Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

Whether it is his policy that Local Nature Recovery Strategies should be given consideration by local authorities in all planning decisions.

The Environment Bill currently before Parliament provides for a strengthened biodiversity duty on public authorities to have regard to the conservation of biodiversity. This strengthened duty includes a requirement to have regard to relevant Local Nature Recovery Strategies.

Our planning reforms will reinforce the implementation of these measures, to capitalise on the potential of Local Nature Recovery Strategies and biodiversity net gain as we seek to make the system clearer and more positive.