Advanced

PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(12 December 2024)

Question Asked

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to include ice age ponds in the list of Irreplaceable Habitats for biodiversity net gain.

Asked by:
Ellie Chowns (Green Party)

Answer

Irreplaceable habitat includes some of England’s most ecologically valuable terrestrial and intertidal habitats.

The list of irreplaceable habitats in the biodiversity net gain regulations broadly mirrors the non-exhaustive list of examples of irreplaceable habitat in the National Planning Policy Framework. Defra will provide an update on irreplaceable habitat in due course.

In the meantime, we are gathering evidence to inform whether an updated list would offer welcome additional protection to these important habitats, whilst aligning with wider Government objectives for house building and growth.


Answered by:
()

1 January 1970            

        

            
                            
                            
                        

                    


                                    

                    

                        

                    

                

            
                    

                                    

                

                    
Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.