Agenda item

Report of Cabinet Member for Planning and Building Control, Councillor Mike Collins

The Leader read an introduction to the report on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Planning and Building Control: 

It is my pleasure to present this consultation document.  If cabinet agree to its publication tonight, it will signal the beginning of a four-week public consultation exercise, which will go live as soon as possible.

This is a new draft nature recovery supplementary planning document (SPD) and it will give the public the opportunity to play a part in this vitally important process. The guidance sets out how future development in Cheltenham can support and improve the natural environment.

Cheltenham already has a wide range of green spaces, including nature reserves, parks, and important wildlife areas. This SPD offers guidance on how new buildings and developments can help connect and improve local green spaces, wildlife habitats, and the overall health of nature in Cheltenham. 

Residents, developers, and community groups can now share their views on the draft SPD, which launches on 7 November 2025 and runs until 7 December.  The consultation will be available on the council’s website. 

This draft guidance sets out how we can build in a way that supports wildlife, protects green spaces, and help nature thrive across Cheltenham. We’re keen to hear from residents, developers and community groups so we can shape a final document that works for everyone and makes a real difference.  Hopefully, it really will be a win-win opportunity for us all.

This work supports the policies in our development plan and links to the emerging Gloucestershire local nature recovery strategy which identifies the best places to restore nature and the most important actions to take. 

Hopefully, cabinet colleagues will be able to support both the recommendations contained in this consultation document.

I am sure that you have all been able to read it in full.  However, I just wanted to say that it is fully in line with our corporate plan priorities, and aligns with the following actions:

·         We will drive increased biodiversity in our borough and fully utilise our planning system to encourage developers to enhance our natural environment, mitigating the impact of new buildings.

·         We will fulfil our biodiversity net gain (BNG) obligations within the planning system.

In addition, I think that it is important to draw out these important points which are contained within the document.

Nature recovery refers to the process of restoring and revitalising ecosystems that have been degraded or lost due to human activity, climate change, or other factors. It involves regenerating natural habitats, creating new ones as well as protecting them (and the species they support) from degradation. The goal is to create healthier, more resilient environments that can support a wider variety of species on a large scale. Nature recovery is important for a number of reasons, as set out in the SPD, including:

1.               Biodiversity Conservation

2.               Climate Change Mitigation

3.               Ecosystem Services

4.               Resilience to Natural Disasters

5.               Human Well-Being

6.               Sustainability

As I said at the beginning, I hope that you will all be able to support the introduction of this important public consultation document

The Leader said she hoped that Members would be supportive, and stressed that the recommendation concerns the consultation process, not the definitive document.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency said he had read the whole document and echoed the sentiments of the introduction.  He noted that the climate impact assessment includes the sentence that ‘research suggests that 10% biodiversity net gain is a minimum to prevent further decrease’ and felt that this should be included and highlighted as part of the introduction when going out to consultation, to ensure that developers fully understand their obligations.

The Director of Community and Economic Development could see no problem with adding some more positive wording around this,  and was happy to discuss the suggestion with the report author.

The Cabinet Member for Safety and Communities wondered if there is potential scope to identify areas for habitat banks within the borough boundary, where developers can be directed should they need to choose that as their option for biodiversity net gain.  The Director of Community and Economic Development welcomed this interesting question, saying the council has previously investigated whether Cheltenham landholdings could be utilised as potential habitat banks, but the challenge with this is that responsibilities are very long term, and the implications around administration and monitoring are significant.  She said the council will always consider local first, and is already looking at potential habitat banks with Gloucestershire Local Nature Partnership.  The government allows credits to be allocated at a more national level, which would transport any benefit elsewhere, still local if possible but not necessarily within the borough itself.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency added to his previous comment, which he was concerned may have appeared overly negative.  He said the proposals are very positive compared with what has gone before, and with the Parks and Public Realm team and Ubico are doing all they can to encourage biodiversity and nature, this is a good step forward.  He was just concerned that developers need to understand that adding 10% is a minimum to ensure neutrality.

The Cabinet Member for Waste, Recycling, Parks, Gardens and Public Greenspace said he is really proud of the work the council does, and that the Climate Emergency SPD a few years ago was a very positive document,   well received across the whole sector, helping to concentrate and focus the minds of planners, applicants and developers, as well as helping members of Planning Committee with their decisions.  He said huge credit is due to the Director of Community and Economic Development and her team – this document is not a legal requirement, but will help ensure more applications are positively received.  He hoped the consultation would go as wide as possible, and was pleased to see CBC leading the way once more. 

The Cabinet Member for Safety and Communities agreed, and was looking forward to the consultation responses and future benefits of this SPD.  She said it was worrying to read about endangered and already extinct species, and welcomed the move towards implementing biodiversity net gain and improving nature and natural habitat.

RESOLVED THAT: 

1.     the draft Nature Recovery Supplementary Planning Document (Appendix 4) is approved for consultation for a period of 4 weeks under Regulation 12 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning)(England) Regulations 2012 (as amended). 

2.     authority is delegated to the Director of Community and Economic Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Building Control to make any necessary minor amendments, corrections and additions to the document prior to publication for consultation.