Recommendation approved
Reasons for recommendation
The LNRS document is considered to be fit for purpose by the Biodiversity Net Gain Project Lead and will support the delivery of the corporate strategy project to develop a Biodiversity Strategy in Chorley.
The Biodiversity Gain Project Lead, is a member of the LNRS steering group therefore has had access to the evolving working draft LNRS and been able to review it which has informed this recommendation.
The pre-consultation draft LNRS (Appendix A) and the Evidence and Technical Information (Appendix C) include detailed methodology and strategy development, setting out how key stakeholders, local authorities and the public have been involved in its preparation. Further detail on its preparation is set out in the information note (Appendix B).
The Lancashire LNRS will be critical to guide local nature recovery in Chorley and the wider county, and the strategy sets out clear objectives and measures required to be able to achieve the priorities for nature recovery. The priorities, measures and mapping of opportunity areas within the strategy have been informed by robust methodologies and non-biased information, so that if implemented, the strategy would deliver the best possible outcome for nature.
Upon review of the LNRS documents, and involvement in the steering group, as the Biodiversity Gain Project Lead, I see no reason to object to the draft LNRS to go to public consultation.
The Lancashire LNRS will inform Chorley’s Biodiversity Strategy preparation and enable the Council to identify opportunity areas for nature recovery in the borough.
As the draft LNRS has been released to Supporting Authorities on the 6th February 2025, the deadline for fulfilling the first SA duty to approve this draft LNRS for public consultation is the 6th March; therefore, a decision by EMD would be required the week earlier to enable time for a call-in period, and time to formalise and submit the response to LCC (by the supporting officer) by this deadline.
Options considered and rejected
Upon review of the LNRS documents, and involvement in the steering group, as the Biodiversity Gain Project Lead, there is no reason to object to the draft LNRS to go to public consultation.