Barn owl. Photo, Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography
Help shape local plans for nature
Respond to a local plan consultation
Local Plans state where development will take place in future and what local priorities exist to help guide development. It is a critical document, once sites have been allocated for development it is hard for local authorities to refuse planning permissions in these areas (unless planning policy or law has not been adhered to). It is important to respond to Local Plan consultations to ensure nature is protected from development and given the space to thrive.
Eleanor Church
Find your Local Plan consultation
Visit your planning authority’s website and look for “Local Plan”, “planning policy” or “consultations”. Check:
- Which document is being consulted on.
- The consultation stage and deadline.
- The questions being asked.
- How responses must be submitted.
Sign up for planning-policy updates if the authority offers them.
©Paul Hobson
Focus on a place or policy
You do not need to comment on the whole plan.
You might focus on a proposed development site, a wildlife corridor, a river catchment or a policy on biodiversity.
Look at the site maps and supporting environmental evidence. Explain what you support as well as what needs to change.
What could you ask for?
Depending on the consultation, you could ask the authority to:
- Reconsider a site allocation where evidence shows serious wildlife impacts.
- Identify and safeguard important habitats and connections between them.
- Set clear ecological requirements for a proposed development site.
- Protect rivers, wetlands and other habitats from harmful changes.
- Plan connected green spaces that support wildlife.
- Secure long-term habitat management and monitoring.
Make the request specific. Identify the site, policy wording or map that should change and explain why.
Photo, Terry Whitaker/2020 Vision
Use local evidence
Your knowledge of habitats, species and changes over time can help identify gaps in the plan’s evidence.
The Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy also identifies priorities and opportunities for nature recovery. Use it to support relevant points, alongside other evidence.
A mapped opportunity for nature recovery is not automatically a protected site or a prohibition on development
Azure damselfly. Photo, Andy Stevens
Match your response to the consultation stage
Early consultations may ask broad questions about options and priorities. Later consultations can require more structured responses about the plan’s evidence, preparation and effectiveness.
Follow the authority’s guidance and use its response form where requested. This helps ensure your comments address the questions being considered.
false - Russell Savory
A useful response answers three questions
- What are you commenting on?
Identify the policy, paragraph, site reference or map. - Why does it matter for nature?
Explain the concern or opportunity and provide evidence. - What should change?
Suggest a clear amendment or action.
Keep a copy and follow later consultation stages to see how the plan develops.
