Biodiversity and Building projects: Making room for nature in your plans Every building project, however small, changes a little piece of the natural world. For a long time the planning system treated that as an afterthought. Not any more. In Wales, every planning application now has to show how it is making a positive contribution to nature, and there are some very simple, inexpensive ways to do that which we build into our projects as a matter of course. This post explains what the rules ask for, and then runs through the practical things you can do on your own project, from a hedgehog gap in a fence to the bat barns and owl towers we have designed on Anglesey. What the planning rules now require The latest edition of Planning Policy Wales (Edition 12) requires every planning application in Wales to be accompanied by a Green Infrastructure Statement. The key paragraph, 6.2.5, reads: “A green infrastructure statement should be submitted with all planning applications. This will be proportionate to the scale and nature of the development proposed and will describe how green infrastructure has been incorporated into the proposal. In the case of minor development this will be a short description and should not be an onerous requirement for applicants. The green infrastructure statement will be an effective way of demonstrating positive multi-functional outcomes which are appropriate to the site in question and must be used for demonstrating how the step-wise approach (Paragraph 6.4.21) has been applied.” The important words there are “proportionate” and “should not be an onerous requirement”. For a house extension or a small conversion, the statement is typically a short paragraph or two describing what you are doing for nature, and we prepare it as part of the application. What the planning authority wants to see is that you have thought about it and built something in, rather than bolted it on at the end. The wider legal backdrop is the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 , which places a duty on public bodies to maintain and enhance biodiversity, and Technical Advice Note 5: Nature Conservation and Planning , which explains how that duty is applied through the planning system.
Thinking of buying or altering a listed building? Here's what we tell out clients: There’s something special about living in a listed building. You’re not just an owner, you’re a custodian, looking after a piece of history for the people who come after you. That’s a lovely thing, but it also brings a level of responsibility that a modern house simply doesn’t. Alterations are perfectly possible, but they need to be thought through carefully, and there are a few traps for the unwary along the way. We work with listed and historic buildings across Anglesey, Gwynedd and Eryri, and we find ourselves giving the same advice again and again. So here it is, in one place.
