Other

ID sylw: 106956

Derbyniwyd: 24/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Woodland Trust

we would like to see the LP expand on these environmental principles in the following ways:
-Give weight to the relevant LNRS as it is refined. This should identify ancient woodland sites to ensure that development is not allocated in close proximity to ancient woodland.
-For AVTs, the LP should encourage their recording on the Ancient Tree Inventory2 as a matter of course and consider locations where it might be suitable to place a Tree Preservation Order on any ancient, veteran, or notable trees recorded.
-Adhere to appropriate buffering standards for ancient woodland and AVTs:
-Preserve a 50-metre buffer3 between new developments and ancient woodland. Still greater buffers may be needed for major engineering work or disruptive post construction activities.
-For AVTs, ensure a Root Protection Area that is 15 times the trunk’s diameter or extends five metres beyond the canopy, whichever is greater. ▪ Assess the nitrogen impact of ammonia-emitting developments on ancient woodland less than five kilometres distant.
-For non-AVTs, adopt the Bristol Tree Replacement Standard4with respect to felling and specify replacement trees be planted no more than 12 times the distance of the original tree’s trunk diameter, to correspond with root extent area.
-The LP should require all development projects to deliver 20 per cent BNG minimum
-The LP should require BNG units to be maintained for a minimum of 50 years, not just the 30 set out in the Environment Act.
-The LP should give strong weight to LNRSes for development site allocation at a local level.
Major developments should provide five UKISG-compliant trees per dwelling or per 1,000m2 of non-residential floorspace.
• Similarly, no one should be more than 300 metres from the nearest natural green space, with safe and accessible routes.
• Consideration should also be given to the Woodland Trust’s Access to Woodland Standard which aspires that everyone should have a small wood of at least two hectares in size within 500 metres of their home, and a larger wood of at least 20 hectares in size within four kilometres of where they live.
• A strong tree retention standard for responsible development must also be embraced, ensuring the preservation of trees and their ecological benefits.
In summary we consider that the Environmental Principles must be treated as a foundational component of the LP. As part of incorporating the principles, the LP must support the protection of sensitive natural assets, such as AVTs; be an exemplar of emerging BNG practice; and set high standards for the retention and provision of trees within developments.