguard scenic qualities and views, and incorporate appropriate mitigation and design measures in line with local and national landscape guidance.

Emerging Policy NAT8 - strategic gaps

4.2.9This policy will protect the strategic open gaps between settlements by preventing development that would erode their openness, physical separation or rural character.

Emerging Policy NAT9 - dark skies

4.2.10This policy will ensure that new development protects the Borough's dark skies and sensitive landscapes by managing external lighting, requiring downward‑directed, low‑intensity designs, and imposing the highest restrictions within designated Dark Sky Zones.

Emerging Policy NAT10 - trees, woodlands and hedgerows

4.2.11Policy NAT10 will reinforce the protection and enhancement of the Borough's tree cover and ecological networks. By prioritising the retention of existing trees, hedgerows and landscape features, and requiring arboricultural assessment and protection measures, the policy ensures that development contributes positively to local landscape character and biodiversity.

4.3Norfolk LNRS implementation and delivery

4.3.1In meeting the strengthened biodiversity duty under the Environment Act 2021, public authorities are required to "have regard" to any relevant Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), and this is expected to shift to a requirement to "take account of" the LNRS once national guidance is updated. From its adoption in October 2025, the Norfolk LNRS has become a material consideration in the assessment of planning applications in Great Yarmouth and is being used to help identify where off‑site biodiversity gains should be directed when they cannot be fully delivered on‑site.

4.3.2The Norfolk LNRS will therefore play a central role in guiding nature recovery across the Borough. It provides a comprehensive overview of Norfolk's habitats, from coastal and estuarine environments to farmland, woodland, grassland, freshwater systems and urban areas—and identifies priority habitats, species and nature‑based solutions that will deliver the greatest ecological benefit. The Local Habitat Map highlights existing ecological assets and the key locations where habitat creation, enhancement and improved connectivity would be most effective, including areas where wider environmental benefits such as flood mitigation and improved water quality can be achieved.

4.3.3As implementation progresses, the LNRS will support the development of projects and initiatives that align with its priorities, with delivery expected to take place over several years. Monitoring will be undertaken periodically to assess progress and ensure that the Strategy continues to drive effective and targeted nature recovery within the borough.

4.4Nature Restoration Fund and Environmental Delivery Plans

4.4.1The Planning and Infrastructure Act introduced the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF), which, aims to accelerate the building of homes and infrastructure while diverting the impact into the recovery of protected sites and species.

4.4.2Natural England gave notice in December 2025 of their intention to prepare a number of Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs). The first tranche (Annex A) of EDPs will cover nutrient pollution from development; in the context of the borough of Great Yarmouth, an EDP will be prepared for The Broads Special Area of Conservation (including the River Wensum SAC). The second tranche (Annex B) will be prepared for the East of England covering great crested newts, which will be relevant for the Borough, in areas where the species is materially relevant.

4.4.3Each EDP will cover a specific area and outline a package of conservation measures that will address one or more impacts of development on a protected site or species. Where an EDP is in place, developers can elect to make a payment into the NRF to meet their environmental responsibilities. Natural England will use these monies to deliver the necessary conservation measures identified within EDPs to deliver landscape scale nature restoration.

4.4.4Whilst the granular details of the NRF and EDPs is still emerging, in the interim the Council will continue to pro-actively engage with key stakeholders to facilitate the successful delivery of nature restoration through a co-ordinated approach with Natural England. Once EDPs are formally agreed by the Secretary of State, they will provide an alternative way for developers to address and pay for impacts on protected sites and species.