Planning

We have no legislative authority or enforcement powers and our role is to provide the council’s planning officers with sufficient guidance for them to decide whether the application complies with current planning policy and wildlife legislation, prior to determination. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is one of a very few Wildlife Trusts that supply this service to the Local Planning Authorities.

When we review an application, we use the information within the ecological report supplied with the planning application documents (usually available within the public domain on the Council’s website). We also use our own database, which holds biological records supplied from the general public, ecology reports and where possible local recorders, and also our expert knowledge of the local area.

In some instances the Trust may wish to respond as an independent organisation and submit an objection to some applications. This is separate to our work under the Service Level Agreement. These instances are usually when the proposals have a significant impact on local biodiversity that cannot be mitigated for. Sometimes they may include impacts to our Local Wildlife Sites or nature reserves.

Our team has around 50 years of combined ecological experience.

Our planning staff come from a variety of backgrounds including both ecological consultancy and the nature conservation sector. They have a detailed knowledge of the local area, the planning system, wildlife legislation and planning policy and do their best to make sure that proposed development incorporates nature wherever possible.

Where sufficient ecological information is not submitted with planning applications, they will highlight this to the planners and request additional survey work and reports as appropriate. The planning officers also recommend planning conditions to secure best practice, mitigation measures and enhancements, as relevant, within a development.