Addendum to the Regulation 19 Sustainability Appraisal

Policy SNE2 - Protection and enhancement of wildlife habitats

Biodiversity Net Gain

1. All development proposals in Sandwell shall deliver a minimum 10% net gain in biodiversity value when measured against baseline site information. Where achievable, a higher net gain may be agreed. Losses and gains will be calculated using the extant national Biodiversity Metric^[39].
2. Biodiversity net gain must be provided in line with the following principles:
   2. there will be a requirement for on-site habitat provision / enhancement wherever practicable, followed by improvements to sites within the local area, and then other sites elsewhere within Sandwell;
   3. where off-site measures are needed to meet biodiversity net gain requirements, it is expected that the off-site habitat enhancement or creation will be located as close to the development site as possible;
   4. the maintenance and enhancement of the ability of plants and animals (including pollinating insects) to move, migrate and genetically disperse across Sandwell and the wider Black Country must be supported; and
   5. the provision / enhancement of priority habitats identified at the national, regional, or local level, will be supported, particularly where those habitats are currently scarce in Sandwell.
3. Compensation in the form of national biodiversity credits will only be accepted as a fall-back if mitigation is not possible within the development site boundary, elsewhere in its immediate vicinity or in the wider Sandwell area.
4. Provision of on- or off-site compensation should not adversely impact on existing alternative / valuable habitats in those locations, nor on areas identified as heritage assets or that are considered highly likely to contain unrevealed archaeological assets. Compensatory works on them should be established via a legal agreement or be under way prior to the related development being undertaken.
5. Monitoring of BNG compensation measures will be required to ensure its successful delivery, with further compensation being required in the event of initial measures being ineffective. Ongoing management of any new or improved BNG habitats together with monitoring and reporting will need to be planned for and funded for 30 years by developers, using a Conservation Covenant or s106 agreement as necessary.
6. Sandwell Council has identified the following site(s) as suitable for the provision of biodiversity units to developers unable to provide a minimum 10% net gain on their own sites (see Appendix A and evidence base):

NOTE: Developers are not required to buy units on Council-owned sites; other public or private landowners may also provide them elsewhere in Sandwell.

Local Nature Recovery Strategy

7. All development should help deliver the Local Nature Recovery Strategy in line with the following principles:
   1. take account of where in the Local Nature Recovery Network the development is located and deliver benefits appropriate to that zone, in accordance with section 2d above;
   2. follow the mitigation hierarchy of avoidance, mitigation and compensation, and provide for the protection, enhancement, restoration and creation of wildlife habitat and green infrastructure;
   3. follow the principles of Making Space for Nature - recognise that spaces are needed for nature and that these should be of sufficient size and quality and must be appropriately connected to other areas of green infrastructure, to address the objectives of the local Nature Recovery Network Strategy.

8. Priority locations for habitat creation and enhancement are as shown on the Sandwell Local Nature Recovery Strategy map (Appendix A). Development sites within the identified zones will be expected to contribute towards the creation of appropriate habitat linkages and types to support those priority areas.
9. Development should be designed to protect and enhance existing habitats and ecological networks, including wildlife corridors and stepping stones. Development should minimise any potential disturbance to species and habitats, including from site lighting.

Local opportunities for habitats and wildlife

10. All development shall secure the eradication of invasive species within site boundaries, where opportunities to do so arise.
11. All major development proposals with an eaves height or roof commencement height of 5m and above are required to provide integrated swift nesting bricks for various species of small birds, and / or bat boxes as appropriate, to help preserve endangered fauna and support urban biodiversity in Sandwell.
12. All applicants, including those undertaking householder schemes and smaller-scale developments are asked to consider including additional enhancement opportunities for wildlife and conservation in their proposals; the Council will consider such contributions positively when determining planning applications.