Biodiversity Duty report

1.1The Enhanced Biodiversity Duty (EBD) was introduced under the Environment Act (2021). It requires all public authorities in England to consider how they can actively conserve and enhance biodiversity. Defra requires all Local Authorities to publish a report on the actions they have taken, during the reporting period, and plan to take over the next five years to meet the EBD. To meet the statutory requirements, the Council's first Biodiversity Duty Report is due within 12 weeks from the 1st of January 2026 (i.e. 26th March 2026) and will continue in five-year cycles.

1.2As a public authority and local planning authority, the duty legally requires Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) to publish a Biodiversity Duty report that provides the following information:

• a summary of the actions taken to comply with the biodiversity duty during the first reporting period
• how the authority plans to comply with the biodiversity duty in the following five years (to 2030)
• the actions the authority has carried out to meet Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) obligations
• details of BNG resulting, or expected to result, from approved biodiversity gain plans
• how the authority plans to meet BNG obligations in the next reporting period
• any other information considered appropriate

1.3Having set out the legal and national policy context in Section 2, Section 3 of this report describes the Council's approach to conserving and enhancing biodiversity during the reporting period (1 January 2022 to 31 December 2025), including its strategies, policies, objectives and actions. Section 3 outlines the Council's planned future actions in relation to the biodiversity duty, and Section 4 provides monitoring information on Biodiversity matters.

2.1In England, the Biodiversity Duty was established under Section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, which states: "Every public authority must, in exercising its functions, have regard, so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity." This created an obligation for public authorities to consider biodiversity in their decision making, but it did not require them to take specific actions, and the duty offered limited enforceability.

2.2As a result, the Environment Act 2021 significantly strengthened the Biodiversity Duty, introducing a requirement for public authorities to "take action to further the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity." Additionally, the Environment Act also introduced a requirement for local authorities (excluding Parish Councils) to produce a Biodiversity Report every five years, documenting the actions they have taken in support of this duty.

2.3In addition, the Act also introduced Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), amongst other key instruments for conserving and enhancing nature. The LNRS, prepared by a Responsible Authority, identifies priorities for nature recovery locally and proposes measures in locations identified using local evidence and input from local stakeholders. BNG mandates that most developments must deliver a biodiversity uplift of at least 10%, with some exceptions.

3.1The importance of conserving and enhancing biodiversity has been recognised and incorporated across numerous corporate strategies, policies, partnerships, and actions during the first reporting period, which are summarised below.

Council strategies, policies and objectives

3.2Great Yarmouth Corporate Plan

3.2.1The Council's Corporate Plan 2025-2030 places emphasis on maintaining a "high‑quality and sustainable local environment" and recognises the importance of the borough's coastline, natural habitats and relationship with the Broads National Park. The Plan sets strategic priorities to ensure that streets, green spaces and beaches are clean and attractive throughout the year, and to take an environmentally sustainable approach to the long‑term management of coastal and inland water environments. It also highlights the need to reduce the Council's carbon footprint and promote walking, cycling, public transport and energy‑efficient buildings, which together will assist in reducing pressures on biodiversity and supporting ecological resilience.

3.2.2The Plan further identifies the natural environment as a key asset in responding to climate change and supporting the transition to a greener economy. Strategic aims include improving resource efficiency, increasing recycling, promoting green energy and working with partners to foster civic pride and responsible environmental behaviour. The Council also commits to ensuring that natural and built environments are accessible and inclusive, and to supporting skills development linked to future "green jobs". Together, these priorities embed environmental considerations across the Council's work and form an important part of its approach to meeting the biodiversity duty.

3.3Sustainability Strategy

3.3.1The Council's Sustainability Strategy (2022) sets out a long‑term framework for addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, and positions the natural environment as a central asset in building a resilient and sustainable borough. The Strategy establishes the "Nature Challenge" as one of three core priorities, committing the Council to protect, manage and enhance the Borough's natural resources, including its wetlands, coastal habitats, grazing marshes and nationally important landscapes such as the Broads wetland system and the dunes at Winterton‑on‑Sea. This priority is underpinned by a clear vision for a Great Yarmouth where healthy ecosystems provide essential service, such as flood resilience, climate adaptation, and opportunities for recreation and wellbeing, and where biodiversity is strengthened through proactive stewardship of Council‑owned land.

3.3.2The Sustainability Strategy also reinforces the Council's commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2035, setting out an objective to "lead by example and reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated from our own estates and operations to achieve net zero by 2035". Alongside this, the Strategy also commits to improving natural resource management, enhancing green infrastructure and working collaboratively with partners and communities.

3.4Adopted Great Yarmouth Local Plan (2013 - 2030)

3.4.1The Local Plan is the Borough's primary planning framework, setting out the spatial strategy and development management policies that guide how land is used and managed across the borough. It provides the statutory basis for decision‑making in planning and plays a key role in shaping how the natural environment is protected, enhanced and integrated with future growth.

3.4.2The current adopted Local Plan for Great Yarmouth comprises the Core Strategy (Local Plan Part 1, 2015) and the Local Plan Part 2 (2021), with the latter providing detailed policies to supplement and deliver the Core Strategy. Across both documents, the protection, conservation and enhancement of the natural environment, and the recognition of green infrastructure as a key asset, form core elements of the Plan's vision and objectives. These themes are reflected throughout the policy framework, supporting a plan‑led approach to safeguarding habitats, strengthening ecological networks and integrating biodiversity considerations into spatial planning and development management. The policies of particular relevance are:

• Core Strategy Policy CS1: Focusing on a sustainable future
• Core Strategy Policy CS2: Achieving sustainable growth
• Core Strategy Policy CS11: Enhancing the natural environment
• Core Strategy Policy CS12: Utilising Natural Resources
• Core strategy Policy CS15: Providing and protecting community assets and green infrastructure
• Local Plan Part 2 Policy GSP5: National Site Network, designated habitat sites and species impact avoidance and mitigation
• Local Plan Part 2 Policy GSP6: Green Infrastructure
• Local Plan Part 2 Policy E3: Protection of open spaces
• Local Plan Part 2 Policy E4: Trees and Landscape

3.5 Great Yarmouth Emerging Local Plan (2024-2042)

3.5.1The emerging Great Yarmouth Local Plan will replace the adopted Core Strategy and Local Plan Part 2 once formally adopted. As of March 2026, the Plan is at an advanced stage of examination and subject to the outcome of that process, is anticipated to be adopted in Summer 2026. Upon adoption, it will form the statutory development plan for the Borough, sitting alongside other relevant documents that make up the wider development plan framework. Consistent with the existing Local Plan, the emerging Plan includes a clear vision and set of objectives focused on the protection, conservation and enhancement of the natural environment, including the delivery of measurable biodiversity net gain. The policies within the emerging Local Plan that are of particular relevance to the biodiversity duty are outlined below:

• Policy NAT1: Protecting Biodiversity and Geodiversity
• Policy NAT2: Locally Designated Sites
• Policy NAT3: Biodiversity Net Gain
• Policy NAT4: National Site Network designated habitat sites, Ramsar sites, and species impact avoidance and mitigation
• Policy NAT5: Nutrient Neutrality
• Policy NAT6: Norfolk Coast National Landscape and the Broads
• Policy NAT7: Landscape Character
• Policy NAT8: Strategic Gaps
• Policy NAT9: Dark Skies
• Policy NAT10: Trees, woodlands and hedgerows

3.5.2The requirements and implementation of particular policies within the emerging Local Plans are discussed below (section 4.2).

3.5.3Please 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.

3.6Neighbourhood Plans

3.6.1As of March 2026, there are six adopted neighbourhood plans within the Borough, which form part of the local development plan. All of the adopted neighbourhood plans include biodiversity relates policies, listed below. The policies contain locally specific provisions that make a contribution to biodiversity protection and enhancement across various settlements within the borough:

• Belton with Browston, Burgh Castle and Fritton with St Olaves Neighbourhood Plan Policy 6: Biodiversity
• Belton with Browston, Burgh Castle and Fritton with St Olaves Neighbourhood Plan Policy 7: Local Green Spaces
• Belton with Browston, Burgh Castle and Fritton with St Olaves Neighbourhood Plan Policy 9: Dark Skies
• Filby Neighbourhood Plan Policy E1: Habitat and Wildlife
• Filby Neighbourhood Plan Policy E2: Trees and Hedgerows
• Filby Neighbourhood Plan Policy E3: Local Green Space
• Filby Neighbourhood Plan Policy E4: Dark Skies
• Filby Neighbourhood Plan Policy E5: Landscape Character
• Fleggburgh Neighbourhood Plan Policy 3: Enhancing the Natural Environment
• Fleggburgh Neighbourhood Plan Policy 4: Local Green Space
• Fleggburgh Neighbourhood Plan Policy 5: Landscape Setting
• Fleggburgh Neighbourhood Plan Policy 6: Dark Skies
• Hemsby Neighbourhood Plan Policy 13: Biodiversity Improvements
• Hemsby Neighbourhood Plan Policy 14: Green Corridors
• Hemsby Neighbourhood Plan Policy 15: Local Green Spaces
• Rollesby Neighbourhood Plan Policy E1: Protecting and enhancing the environment
• Rollesby Neighbourhood Plan Policy E2: Landscape Character and appearance
• Rollesby Neighbourhood Plan Policy E3: Protecting Dark Night Skies
• Winterton-on-Sea Neighbourhood Plan Policy E1: Protecting and Enhancing the Environment
• Winterton-on-Sea Neighbourhood Plan Policy CA3: Local Green Space

Partnership Strategies

3.7Norfolk Local Nature Recovery Strategy

3.7.1The Council has participated in the production of the Norfolk LNRS as a Supporting Authority, with Norfolk County Council acting as the Responsible Authority.

3.7.2The Norfolk LNRS is comprised of a written statement of biodiversity priorities and a local habitat map, which identifies existing natural areas, and key locations and opportunities for potential enhancement, expansion, and improved habitat connectivity.

3.7.3In complying with the strengthened duty set out in the Environment Act 2021, the PPG confirms all public authorities must have must 'have regard' to the relevant LNRS. It is understood that the PPG is likely to be updated to ensure public authorities 'take account of' any relevant LNRS. As such, from adoption, the Norfolk LNRS is a material consideration in the assessment of planning applications and is being utilised as an important source of information in relation to finding where off-site provision of biodiversity gain would be most beneficial in circumstances where it cannot be fully met on-site.

3.7.4Further work on the LNRS will seek to develop and facilitate projects and initiatives that support the objectives. This will be ongoing over several years, with different projects operating on their own timelines. In conjunction with its implementation, outcomes will be monitored on a periodic basis in order to review the strategy's effectiveness.

3.8Norfolk Green Infrastructure and Recreational Avoidance Mitigation Strategy

3.8.1The Norfolk GIRAMS strategy is a strategic approach that enables growth in the borough by implementing the required mitigation to address adverse effects on the integrity of Habitats Sites arising from recreational disturbance caused by an increased level of recreational use on internationally designated habitat sites, particularly European sites, through growth from all qualifying development. This should be read alongside the Norfolk RAMS Action Plan, which builds on the approach established in the GIRAMS and sets out detailed actions relating to mitigation measures, including an updated fee for new proposals.

3.9Norfolk Coast Partnership

With the support of Natural England the Norfolk Coast Partnership carries out work on behalf of local authorities that share responsibility for the Norfolk Coast National Landscape, including Great Yarmouth Borough Council. The draft Norfolk Coast National Landscape Management Plan details a range of goals and targets including:

• nature recovery - restore or create at least 1,300 hectares of wildlife-rich habitats outside protected sites by 2030 (from a 2022 baseline)
• climate adaptation and mitigation - increase the number of trees outside of woodland and woodland planted around The Wash and Norfolk coast, on an appropriate scale and in appropriate locations

3.10Norfolk Climate Change Partnership

3.10.1The Norfolk Climate Change Partnership is an ongoing county‑wide collaboration established in 2020, bringing together local authorities and key organisations to coordinate action on climate mitigation and adaptation across Norfolk. The Partnership focuses on three strategic priorities: developing a sustainable energy plan to decarbonise the county's energy supply; reducing energy demand through building retrofit, behaviour change and improved energy efficiency; and enabling greener, more sustainable transport solutions. Through this shared approach, the Partnership supports the transition to a low‑carbon, climate‑resilient Norfolk, with co‑benefits for biodiversity, air quality and community wellbeing.

Delivered Actions for Biodiversity

3.11Trees for cities

3.11.1The Trees for Cities initiative in Great Yarmouth has delivered a major programme of urban greening, planting over 500 semi‑mature trees across the town as part of the national Forgotten Places: Greening Coastal Towns and Cities programme, between January 2022 and Spring 2023. The first phase saw more than 80 trees planted at locations including St John's Church, Deneside, St George's Park and Trafalgar Road, with the remainder scheduled over subsequent winters to maximise establishment and resilience.

3.11.2The project was funded through the Green Recovery Challenge Fund and managed locally, aiming to expand species‑rich canopy cover, strengthen biodiversity, and increase resilience to climate impacts such as heat and flooding.

3.11.3Alongside tree planting, the project has created volunteering, training and green skills opportunities for residents, including tree‑identification workshops and practical education sessions.

3.12Conservation of Council owned green spaces

3.12.1Each year, the Council identifies selected areas of Council-owned open space where grass cutting is paused during the growing season to enhance biodiversity across the Borough.

3.12.2These programmes are designed to support the return of pollinators, such as bees, by allowing native wildflowers to flourish, providing valuable habitat and ecological benefits for local wildlife.

3.12.3Locations where managed regrowth has been implemented include Pasteur Road in Great Yarmouth, the area between Shakespeare Road and North Drive in Great Yarmouth, Elm Avenue in Gorleston, and Primrose Way in Bradwell.

3.13Tree Preservation Orders

3.13.1Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) remain an important tool for safeguarding trees that contribute to the Borough's landscape character and ecological value. Since 2022, the Council has made 64 new TPOs and continues to assess opportunities for further designations in response to development pressures and requests from residents. By protecting mature and high‑value trees, the Council helps to maintain important habitats, support species diversity and strengthen the Borough's wider green infrastructure network.

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.

5.1The Environment Act 2021 introduced a statutory requirement for qualifying developments to deliver a minimum 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). This requirement has applied to major developments since 12 February 2024. Accordingly, this report covers the period from 12 February 2024 to 31 December 2025 in relation to BNG delivery.

5.2The Council is in the process of upgrading its planning software to enable more comprehensive reporting on BNG secured across all development types. At present, detailed data on BNG secured since 2 April 2024 (when the requirement was extended to smaller sites) cannot be extracted from the existing system. This information will, however, be fully accessible for future biodiversity duty reporting once the new software is operational.

5.3Where appropriate, the Council applies a standard BNG Implementation condition to secure the delivery of approved Biodiversity Gain Plans (BGPs) and Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans (HMMPs). Due to current limitations within the planning software, reporting on approved BGPs during this period has been restricted to major development sites only.

5.4During the reporting period, the Council determined and approved two major planning applications that triggered BNG requirements. Both permissions were granted subject to conditions ensuring that development proceeds in accordance with the submitted BNG Plans. In addition, each permission requires that, if development has not commenced within 12 months of the decision date, an updated BNG statement and metric must be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

5.5No biodiversity units were approved for off‑site delivery, nor were any statutory biodiversity credits utilised, in relation to major development sites subject to BNG requirements during this reporting period.

5.6The overall expected gains and losses across approved BGPs in the reporting period are shown below:

5.7The area/length and biodiversity unit values for each habitat, hedgerow and watercourse type, both at baseline and post-development across both on-site and off-site delivery, are shown in the tables below.

5.8No Biodiversity Gain Plans (BGPs) approved during the reporting period involved on-site changes that would result in adverse impacts on irreplaceable habitats.

5.9The first monitoring milestones (e.g., Year 1 or Year 2 following completion of habitat creation or enhancement works) have not yet been reached for any BGPs approved within the reporting period that require ongoing monitoring.

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.