Strengthened Biodiversity duty

The Environment Act 2021 introduced a strengthened ‘biodiversity duty’ which requires all public authorities in England to consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity. Defra has published guidance on complying with the biodiversity duty.

The action local authorities take for biodiversity will contribute to the achievement of national goals and targets on biodiversity.

The Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23), published in January 2023, sets out the government’s plans for improving the natural environment with the apex goal recognised as "improving nature and halting the decline in our biodiversity to achieve thriving plants and wildlife". This is recognised as crucial to enabling all the other relevant goals to be achieved.

By 2030, the government has committed to:

• halt the decline in species abundance]
• protect 30% of UK land

By 2042, the government has committed to:

• increase species abundance by at least 10% from 2023, surpassing 2022 levels
• restore or create at least 500,000 ha of a range of wildlife-rich habitats
• reduce the risk of species extinction
• restore 75% of our one million hectares of terrestrial and freshwater-protected sites to favourable conditions, securing their wildlife value for the long term

As a public authority, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council must:

1. Consider what it can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity.
2. Agree policies and specific objectives based on this consideration.
3. Act to deliver your policies and achieve your objectives.

This first consideration must have been undertaken by 1 January 2024. The council considers this legal duty fulfilled having prepared a Biodiversity Strategy, which was approved at Cabinet in March 2024. In preparing the Biodiversity Strategy, the council considered relevant strategies, how the council manages its land, creating accessible natural space for people and wildlife, enhancement of protected sites under its management and supporting partners to manage theirs, work with our partners including the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, management of properties, education and engagement with nature, the council’s corporate policies and processes and preparing for Biodiversity Net Gain and District Licence Scheme for great crested newts.

Planning authorities must report within 3 years, by 1 January 2026, and then within 5 years of the previous reporting period.

The report must include:

• a summary of the action taken to comply with the biodiversity duty
• how the council plans to comply with the biodiversity duty in the next reporting period
• any other information considered appropriate

Reports from local planning authorities must also include:

• the actions carried out to meet biodiversity net gain obligations
• details of biodiversity net gains resulting, or expected to result, from biodiversity gain plans approved by the council
• how the council plans to meet biodiversity net gain obligations in the next reporting period

The council will publish a report as required prior to this deadline and it will be hosted on this page.