Natural England
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
Natural England is an executive, non-departmental public body responsible for advising the government on the natural environment. It was established in October 2006 to replace the Countryside Agency, English Nature and the Rural Development Service.
The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 defines the purpose of Natural England as to:
“ensure that the natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development”.
As an organisation, Natural England covers the whole of England extending up to 12 nautical miles out to sea and provides a range of specialist advice at the local and national level. It works closely with many partners including national and local government, businesses, civil society groups and other agencies.
[edit] Responsibilities of Natural England
Natural England is responsible for:
- Advising on the protection of the marine environment in inshore waters.
- Assisting farmers and land managers to safeguard wildlife and landscapes.
- Advising on planning matters and issuing wildlife licences.
- Enhancing public access to the coast.
- Managing the National Nature Reserve network and providing support for National Trails.
- Running habitat creation or restoration projects.
- The provision of evidence to help inform decisions affecting the natural environment.
[edit] Priorities of Natural England
The Corporate Plan for 2014 to 2019 sets out the vision for the future of the organisation. The priorities within this time period are:
- Terrestrial biodiversity.
- Landscape geodiversity.
- Marine biodiversity.
- Access and engagement.
- Environmental land management.
- National Nature Reserves.
- Support for the planning system.
- Wildlife management.
- Evidence.
[edit] Supporting sustainable development
Natural England plays a key role in advising on planning matters and are statutory consultees on certain types of developments. It is possible to undertake pre-application discussions with Natural England in advance of an application being submitted. Initial advice is offered free of charge and further advice can be provided on a charged basis.
[edit] Discretionary Advice Service
A Discretionary Advice Service is offered to developers under the Town and Country Planning Act (1990), the Planning Act (2008) and the Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009). Advice is offered on development likely to effect:
- Special areas of conservation and special protected areas.
- Ramsar sites.
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
- Marine Protected Areas.
- Protected landscapes (National Parks, the Broads and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty).
Discretionary advice is also offered for developments that result in significant (more than 5ha)biodiversity benefit.
Advice can be sought at the pre-application, post-consent and pre-determination stages of a project.
[edit] Standing Advice
Natural England has published standing advice to offer competent authorities assistance in formulating risk-based decisions without consultation. It is available for a range of protected species, plants and ancient woodlands from the Natural England website.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
- Coastal groups.
- Designated sites.
- Environmental regulators.
- Local Nature Reserve.
- Making Local Nature Recovery Strategies deliver.
- National nature reserves.
- National parks.
- National trails.
- National Trust.
- Natural environment white paper.
- Natural resource.
- Natural Resources Wales.
- Nature improvement area.
- Planning permission.
- Protected species.
- Protected species licence.
- Scottish Natural Heritage.
- Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI).
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
- Special Nature Conservation Order SNCO.
- Statutory consultees.
- Sustainable development toolkit.
- Wildlife and Countryside Act.
[edit] External references
Featured articles and news
A transformative shift in the design, construction and management of built assets.
Apprenticeship announcement by the Prime Minister
Welcomed but with call for more actionable detail.
Heat pump announcements, what homeowners need to know
An 'ultimate guide to heat pumps' from a heating company.
Construction contract awards reach 7.1bn in February
Their highest level in seven months.
The journey to sustainability in heritage
Research is the key to better understanding.
Heritage approaches to adaptation, mitigation and loss.
Bridging the gap between policy, finance and installation.
Development on brownfield land
Definition, background, policy and the latest consultation.
With the Design Framework for Building Services.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Pertinent technical issues, measures and the roles involved.
ECA joins HSE campaign to support mental health
Working Minds’ five simple steps based on risk assessment.
Mental health in the construction industry
Mental health issues in brief with related articles.
Transitional arrangements, Building Control and the BSR.
For pre-October buildings with substantial progress by April.
Why quality counts in domestic ventilation systems
From products, to systems to the installation.
Empowering the Future with CIOB Academy
Lifelong learning, upscaling, and reskilling for the built environment.