Biodiversity Duty report

6.1A key component of the planning process is the ongoing monitoring of the implementation and effectiveness of plans and their policies. Over time, the Council and other stakeholders will need to understand:

• whether the objectives of the plan are being achieved and the vision is being delivered
• whether adopted policies are being applied in practice
• whether those policies are having their intended effect
• whether changes in the wider context have rendered any policies ineffective or inappropriate

6.2The Council's emerging Local Plan includes a monitoring framework that will form the basis of reporting within the Council's Annual Monitoring Report.

6.3The monitoring framework incorporates indicators relevant to biodiversity and environmental quality, including:

• condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)
• total on site and off site Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
• condition of locally protected conservation sites
• local water quality
• number of Tree Preservation Orders made and confirmed
• commentary on habitat monitoring results, Section 106 biodiversity related contributions (collected and spent), and progress on required mitigation measures

6.4The rollout of the Council's new planning software in 2026/27 will support the annual monitoring of these indicators, including the long term tracking of habitat delivery over the statutory 30 year period.

6.5The Council will monitor compliance with the general biodiversity gain condition and with biodiversity-related planning conditions on qualifying developments. Where applicants fail to discharge relevant biodiversity gain conditions prior to commencing works, or where approved details or monitoring requirements are not adhered to, the Council will make use of its enforcement powers.