Derbyshire Dales District Council – Call for Biodiversity Sites 2024
The District Council has launched a Call for Biodiversity Sites. It follows the introduction of new national Government legislation which requires biodiversity net gain from new development. Biodiversity net gain aims to leave the natural environment and wildlife habitats in a measurably better state than before the development took place. The Call for Sites seeks to identify possible sites that could contribute to improving biodiversity and the natural environment of the Derbyshire Dales.
We are inviting farmers, landowners, land managers, communities, businesses and conservation groups to put forward possible sites in the District where new wildlife habitats could be created or enhanced in the Derbyshire Dales.
This form should be used to submit sites to the District Council that could be used to enhance or create new habitats for the purpose of selling biodiversity units that will be required to effectively deliver biodiversity net gain within Derbyshire Dales Local Planning Authority Area. Sites that are considered suitable will also be assessed for allocation in the Derbyshire Dales revised Local Plan.
The Call for Sites runs between the 8th November 2024 and 20th December 2024.
The District Council is also undertaking a Call for Sites for potential sites for development, primarily for housing, employment or mixed uses. Further information is available on the Call for Sites page.
Why a Call for Biodiversity Sites and What is Biodiversity Net Gain?
The purpose of the call for sites is to identify sites that could contribute to improving biodiversity and the natural environment in Derbyshire Dales.
Biodiversity net gain is a mandatory requirement of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 introduced by the Environment Act (2021). It ensures development has a measurably positive impact on biodiversity, leaving the natural environment in a better state than it was before the development took place. Developers must deliver 10% BNG as part of developments. Biodiversity Net Gain became mandatory for all major development from 12 February 2024, for small sites from the 2 April 2024 and for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) from 2025.
How is Biodiversity Net Gain measured?
The Statutory Biodiversity Metric is the tool that calculates the number of biodiversity units within a site before and after development, determining how many units are required to replace and compensate for those lost to achieve at least 10% BNG.
How can you achieve BNG?
The improvements to biodiversity should be made within the development redline boundary, but in certain circumstances this may not be possible. If the mandatory 10% BNG cannot be delivered on site, other means of offsetting the loss are required. This can either be through local off-site biodiversity units, or by purchasing national biodiversity credits, as a last resort. It is important for a sufficient supply of off-site BNG sites or ‘Habitat Banks’ to be available within the district to ensure there is an overall positive affect on biodiversity within the District through development.
Benefits of Biodiversity sites
Biodiversity net gain is important because:
- the natural environment provides benefits to us all, and is essential for the processes that support life on this planet, known as ecosystem services;
- many habitats are lost or degraded by development, and there are limited other measures in place to value, maintain, enhance and create wildlife habitats
- it delivers measurable improvements for biodiversity by enhancing or creating new habitats in association with development
- it encourages the delivery of nature-friendly developments;
- it provides a financial incentive to landowners to manage their land for biodiversity;
- it provides off-site biodiversity net gain options for developers as part of planning permissions where on-site net gain is unfeasible.
Biodiversity Call for Sites Guidance Notes
Requirements for sites submitted to the District Council
- Any size and scale of sites can be submitted; it could be land that joins up the landscape such as field margins or could be part of an amenity space, in or on the edge of towns/villages or in the countryside. Opportunities could include creating wildflower meadows, new hedgerows, planting trees or installing ponds.
- All land being put forward for biodiversity net gain offsetting needs to be available for habitat creation and enhancement for at least 30 years
- The land is located in the Local Planning Authority area of Derbyshire Dales only (please see map). We cannot accept sites located within the Peak District National Park
- Legal right to the land, with full support of the landowner. Are you the landowner, or have the landowners permission to promote the land
- A map clearly showing the location and the extent of the boundary of your site.
- Size of site: We are accepting sites that are 1 hectare or more. Please include the total area or length of your site and the area and length you would like to be considered
- Multiple sites can be submitted, but please ensure you complete a separate form for each site
What type of land could be considered?
- All sites expect private garden land
- Agricultural land
- Land that could be expanded in the future or joined up with neighbouring landowners in the future
- Land near watercourses, river catchment, ponds
- Land nearby to settlements or in the open countryside
- Private business land
If you interested in submitting a site, please complete the online form
A PDF version of the form can be provided on request from the Planning Policy Team.
All submitted biodiversity sites will be considered and assessed.
Data Protection
Please take a moment to read the District Council’s privacy policy before submitting your site.
Further Information and Assistance
If you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the Planning Policy Team at
