Planning a development in Ilkeston? ProHort provides Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Assessments and Biodiversity Gain Plans to help developers, landowners, architects and planning professionals understand their biodiversity requirements and prepare the appropriate documentation.
Whether you are planning a residential development, considering a commercial scheme or redeveloping previously used land, understanding the existing biodiversity value of your site is an important part of the planning process.
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Ilkeston sits within Erewash Borough, an area shaped by its waterways, industrial history, established communities and surrounding countryside. These characteristics can influence the habitats found on development sites and the opportunities available for delivering biodiversity improvements.
A site within an established urban area may contain gardens, trees, scrub or other vegetation. A development on previously used land may have a different habitat profile, depending on how the site has changed over time. Meanwhile, sites around the edges of Ilkeston may include grassland, hedgerows or other features associated with the surrounding landscape.
The River Erewash and Erewash Canal are important elements of the wider green infrastructure network. Where a development site contains or adjoins these features, the existing habitats and their relationship with the proposed works may need to be considered as part of the assessment.
Erewash Borough Council’s Core Strategy includes Policy 17, which addresses the retention, improvement, management and protection of biodiversity assets. The council also recognises the importance of its network of designated and non-designated wildlife sites.
For developers, this means that biodiversity should be considered in relation to the actual site, its existing habitats and the proposed development layout.
ProHort provides site-specific BNG support to help you understand the biodiversity implications of your project and prepare the relevant documentation.
We support projects across Ilkeston, covering all neighbourhoods including the town centre, Cotmanhay, Larklands, Shipley View, Hallam Fields, Kirk Hallam, Little Hallam, Awsworth Road, and the wider surrounding areas within the Erewash local authority boundary.
A Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment establishes the biodiversity value of a site before development and assesses how the proposed works could change that value.
Where statutory BNG applies, the assessment uses the applicable statutory biodiversity metric to calculate the relevant biodiversity units. These calculations help compare the site’s pre-development biodiversity value with the proposed outcome and establish the biodiversity gain required.
For an Ilkeston development, the assessment may need to consider habitats such as grassland, scrub, trees, hedgerows, woodland or water-associated habitats, depending on what is present within the site boundary.
The findings help inform the proposed development layout and the options available for delivering the required biodiversity improvements.
The scope will depend on the site, proposed development and information available. A BNG Assessment may include:
Habitat baseline assessment: Identifying and assessing the habitats present within the relevant site boundary.
Biodiversity calculations: Using the applicable statutory biodiversity metric to establish the relevant biodiversity values.
Development impact assessment: Considering how the proposed works may affect existing habitats and biodiversity value.
Biodiversity strategy: Identifying suitable options for habitat retention, creation or enhancement.
Planning support: Providing the relevant assessment information to help inform the development’s biodiversity requirements.
The assessment should reflect the actual habitats present rather than assumptions based on the site’s location or previous use.
Where habitat classification, condition or other ecological information needs further investigation, additional work may be necessary to establish an appropriate baseline.
Considering biodiversity during the early design stages can help identify opportunities to retain existing habitats and incorporate suitable improvements into the development.
This can be particularly useful where a site contains established trees, hedgerows, grassland or other habitat features that could influence the biodiversity calculations.
An early assessment can help the project team understand how the proposed layout affects biodiversity value and whether changes could improve the available options for achieving the required gain.
It may also help identify whether on-site habitat measures are likely to be sufficient or whether other permitted forms of biodiversity provision may need to be explored.
A Biodiversity Gain Plan explains how the required biodiversity gain will be delivered and secured for a development where statutory BNG requirements apply.
It serves a different purpose from a BNG Assessment. The assessment establishes the existing biodiversity value and calculates the relevant changes, while the Biodiversity Gain Plan sets out the approach for delivering the required outcome.
For an Ilkeston project, this means bringing together the relevant assessment information, habitat proposals and delivery arrangements into a structured document for the appropriate planning authority to consider.
Where the statutory biodiversity gain condition applies, the Biodiversity Gain Plan generally needs to be approved by the relevant local planning authority before development begins, subject to the applicable legislation and any relevant provisions.
The precise requirements depend on the development and the proposed biodiversity strategy. A Biodiversity Gain Plan may include:
Biodiversity assessment information: Relevant baseline findings and biodiversity metric calculations.
Habitat creation and enhancement proposals: Details of the measures intended to achieve the required biodiversity gain.
Habitat plans and mapping: Information showing the location and extent of relevant habitat areas.
Off-site biodiversity provision: Details of registered off-site biodiversity units where these form part of the strategy.
Habitat management arrangements: Information about how habitats will be managed and monitored over the required period.
Delivery and responsibilities: Details explaining how the proposed measures will be implemented and secured.
The objective is to provide a clear explanation of how the required biodiversity outcome will be achieved and maintained.
The Biodiversity Gain Plan should be consistent with the relevant assessment findings and development proposals. It is not simply a replacement for the original assessment.
Although the two services are connected, they have different roles within the development process.
A BNG Assessment establishes the biodiversity baseline and calculates the impact of the proposed development. It helps identify the biodiversity gain required and the potential options for achieving it.
A Biodiversity Gain Plan explains how the required gain will be delivered and secured. It brings together the relevant assessment information and biodiversity proposals into the formal plan required where the statutory condition applies.
For example, a development on the edge of Ilkeston may involve an assessment of existing grassland, hedgerows or other habitat features before the proposed layout is finalised.
The assessment establishes the relevant biodiversity values and helps identify the measures needed to achieve the required outcome. The Biodiversity Gain Plan can then set out how the selected habitat improvements or other permitted provision will be delivered.
The two services complement one another, but neither should be treated as interchangeable. The requirements for each project should be confirmed before work progresses.
Ilkeston’s position within the Erewash Valley, together with its established urban areas and industrial heritage, means that biodiversity considerations can vary considerably between sites.
The following local settings illustrate why the assessment and biodiversity strategy should be tailored to the development itself.
The River Erewash and its surrounding landscape form part of the wider green infrastructure network. Where a development site contains or adjoins the river or associated habitats, those features may need to be considered within the biodiversity assessment.
Depending on the site, relevant features could include wet grassland, scrub, woodland, drainage features or other habitats associated with the watercourse.
The Erewash Valley also provides a wider context for considering habitat connections. Where suitable opportunities exist, the retention or enhancement of existing habitat features may contribute to a development’s biodiversity strategy.
The appropriate measures will depend on the actual habitats present, their condition and the proposed works. A site’s proximity to the river does not, by itself, determine its biodiversity value.
The Erewash Canal is another important landscape feature in the borough. Its relationship with nearby green spaces and habitat corridors can be relevant when considering biodiversity around Ilkeston.
Where a development site contains or adjoins the canal, the assessment may need to consider the habitats present within the site boundary and how the proposed development could affect them.
Suitable opportunities for habitat retention, creation or enhancement may also be considered as part of the wider biodiversity strategy.
Any proposed measures need to be based on site-specific ecological information and must be realistic within the development’s constraints.
Ilkeston’s surrounding green spaces include local nature reserves such as Pioneer Meadows, Straws Bridge and Manor Floods.
These areas provide useful local context when considering the relationship between development, green infrastructure and nature recovery.
However, the presence of a nature reserve nearby does not automatically determine the biodiversity value or requirements of an individual development site. The assessment must establish the habitats actually present and consider the proposed works.
Where suitable opportunities exist, habitat proposals can consider how the development relates to nearby green spaces and existing ecological features.
Ilkeston’s industrial history means that some development proposals may involve land previously used for industrial, commercial or other purposes.
A site’s former use does not automatically mean that its current biodiversity value is low. Grassland, scrub or other habitats may have developed over time, and these features may need to be considered within the assessment.
A BNG Assessment helps establish the actual habitat baseline and how the proposed development may affect it. This is important before deciding which habitats can be retained and what improvements may be feasible.
For previously used sites, the assessment should be based on current site conditions and appropriate ecological evidence rather than assumptions about the land’s history.
Development around established neighbourhoods and settlement edges may involve a mixture of gardens, grassland, trees, hedgerows and other vegetation.
Where these features fall within the relevant site boundary, they may need to be considered in the biodiversity baseline and proposed development calculations.
An early assessment can help identify which features should be considered during the layout process and where suitable habitat creation or enhancement may be possible.
The resulting strategy should reflect the actual ecological characteristics of the site rather than applying the same assumptions to every residential development.
Erewash’s green infrastructure evidence identifies the importance of the borough’s waterways and wider network of green spaces.
For suitable sites, biodiversity proposals can consider how existing habitat features relate to nearby green spaces and whether the development offers realistic opportunities to retain or improve those connections.
This could involve considering existing hedgerows, trees, planted areas or other habitat features as part of the development layout.
Any proposed improvements must be appropriate to the site’s ecological characteristics and capable of being delivered and maintained. Habitat connectivity should be considered alongside the relevant biodiversity calculations and planning requirements.
ProHort helps clients understand their site’s biodiversity position and prepare the appropriate documentation for their development.
We review the available information about the site, proposed development and planning position to establish the likely scope of work.
A site plan, proposed layout and any existing ecological reports can help identify the information already available and whether additional assessment may be needed.
Where required, we assess the habitats present and establish the relevant baseline biodiversity value.
The work considers the characteristics and condition of the habitats and the information needed to complete the applicable biodiversity calculations.
We use the applicable statutory biodiversity metric to assess the proposed changes to biodiversity value and identify the required gain where statutory BNG applies.
The calculations help inform the options available for achieving the required biodiversity outcome.
We consider suitable ways to deliver biodiversity improvements in light of the assessment findings, proposed layout and site constraints.
Depending on the project, the approach may involve habitat retention, on-site habitat creation or enhancement, registered off-site biodiversity units or a combination of permitted options.
Where required, we use the relevant assessment information and proposed biodiversity measures to prepare the Biodiversity Gain Plan.
The document explains how the required gain is intended to be delivered and secured, with supporting information appropriate to the development.
We can help you understand the documentation prepared for your project and respond to queries relating to our work as the process progresses.
The final submission and approval requirements depend on the applicable legislation, the relevant planning authority and the circumstances of the development.
Contact us, and we’ll confirm exactly what your Ilkeston site requires. We provide a planning-ready, proportionate route forward.
The statutory BNG framework applies according to the development and the relevant legislation, rather than simply because a site is near a river. However, where a site contains or adjoins the River Erewash or associated habitats, those features may need to be considered in the assessment. The appropriate scope depends on the habitats present, the proposed works and any relevant ecological constraints.
Yes. A site’s former industrial or commercial use does not automatically mean that it has low biodiversity value. Habitats may have developed since the site was last used, including grassland, scrub and other vegetation. A site-specific assessment is needed to establish the habitats present and calculate their relevant biodiversity value.
Yes. Erewash Borough Council’s Core Strategy includes Policy 17, which addresses the retention, improvement, management and protection of biodiversity assets. The council also identifies designated and non-designated wildlife sites across the borough. The specific planning requirements for a development should be checked against the relevant policies and application circumstances.
The location may provide useful context for considering the relationship between a development and nearby green infrastructure. However, proximity to a local nature reserve does not automatically determine the biodiversity value or requirements of a site. The assessment should establish the habitats present within the development boundary and consider the proposed works.
Potentially. Where a development contains or adjoins the canal or associated habitat features, these may need to be considered as part of the assessment. Suitable opportunities for habitat retention or enhancement may also be explored, depending on the site’s ecological characteristics, proposed development and relevant constraints.
Where statutory BNG applies, off-site biodiversity units may be an option if the required gain cannot be achieved entirely on site. Their use is subject to the applicable biodiversity gain hierarchy, metric trading rules and registration requirements. An assessment can help establish whether there is a shortfall and inform the options available for addressing it.
It is sensible to establish the requirement early, particularly if your planning permission includes a statutory biodiversity gain condition. Where that condition applies, the Biodiversity Gain Plan generally needs to be approved by the relevant planning authority before development begins. Preparing the necessary assessment information and biodiversity strategy in good time can help coordinate the plan with the wider development programme.
Useful starting information includes the site address or postcode, a plan showing the site boundary, the proposed development layout and any existing ecological reports. If you have already submitted a planning application or received correspondence about biodiversity requirements, this may also help establish the scope of work. The exact information needed will depend on the site and proposed development.
