Bracknell Forest Council will continue its commitment to protecting and enhancing biodiversity. This is in line with the following key strategies (and the policies and objectives within these) related to nature:
- Bracknell Forest Biodiversity Action Plan 2024 to 2029
- Bracknell Forest Local Plan 2020 to 2037
- Council Plan 2023 to 2027
- Climate and Biodiversity Emergency
- Bracknell Forest Climate Change Strategy 2025 to 2030
- Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS)
The Biodiversity Action Plan and Local Nature Recovery Strategy are the key strategies which guide the Council’s work for biodiversity.
The priorities within the next reporting period are:
- to support and participate in the emerging arrangements for delivering and monitoring the Berkshire LNRS
- to take a mid-term review of the Biodiversity Action Plan, collating updates from all partners
- publication of the Biodiversity and Green Infrastructure Supplementary Planning Document
- to prioritise and continue to review management plans for Parks and Countryside sites
- to secure legal agreement with a Responsible Body and register first habitat bank
- to continue works at 3 habitat banks as previously agreed with Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Countryside
The council will continue to comply with its statutory responsibilities for biodiversity net gain as described by the Environment Act. These include:
- making sure that applicable planning applications comply with the 10% net-gain requirement
- reviewing and approving biodiversity gain plans
- securing, monitoring and enforcing delivery of habitats
- reporting