How to stop planning app on woodland/park

[saveourtrees]

Planning application to build on an important 'pathway' in my city. Area is well built up and all of our local green space is disappearing. I want to say no. I have left a comment on the government website.
what else can I do?

A planning application will only ever be refused if it is contrary to current legislation

You need to find your areas local plan or if it doesn’t have one yet it might have a core statement. Study that, and the NPPF (national planning policy framework) and identify each statement that this particular application does not comply with

Then make an objection referencing each statement, detailing how this application is contrary to it, with evidence

is there a neighbourhood accociation?
maybe they could help.

when I lived in uk we made maps of areas on the developmental plan. any tree was marked and tpo applied for ang that fit the criteria.
local college made a preliminary survey of wildlife.

I saw a post like this on my local Facebook group last night.

Are you in Bedfont?

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a new planning rule where developments have to either protect existing natural habitats on the site, or if damage is 'avoidable', create new habitats on site or elsewhere that are deemed to provide 110% of the value of the existing habitats. It all requires specialist advice & plans.
Some local planning authorities have been applying the BNG rule for a year or more, some haven't yet implemented it, it's part of legislation currently going through government.
Natural woodland is VERY hard to compensate for in BNG, green spaces like parks a lot easier.
In objection, its worth emphasising that any biodiversity off-setting or mitigation will not adequately replace mature habitats already present. Also emphasise the carbon storage loss from woodland.
In reality, its ridiculously hard to stop planning applications 😔
The Woodland Trust may also have some advice on their website?

Sorry I meant damage or loss is unavoidable...

Good luck OP, unfortunately this situation has just happened to someone I know, bought a property next to a woodland, TPO’s on the trees, protected woodland etc and guess what the houses are going up, planning approved, despite neighbours objecting, TPO’s all cancelled. She was very upset. No harm in objecting, but it may not stop the development going ahead. Have you checked the local plan?

Who owns the land?

Also look up Local Nature Recovery Strategies on gov.uk - another thing not yet in place, but should be a good thing to chalkenge/scrutinise a decision on - how will the loss of this green space & wildlife habitat affect local nature recovery networks, landscape character, climate & flood resilience, access to green space for local people, air quality etc.
We REALLY need to have an effective way for people to engage with their planning system to hold it to account.

As PP, take out the emotion, and focus on whether the application contravenes planning regulations.
Look at your local authority Local Development Plan and see what use that land has been designated for. If it’s already been allocated for the proposed land use, you need to focus on the fine details of the planning app.
Contacting the local wildlife trust for support is an excellent idea. They will be interested, albeit probably stretched for resource.
A formal objection can only object to genuine planning concerns, not Nimbyism.
Gov.uk will show you the modelled flood outlines on current land use. Development close (the definition of close varies locally) a main river (one the EA manages) will also be consulted on by the EA, who will consider the impact on flood risk.

It’s not Doncaster is it?

YY to Biodiversity Net Gain. Essentially, developments must create more habitat than they destroy. The is legislated under the Environment Bill 2019. Not sure of the finer details, it might not apply where land use was approved before 2019.

A petition is entirely pointless.

You need to have a look at planning policy to see what legitimate objections you can make. It’s no good just saying ‘I object because I don’t want it’, they’ll just disregard the objection it.

It has to be a legitimate reason I.e road access, landscaping, archaeological, local or National strategic planning policies etc…

Objecting without legitimate reasons is literally pointless.