8 Biodiversity

8.1 Policy context

International

The international plans and programmes that relate to biodiversity include the following: Convention on Biological Diversity (came into force December 1993); Bern Convention on Conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats (1979, came into force June 1982); EU Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC and 2009/147/EC); Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (1971, as amended); EU Directive on the Conservation of Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora(92/43/EEC as amended by 97/62/EC); EU Biodiversity Strategy (2011); UN Sustainable Development Goals (2015); and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022).

National

The Environment Act (2021) includes a mandatory approach to biodiversity net gain (BNG). All developments are required to commit to providing net gains for biodiversity in perpetuity; at a minimum, net gain should be provided for 30 years or for the lifetime of the development, whichever is longer. Such net gains should be 10% as a minimum. 

The Act also established:

• Biodiversity Gain Plans.
• Habitat creation and enhancement requirements.
• Off-site biodiversity gain mechanisms.
• Statutory biodiversity credits.
• Long-term habitat management requirements (minimum 30 years).

A Green Future: Our 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment (2018) sets a goal to hand on to the next generation an environment that is of better quality than that which we have today. The approach is underpinned by a commitment to increasing natural capital, the stock of natural environment assets. Trees and woodland feature prominently in the Plan.

Within the NPPF, Chapter 19: ‘Conserving and Enhancing the Natural Environment’ requires planning policies and decisions to:

• Protect and enhance biodiversity and the natural environment.
• Contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by protecting and restoring habitats and ecological networks.
• Support nature conservation, habitat restoration, enhancement and creation.
• Promote nature recovery and secure measurable improvements for biodiversity.
• Protect sites of biodiversity value and important ecological assets, commensurate with their status and significance.

The NPPF also requires local planning authorities to:

• Take a strategic approach to maintaining and enhancing habitat networks and green infrastructure.
• Plan for biodiversity enhancement at landscape and catchment scales.
• Distinguish between international, national and locally designated sites according to their importance. 

The NPPF provides strong protection for:

• Special Areas of Conservation (SACs).
• Special Protection Areas (SPAs).
• Ramsar Sites.
• Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).
• Irreplaceable habitats such as ancient woodland and ancient/veteran trees.

The PPG provides detailed advice on biodiversity and Biodiversity Net Gain implementation. It explains:

• Biodiversity metric requirements.
• Biodiversity Gain Plans.
• Habitat assessment methodologies.
• Management and monitoring requirements.
• Application and decision-making processes. 

Regional

The Mersey Forest Plan includes a commitment to increase woodland cover and to help to offset our carbon emissions which receives significant funding from Cheshire West and Chester Council. 

Cheshire and Warrington Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) includes a local habitat map, which demonstrates the strategic nature recovery network and identifies the best opportunity areas for nature recovery.

Local

The CW&C Ecological Network (2016) identifies strategic priorities across the borough where habitat should be maintained, restored or created to ensure resilient ecological network. This work is now complemented by the LNRS.

8.2 Baseline information

Cheshire West and Chester has 28 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), 443 Local Wildlife Sites, 39 Areas of Nature Conservation Value, 6 Local Nature Reserves, approximately 6,159 hectares of woodland and 31 Cheshire Biodiversity Action Plan habitats. In addition, the Environment Act 2021 has introduced a strengthened statutory biodiversity duty and mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain requirements, placing increased emphasis on habitat creation, restoration and ecological network enhancement. 

The condition of the borough’s SSSI network should continue to be monitored using the latest Natural England condition assessment data. Whilst a substantial proportion of the SSSI resource remains favourable or unfavourable recovering condition, a number of sites continue to experience unfavourable condition as a result of issues such as hydrological change, recreational pressure, invasive species, air pollution and inappropriate management. The most recent Natural England data should be used to inform future monitoring and reporting.

All environmental designations from part of the borough’s ecological network, which is made up of Core Areas, Corridors and Stepping Stones, Meres and Mosses catchments, woodland networks, river corridors and areas of sustainable land use. These components provide connectivity between habitats and help improve ecological resilience to climate change.

The LNRS identifies priorities and opportunities for nature recovery, habitat creation and ecological connectivity across the sub-region.

Figure 8.1 CW&C ecological network

Cheshire West and Chester also contains several internationally important sites within the National Site Network, which is formally referred to as Natura 2000 sites), including Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Ramsar sites. These include: 

• Mersey Estuary Ramsar and SPA (Special Protection Area)
• The Dee Estuary Ramsar SPA and SAC (Special Area of Conservation)
• Midland Meres and Mosses – Phase 1 Ramsar
• Midland Meres and Mosses – Phase 2 Ramsar
• River Dee and Bala Lake SAC
• Oak Mere SAC
• West Midlands Mosses SAC

The following sites fall within a 15km buffer of the borough boundary:

• Rostherne Mere (Ramsar)
• Mersey Narrow and North Wirral Foreshore (Ramsar, SPA)
• Brown Moss (SAC)
• Fenn’s, Whixhall, Bettisfield, Wem and Cadney Mosses (SAC)
• Manchester Mosses (SAC)
• Rixton Clay Pits (SAC)
• Liverpool Bay (SPA)

Areas of Nature Conservation Value (ANCV):

• 39 Areas of Nature Conservation Value
• 4 Strategic Wildlife Areas 

Local Nature Reserves (Statutory):

• 6 sites – Rivacre Valley, Whitby Park, Stanney Wood, Marshall’s Arm, Helsby Quarry, Burton Mill Wood.

Non-statutory Nature Reserves: 

• 15 Sites managed by Cheshire Wildlife Trust
• 3 Sites managed by the National Trust
• 15 Sites managed by the Woodland Trust
• 3 Sites managed by the RSPB (not all lies within the borough)

Trees and woodland: 

• Woodland cover 2015: 6159ha (Tree and Woodland Strategy)
• Mersey Forest have delivered 220 hectares of new woodland across Cheshire and Merseyside through the national Trees for Climate Programme since 2020.

Habitats and Species: 

• 31 Cheshire Biodiversity Action Plan habitats
• 63 Cheshire Biodiversity Action Plan species 

These habits and species remain an important focus for conservation, restoration and enhancement, and will help inform Biodiversity Net Gain delivery and the Cheshire and Warrington Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Nutrient impacts remain an important planning consideration for internationally designated water-dependent habitats within and around the borough. Any further development proposals within affected catchments will need to demonstrate that they will not adversely affect the integrity of protected sites through increased nutrient loading, taking account of the latest Natural England advice and relevant catchment strategies. 

The area's waterways are also an important part of the green infrastructure within Cheshire West and Chester. A Green Infrastructure Feasibility Study was undertaken by the Mersey Dee Alliance exploring the green infrastructure objectives for the River Dee area, and how this could enable sub-regional growth. The River Dee is designated as a site of European importance (SAC) and the estuary a SPA and Ramsar site. There are also a number of other nature conservation designations linked to the area's waterways (SSSI's, SBI's etc) and they form important features in the landscape. Rivers are home to nationally rare flora and fauna and also locally important species and habitats. Therefore, maintaining and improving water quality is important. Water quality is also influenced by a number of factors outside the control of the planning system (e.g. agriculture). 

8.3 Recent changes and anticipated trends

Recent changes:

• Introduction of mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain.
• Publication of the Cheshire and Warrington Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
• Increased woodland creation initiatives through the Mersey Forest.
• Greater emphasis on natural capital and ecosystem services.
• Increased habitat creation associated with development proposals. 

Anticipated trends:

• Continued implementation of BNG across development proposals.
• Increased habitat restoration and ecological network enhancement.
• Greater emphasis on nature-based solutions to climate change.
• Additional woodland creation and urban greening projects.
• Increased monitoring and management requirements for biodiversity enhancements.

8.4 Evidence gaps and proposed work

Evidence gaps:

• Updated habitat condition assessments.
• Long-term monitoring data for BNG delivery.
• Tree canopy cover baseline and monitoring.
• Climate resilience assessment for priority habitats and species. 

Proposed work:

• Review Local Nature Recovery Strategy priorities.
• Update habitat and ecological network evidence.
• Continue monitoring designated site condition.
• Establish biodiversity net gain monitoring framework.
• Review opportunities for strategic habitat creation and woodland expansion.

8.5 Local Plan scope and influence

The Local Plan can significantly influence biodiversity outcomes through its spatial strategy, site allocations and development management policies. It can protect designated sites, secure biodiversity net gain, safeguard ecological networks, support habitat restoration and require integration of nature-based solutions within new development.

8.6 Key sustainability issues and opportunities

Issues:

• Habitat loss and fragmentation.
• Development pressures affecting designated sites and priority habitats.
• Climate change impacts on species and habitats.
• Poor ecological connectivity in some locations.
• Invasive species and declining biodiversity.
• Recreational pressures on sensitive ecological sites.
• There is a possibility that existing habitats and species present in the borough could come under pressure from future housing, employment, infrastructure and recreation growth. Potential impacts include habitat loss, fragmentation, increased recreational pressure, noise and light disturbance, water quality impacts and atmospheric pollution. Climate change is likely to exacerbate these pressures through changes in species distribution, ecological function and habitat condition. However, mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain requirements and the emerging Local Nature Recovery Strategy provide opportunity to mitigate and reverse biodiversity decline through habitat creation, restoration and enhancement.

Opportunities:

• Deliver Biodiversity Net Gain.
• Restore and expand ecological networks.
• Increase urban and rural tree cover.
• Support Local Nature Recovery Strategy priorities.
• Deliver nature-based solutions that provide multiple environmental benefits.
• Improve resilience of habitats and species to climate change.
• Sustainable growth can provide opportunities to better understand, protect and integrate biodiversity habitats and ecological networks into development proposals. New development delivered through the Local Plan Update should contribute towards biodiversity enhancement through Biodiversity Net Gain, habitat creation, green and blue infrastructure, tree planting, ecological connectivity and the strengthening of the borough’s ecological network. Such measures can establish, restore and maintain functional habitat connections while increasing resilience to climate change and delivering wider environmental and health benefits.

8.7 SA framework