Your local knowledge is invaluable and we must work together to make sure that development occurs in appropriate places and does not result in any loss of the fantastic wildlife in Cornwall. If there is a planning application near you that you are concerned may damage important wildlife, this advice should help you respond to the planning case officer at the council and make sure your voice is heard.
What we do
Cornwall Wildlife Trust provides advice to the council on some planning applications that may damage wildlife. We do not advise on all cases as we need to make sure our time and resources are spent in the best possible way to protect the important habitats and species of Cornwall. We advise on applications affecting County Wildlife Sites, and also on major applications that we feel may have a significant impact upon the biodiversity of Cornwall. Natural England is the ‘statutory advisor’ to the Government regarding wildlife issues in planning, and the council ecologist provides internal advice to planning officers.
Below is an outline of the things we consider when looking at a planning application. This should help you understand the issues involved and write your own response to the planning officer too.
The main wildlife issues that planners will take note of are:
Designated sites
Is the application within or next to a site designated for wildlife, such as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or a County Wildlife Site (CWS)? You can contact the Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (ERCCIS) to find this out. If so, the council will need to consult Natural England for SSSI’s, and Cornwall Wildlife Trust for CWS’s.
Important habitats
Will the application damage woodland, Cornish hedgerows, tussocky/wildflower grassland, heath/moorland, wetland or ponds/streams? If so, it is likely that a consultant ecologist will need to undertake an ecological survey (an ‘extended phase 1 survey’) and write a report showing how wildlife will be looked after (see point 3 below). If there is Biodiversity Action Plan habitat on the land (you can contact ERCCIS to find this out), the council will need to make sure these habitats are protected and enhanced if planning permission is granted. Cornwall Wildlife Trust advises that developments must not result in any loss of important habitat; this most often relates to Cornish hedges, where any loss must be compensated by rebuilding at least the same length on-site using local stone and materials. We are always pushing for developments to enhance wildilfe on-site, such as by building new ponds, managing Cornish hedges for biodiversity and including green or brown roofs.
Important and protected species
Does the site support any legally protected species (e.g. dormice, bats, otters, badgers or reptiles)? Records for these species are held by ERCCIS. If so, a survey and report by an ecologist must be provided, along with plans showing how these species will be kept on or near to the site (see point 3 below). Licences may be needed from Natural England. A great source of advice for protected species information is Natural England’s website; this should answer many queries. Biodiversity Action Plan species must also be looked after by retaining their habitats and ensuring they can live on or very close to the site after development.
What you can do
Here’s how to find out about planning applications near you, and respond to the council to make your voice heard:
1. Search for the planning application online using the Cornwall Council website. Contact the relevant council planning case officer for further information on the application.
2. When you've found the application, go to the ‘Comments’ tab to check any existing responses, for example from Natural England, Cornwall Wildlife Trust, the Parish council, or other local residents.
3. Go to the ‘Documents’ tab to find out if there is an ecological report, and check whether all the issues above (designated sites, important habitats and protected species) have been addressed by the ecologist.
4. See if the proposed development fits into the Council’s Local Plan Policies (in particular, if the land has been allocated for development). Look for ‘saved policies’ and a ‘proposals map’. Policies are undergoing lots of change at the moment so if you get confused (like we do!) contact the planning case officer at the council.
5. You can respond to the application online or by writing to the planning case officer.
6. It is important to make sure your response is clear, concise and addresses wildlife interest with regard to legislation and policy (see the ‘further information’ section below). If your concern lies mainly with other issues – for example rural views, traffic or the landscape in general, it is important to concentrate on these issues by seeking relevant specialist advice (for example, the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beatury (AONB) Unit or the Campaign to Protect Rural England).
Further information
