Decision details

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)           noted the previous Cabinet decision to sell BNG units in principle and approves an in-house mechanism for selling BNG units, while continuing to monitor the BNG market and explore alternative approaches;

(b)           approves the improvement of habitats at up to three Council-owned sites (Erlin Farm / Millhams Mead / Solent Meads outside the golf course area) for future supply of BNG units; and

(c)           looks to improve nature as part of the re-tendering of golf and other leisure use for the existing Solent Meads golf course area.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Climate Response, Environment and Energy

Reason

Improving biodiversity across BCP benefits nature which in turn improves residents’ health and wellbeing.

Creating a sustainable funding mechanism for this work avoids additional pressure on BCP Council budgets.

BCP residents will benefit from the requirement for developers to leave habitats for wildlife in a measurably better state than they were before development.

The longer BCP remains without a supply of BNG units, the greater the risk to its green infrastructure. This could lead to environmental degradation and the loss of investment to areas outside BCP, missing the opportunity to deliver high quality nature for local communities.

Managing the delivery of BNG units in-house on at least one council-owned site offers the fastest and most practical route to improving biodiversity in the conurbation. It also enables the council to test the BNG sale process and market with minimal investment and risk. This approach allows BCP Council to learn, address uncertainties, observe how the emerging market evolves, and assess the ease of selling units.

Delegating authority to officers to select the initial site/s provides the necessary time and mandate to carry out detailed modelling, planning, costing, and stakeholder engagement ensuring informed decisions about which sites to prioritise.