By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
A new officer position will be created at Nottingham City Council to help protect and enhance the environment when new developments are planned in the area.
Funding from the Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) will be used to create the role of ‘biodiversity lead officer’ at the Labour-run authority.
The role is being created amid a change in law under the Environment Act 2021.
From November this year, all new developments will be required to make sure biodiversity on the development site is left “in a measurably better state that before”.
This means biodiversity net gain must be at least 10 per cent over what it was before.
All developers will therefore need to protect existing habitats and ensure lost or degraded habitats are compensated for by enhancing or creating habitats that are of greater value to wildlife and people.
Council delegated decision documents say: “The purpose of this decision is to gain approval to access to the Biodiversity Net Gain Grant, which will give the council access to £126,807 to spend, leading to the creation of a new biodiversity lead officer post in the establishment on a permanent basis as well as other consultant fees.
“To perform duties in line with the requirements coming into force in November 2023, Nottingham City Council will need to up-skill staff and increase resource.
“This funding will enable the council to initiate new processes and procedures and will build internal capacity to ensure the delivery of biodiversity net gain requirements in line with Government guidelines.”
The job role will command an annual salary of £51,706.
They will provide specialist and expert advice in preparation for implementing the proposed planning reforms for both plan-making and decision-making.
The requirement is due to come into force in November 2023 for most developments, unless exempt, and for smaller developments the rules will come into force from April next year.
If a developer cannot deliver the biodiversity targets on the site, they must be delivered elsewhere.
“This will provide an opportunity to use council landholdings as a ‘habitat bank’ to bring funds in to manage the land for biodiversity,” documents add.
The council has also approved the commissioning of specialist consultancy support to help develop biodiversity planning policies and operating procedures.
