1. Where biodiversity net gain is delivered, it should be designed to support nature recovery priorities and enhance the integrity of core areas and opportunity zones identified in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
  2. Where development is sited within the nature network, it must demonstrate how it will protect and enhance the integrity of the ‘core areas’ and enhance the connectivity of the ‘opportunity areas.’ Measures to improve habitat connectivity include wildlife corridors, hedgerow planting and permeable boundaries, to link existing habitats and opportunity areas.
  3. For the nature network ‘opportunity areas’, development that is:
  4. Where opportunities arise to enhance connectivity of the nature network, particular consideration must be given to:
  5. Nature recovery measures must be supported by a management plan secured for a minimum of 30 years, with monitoring arrangements agreed as part of planning conditions or legal agreements.
  6. sited on land within those areas should protect, enhance and better connect existing habitats; or
  7. sited adjacent to those areas must provide habitats that improve connectivity across the development site and into the wider Nature Network.
  8. the expansion and enhancement of existing habitats;
  9. the strategic creation and restoration of habitat to better connect existing habitats including green corridors;
  10. the design and layout of the development; and
  11. the permeability of any infrastructure that could be detrimental to achieving enhanced connectivity, such as roads, buildings, fences and other barriers to species movements.

Explanation

  1. 124) Local Nature Recovery Strategies are a statutory requirement of the 2021 Environment Act. Greater Manchester's Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS)34 is a spatial strategy for nature recovery and sets out a long-term vision for a greener, more biodiverse Greater Manchester. The LNRS sets out the priorities, targets and actions to tackle the biodiversity emergency and enhance the natural environment, both for nature and for wider benefits to our environment, economy

34 See www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/environment/natural-environment/our-plan-for-nature-recovery/

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