Landscape, biodiversity and Planning

Use this page to learn more about how Planning policy is concerned with local landscapes and natural features, as precious habitat for plants and wildlife, and as a central part of the character and value of places within B&NES.

Protecting our environment is central to Planning work, and is a prominent part of many different areas of national and local Planning policy. Select a section below, to learn in more detail about how Planning policy can shape our surroundings in practical ways.

Tackling the Climate and Ecological Emergencies

Nature recovery

Each region in England must publish a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) that includes a statement of biodiversity priorities and proposed actions in the locations where it would make a particular contribution to achieving those priorities (as set out in The Environment Act 2021). LNRSs are integrated into the planning system and are used to define where the Strategic Significance Multiplier will apply in the BNG metric.

More information about the West of England LNRS can be found on the Combined Authority's website, which includes a Toolkit to help you understand how to take the most effective action for nature locally, and a guide to the use of the LNRS in planning and development.

As well as sites designated for their value to nature, we have included the LNRS 'focus areas for nature recovery' and 'mapped measures' on our interactive maps that form part of planning policy. They can also be viewed on a dedicated web map.

Biodiversity Net Gain

This term, which came into law in 2023, refers to ways of measuring the impact of development on local biodiversity, and setting a goal to counteract any damage. Nationally, many new development proposals have to demonstrate how they would leave the local environment in a measurably better shape than before, specifically, with a 10% gain after development. Measures to restore biodiversity include things like introducing new ponds, trees, hedges and green space, as well as preserving or creating new wildlife corridors.

Sustainable transport

The consideration of transport needs is a core part of our assessment of local planning applications, and a driving force for how we manage movement within the city of Bath. Our policy promotes a sustainable approach, including:

• Reduction of traditional car journeys
• Connectivity to public transport networks
• Planning to provide an extensive charging network for low emission electric vehicles
• Promoting active ways of travelling, such as walking, cycling or wheeling
• Monitoring and management of areas where air quality is poor, due to traffic congestion

For more information on our approach to sustainable transport, and areas where the Planning service works with other council teams to promote sustainable transport as a way of creating cleaner and healthier communities, see these areas of our website:

• Transport and new developments planning policy
• Sustainable Transport policy approaches in the Local Plan
• Active Travel 
• Liveable Neighbourhoods
• Bath Clean Air Zone
• Air quality management
• Transport Evidence Base documents for the Local Plan

Renewable energy

We undertake in-depth technical research to support our Planning policy. We identify opportunities to generate renewable energy, and work with communities to put facilities in place (particularly wind generation and solar PV installations). 

View our policy on Renewable Energy (Local Plan) and Renewable Energy Resource Assessment Study (Planning evidence base document) for more detail.

Energy efficiency and retrofitting

Adapting existing buildings to work more efficiently goes hand in hand with our focus on renewable energy, to cut use of fossil fuels, and related climate change. Our Planning policy documents include a comprehensive, practical guide on how you can retrofit energy saving measures to your home, to save money and reduce carbon emissions.

Conserving the landscape

Protected land designations

As well as conservation designations for specific types of natural feature or habitat (such as SSSIs), there are more general land designations which are designed to conserve green spaces and valued landscapes. Perhaps the best known of these is the Green Belt, a long-term protection of open spaces which is designed to restrict the spread and merging of 'urban sprawl', and maintain the separation and setting of individual settlements. Read more about the purpose and nature of this protected status in the National Planning Policy Framework.  

In fourteen areas of the UK, this designation has been used to stop larger towns and cities 'swallowing up' surrounding settlements, and to maintain access to open green space for residents. Some 12-13% of English land falls under the Green Belt designation, and the area surrounding Bristol and Bath is included in this. 

In addition to Green Belt protectection, National Landscape designation (formerly known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or AONBs) is a formal recognition of the value of some of our most distinctive and beloved landscapes: for nature, for leisure and for tourism. Two of these special landscapes are partially within B&NES: The Cotswolds to the north and east of Bath, and the Mendip Hills, taking in the Chew Valley and Blagdon lakes, and extending to the west and south of our borders. 

Landscape character assessment

To protect the landscape, we first need to define what is that needs protecting. Landscape character assessments are a Planning tool to do just this. These documents cover a wide range of aspects, from natural features such as geology, soil and drainage, to the heritage and cultural importance of local landscapes. Discover more detail in our Planning policy documents:

• Rural Landscapes Character Assessment
• Bath Landscape Character Assessment

Settings of settlements 

Our Development Management (the policy and process which assesses and determines Planning applications) recognises the local landscape setting as a crucial part of the identity and value of settlements. Conserving the setting of our villages, towns, and particularly the World Heritage Site of Bath, is a central consideration in approving or refusing permission for new development. 

District-wide policy

View pages from our Local Plan in development, to see in more detail the landcape settings of settlements on a B&NES map, and our policy in this area.

The World Heritage Site (WHS) of Bath

View the boundaries of the WHS, and its landscape setting on an map and our extensive World Heritage Site Setting planning policy document, to learn more.

Trees, hedgerows and woodland

As a planning authority, we recognise the environmental and social value of trees, hedgerows and woodland. They are an important element of planning policy, particularly in conservation areas.

• Trees of significant size, age or local importance can get protection with a Tree Preservation Order (TPO). View the trees which are already protected this way on a map of B&NES. Even if there is no TPO in place, there is a comprehensive British Standard (BS5837) applying to work on trees, or how existing trees may affect new developments. See our page on trees and planning to learn more.
• There are national regulations for hedgerow protection, and you have to get Planning permission to remove one. 
• National Planning policy has protections for woodland, and requires licensing for tree felling. There is also advice and support available for individuals, communities or organisations who would like to create a new woodland in their local area. 

See our dedicated section on Trees and woodlands, for more information.

Standards for new development

Both national and local Planning policy have a strong focus on ensuring that new developments are set sympathetically within the landscape, and promote a connection with green space and nature.

Principles to ensure this high quality of development include the following:

• Identifying open areas which are valued by local communities as Local Green Spaces, which have additional protection from development
• Ensuring that new developments have good links to Local Green Spaces, public rights of way and sustainable travel/leisure networks such as cycle trails
• Developing a strategic approach to Green Infrastructure, and how this will be provided by new developments (for example, including access to green space or water, such as ponds and streams; specifying that new streets should be tree-lined)