Local plan scoping consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 3099

Received: 28/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Simon Browne

Greybelt should only be used in extremis, and not where biodiversity or peatland loss would be involved.

Comment

Representation ID: 3100

Received: 28/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Simon Browne

Brownfield development should be a priority. However, consideration should be given to whether that brownfield land is in an area that could provide valuable green space for the local population where alternatives don't exist, and for biodiversity increase in urban areas.

Comment

Representation ID: 3101

Received: 28/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Simon Browne

The Ecology and BNG documents, together with Environmental Protection, should ensure that all designated wildlife sites, to LWS level, and neighbouring land, together with all peatlands, are protected from development. This is critical for the biodiversity emergency and climate crisis.

Comment

Representation ID: 3102

Received: 28/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Simon Browne

The vision must include biodiversity and climate within the objectives. Economic growth can not be the main goal at the expense of these in the current climate. Estimated impacts on these as a result of the plan development should be quantified and tracked for the vision to be truly meaningful.

Comment

Representation ID: 3103

Received: 28/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Simon Browne

CEC should consider additional local environmental strategies for environmental protection and climate change, including a blanket restriction on development on peatlands. This was advised directly by letter from Natural England to CEC in 2022, and it should be adopted and clearly stated as such.

Comment

Representation ID: 3104

Received: 28/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Simon Browne

While peat extraction is currently restricted, CEC should develop a local policy to prevent peat extraction, so that in the event that national government policy changes CEC will continue have its own restriction in place.

Comment

Representation ID: 3105

Received: 28/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Simon Browne

The LNRS together with other advice such as from Natural England should form the basis of the Local Plan development. Biodiversity and climate change should not be subservient to economic growth in the formulation of the plan and the scoping should ensure this to be a priority.

Comment

Representation ID: 3106

Received: 28/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Simon Browne

Community green spaces must be maintained and enhanced in scope. This included green buffers to development areas, especially where access to nature is available. The impact of new development on such areas should be considered in each case, and restricted as appropriate. The recent CPRE work in this area should be adopted and referenced in the plan strategy.