The Development & Planning Authority (D&PA) has adopted Guernsey’s Strategy for Nature Framework document as supplementary planning guidance.
This means the Strategy for Nature can now be taken into account when decisions on individual planning applications are being reached, insofar as is lawful and proportionate under the Land Planning and Development (Guernsey) Law, 2005 and the relevant provisions of the Island Development Plan (IDP).
Supplementary Planning Guidance are documents covering a range of subjects which are provided for under the IDP, or another statutory plan, which provide additional guidance for development on specific sites or particular issues. They assist developers, applicants and planning officers in discussions prior to the submission of planning applications and provide
a context for the evaluation of planning applications.
Climate change mitigation is a planning consideration through IDP policies and the purposes of the Land Planning and Development Law (2005) include ‘to preserve and promote biological diversity’. Adopting the Strategy for Nature as Supplementary Planning Guidance therefore supports these existing policies and legislation and gives further consideration to the natural environment in the development and planning process.
Deputy Dawn Tindall, President of the D&PA, said: “This is a great example of how the ongoing review of States’ strategies can inform the interpretation of the Island Development Plan policies. We are, therefore, as a Committee very pleased to be able to adopt this Strategy to enable the promotion of the protection of our unique natural environment here on Guernsey”.
More information can be found here.