West Suffolk Council is currently consulting the public on the ‘preferred options’ for the new Local Plan. This plan, when it is adopted, will shape and guide economic growth and development (including housing and infrastructure) in West Suffolk until 2040.
Why it matters for wildlife
Development can have significant impacts on wildlife and the natural environment, and what kind of development is allowed where makes a huge difference both for existing wildlife and for our ability to restore nature and reverse biodiversity declines. The plan will include policies for the environment, climate change, sustainability, and protecting and restoring nature.
Why it matters for people
Apart from the impact that development has on the people who live and work in a place, the Local Plan will shape how West Suffolk’s green spaces and wild places are protected and enhanced for people as well as wildlife. We all depend on nature, so ensuring it's conserved and well-managed for the future is in all our interests.
What we want
Our vision is for a wilder Suffolk. We want West Suffolk’s Local Plan to protect and restore wildlife and wild places, increase and improve accessible natural green spaces, and ensure that development is environmentally sustainable and fit for the climate and ecological emergencies.
What you can do
The more people respond to the consultation on West Suffolk’s Local Plan to highlight the importance of protecting and restoring nature and making sure development is sustainable and respect environmental limits, the better.
There are two ways to submit your comments on the consultation:
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Online using West Suffolk Council’s consultation system https://westsuffolk.inconsult.uk/WSLP_Preferred_Options/consultationHome
Note: to respond online you must first register with the consultation system and then make you comments on the specific sections within the consultation documents.
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By email to planning.policy@westsuffolk.gov.uk
All comments must be received by Tuesday 26 July 2022 at 5pm.
What to say in your response
Focus on the things that matter most to you. Think about why wildlife is important to you, why you think it should be high on the agenda for the Local Plan, and if there are places that you want to see protected or improved for wildlife.
We face twin climate and ecological emergencies that cannot be ignored in local development plans if we are to avoid the worst impacts on our communities, economy, and environment.
Nature recovery and climate change should be two of the top priorities for the West Suffolk Local Plan.
The new Local Plan’s strategic objectives and policies should:
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Ensure the overall scale, location and design of new development stays well within environmental limits, i.e. does not cause the condition of the natural environment to deteriorate;
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Protect existing wildlife and the natural environment (including irreplaceable habitats such as ancient woodland) by following the mitigation hierarchy of 1) Avoid, 2) Reduce, 3) Compensate;
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Ensure all new development is zero carbon in its materials, construction, and operation;
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Deliver nature positive development that achieves a meaningful increase in biodiversity of at least 20%;
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Promote good ecological design and green infrastructure led approaches;
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Support nature recovery by ensuring development contributes to the creation and restoration of wildlife habitat and ecological connectivity in strategic locations;
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Protect Local and County Wildlife Sites from development – these sites are vital stepping-stones across the landscape between larger protected wildlife sites and priority habitats and should form the backbone of the Nature Recovery Network;
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Recognise the wider social, economic, and environmental benefits of nature and embed these in the policies for economic growth, health and wellbeing, transport, housing, and infrastructure.
You can find more detailed guidance on responding to the consultation here: