Nature Recovery Supplementary Planning Document

A Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) is a document which details and guides the policies already in a local authority’s development plan. 

Nature recovery refers to the procees of restoring and revitalising ecosystems that have been degraded or lost due to human activity or climate change.

Although not part of the development plan, this SPD is a material consideration for schemes linked to the topics of its contents, in this case: biodiversity, biodiversity net gain (BNG), ecology, nature recovery, trees, sustainable drainage, and green infrastructure. 

Why are we doing this?

Research shows that a minimum 10 percent BNG is required to prevent biodiversity degradation. Therefore additional steps and guidance are needed to make the most of the biodiversity component of different developments. That is the purpose of this document.

Our current development plan is comprised of the 2017 Joint Core Strategy and the 2020 Cheltenham Plan. It was produced in the context of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) at the time of their production. There were relevant changes to nature legislation afterwards, such as the strengthening of the biodiversity duty, the introduction of the BNG framework, and the production of Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) through the Environment Act 2021. Therefore, this SPD forms part of Cheltenham Borough Council’s response to the climate and biodiversity crisis, the environmental objectives of the NPPF, the Environment Act 2021 and the emerging Gloucestershire LNRS.  

The contents of this SPD set out: 

• why biodiversity and nature recovery are important
• the current planning policies related to nature recovery
• what Cheltenham Borough Council expects to be delivered for nature recovery in planning proposals
• how this will be secured long term to deliver for nature

This document is targeted at those who intend on making the most out of the biodiversity components of their planning schemes. 

Consultation

Consultation has concluded and officers are considering the main issues raised and how these issues should be addressed in the SPD. The intention is to take the final SPD to Cabinet for approval in Spring 2026.

Relevant documents:

Draft Nature Recovery Supplementary Planning Document

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) screening