Biodiversity enhancements

[BlackAlys]

Is this a regular things for planners to request as part of a proposal?

"We request that biodiversity enhancements are included as part of the proposal (bat, bird boxes, native planning etc.)?

This particular planning Officer has made some questionable decisions lately which has left our Architect and Structural Eng a bit baffled. Is this latest request reasonable?

Yes i think its reasonable. Essentially most policies state that the development must provide a net gain in biodiversity. What are you planning? Sometimes even with a dormer window you are removing a potential bat roost and therefore it should be replaced by a bat box.

Understood. I understand and accept the bat issue and should we need to install a bat box, it wouldn't be a problem.

The 'bird box and native plants' bit got me a little. All around this area we see huge, identical houses springing up in gigantic estates across green fields, yet our PO
wants us to include a few bird boxes in the proposal.

As it happens, DH is an organic gardener and I plan on getting a bee hive so biodiversity is rather important to us, but to be requested that it's included in our proposal makes me sigh inwardly.

I bet it’s frustrating, Have you read the report to see why they’ve requested what they have? What does your proposal involve? Obviously I don’t know where you live but it does depend on how a development impacts on the local habitat. The conditions should be specifically related to your development though. I find it’s not necessary the planners that require these conditions but the local biodiversity officer.
Larger developments would also have conditions attached to their planning permission.

Thanks @Wonderwalk. I really appreciate your replying.

The property renovation is pretty suburban (narrow street in a busy village) and we are extending onto concrete so it's not as if we're digging up any green land.

I guess we'll go along with it as quickly as possible - haven't seen a report as such, just an email to the architect requesting that we include it in the proposal.

*is in a pretty suburban area, that should have been.

In the process of trying to pen a supporting letter to explain what plants we'll be introducing to our garden. Where do I start with this?!

Also, while ai adore them? We have a pair of murderous bastard cats. How can I ensure that the bird boxes we plan for are safe from their clutches?!

It seems an odd request for a single housing project, this condition usually applies to large developments. Can you check what the commitment to BNG is for the local authority? Until the environment bill is passed it's up to the council to set targets.

I would include the bat/bird boxes on your architects drawings. If you are replacing concrete with garden then that is a net gain right there.

Things like : nectar rich meadow-style lawn with poppies, cornflower, marigold, red clover, ragged robin, (etc)
Ivy
Mixed fruiting hedge (viburnum, hawthorn)

Which planning authority is it?

You can get bird box bricks, hollow with a hole at the front, as part of the wall. These would be integral and can include house martin and swift boxes which are very high up under the eaves, safe from the cats.

If you are attaching bird boxes after the wall is built then make sure they are made of woodcrete (a wood and concrete mix) for better durability and safety from predators (squirrels, magpies, woodpeckers).

Thanks everyone and apologies that my posts are full of typos.

Our property is quite literally a small cottage style house that we are renovating and extending. We are keeping in with as much traditional feature as we can.

The garden is enough for us, but it isn't huge by any means. We plan on having a pond (we have one now and we love how alive it is), I'd eventually like a bee hive so organic gardening and not using herbicides abs pesticides is crucial to us. DH is an experienced gardener and we also want to leave a small part of the garden to grow wildflowers. Bird/bat boxes will also be included in the best way possible.

Is this enough detail to go into with our letter to planning? Or do we need to go into more detail?

If it's literally one property I would be challenging this. I can't see how planning can request what plants you put in your own garden. Yes for large housing development or for other types of development but this seems too much.