Biodiversity duty

Strengthened Biodiversity Duty

The Environment Act 2021 strengthens the Biodiversity Duty originally set out in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. This strengthened duty requires all public authorities in England to:

• Consider what actions they can take to conserve and enhance biodiversity
• Agree policies and specific objectives based on that consideration
• Act to deliver those policies and achieve the objectives

As a public authority, the Council’s first task to meet this duty was to publish a ‘First Considerations’ report that scoped out which plans, strategies and functions are relevant to the duty. In line with government guidance, the Council published its ‘First Considerations’ report in December 2023.

The second task was for the Council to publish a report [215.5 KB] [pdf], before the end of March 2026, on actions it has taken to conserve and enhance biodiversity up to the end of 2025, and achievements resulting from these actions, as well as actions the Council plans to take over the next five years.

The report [215.5 KB] [pdf] summarises:

1. The actions taken, and to be taken, by the Council to conserve and enhance biodiversity:

2. How the Council has met the mandatory requirement of 10% BNG and followed the biodiversity gain hierarchy.

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