Marian Spain. © Natural England

Marian Spain, CEO of the government body responsible for the natural environment in England, explains that Local Nature Recovery Strategies are central to putting nature at the heart of local development.

The government has set out an ambitious plan for kickstarting the economy and our transition to green energy. Planning reforms are key to speeding up the delivery of 1.5 million new homes, quadrupling the energy from offshore wind and reinstating onshore wind farms in England. The reforms include a raft of different measures including the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and Nature Restoration Fund; the introduction of Strategic Authorities and Spatial Development Plans; a review of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF); and the New Towns Task Force and Future Homes Accelerator, to name a few.

In Natural England’s recently published Strategic Direction, Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security, we set out how nature underpins our nation’s growth, economy, health and security. The current value of nature to the economy is estimated to be over £1.8 trillion.

Putting nature at the heart of new housing, infrastructure and renewable energy projects attracts greater investment and builds in resilience to climate change. Nature is integral to making great places for people to live, learn, work and play. It brings multiple benefits for businesses, communities and the economy: clean water and air, reduced flood risk, delivery of net zero targets and mitigation of extreme heat and drought. Connecting with nature also provides spaces for people to be refreshed and revitalised spiritually, mentally and physically.

But while there are many good elements to the current planning regime, it hasn’t been able to secure sufficient enhancements for nature to reverse the long-term loss of species and habitats. There are multiple inefficiencies in the current system, including delay, sub-optimal workarounds at site level in the absence of strategic solutions, lack of joined-up delivery and missed opportunities to deliver economies of scale.

Our vision

Natural England has a clear ambition to support the government’s planning reforms by making a substantive shift in our planning advice work towards a more strategic space. After all, the restoration of our natural world is best achieved at scale, rather than in small increments.

Pivoting on Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS)

Central to putting nature at the heart of planning and development are Local Nature Recovery Strategies (see diagram overleaf). Co-developed through local partnerships, these strategies provide the backbone for all things nature: setting out where nature is, providing opportunities for more nature and highlighting priorities for its creation and restoration. All local planning authorities have a legal duty to have regard to the relevant strategy for their area and it may be a ‘material consideration’ in the planning system. New Spatial Development Strategies and LNRSs will function at the same tier and this brings a significant opportunity for synergies to build nature into placemaking at a strategic level. Underpinning LNRSs are tools such as mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain and internationally recognised Green Infrastructure Standards. These will be key to creating accessible greenspace, nature recovery and increasing tree canopy cover. Tools like Natural England’s Environmental Benefits from Nature tool can aid the design of habitats to maximise wider benefits, for example for managing flood risk, air quality or water supply. New approaches, such as the Nature Towns and Cities accreditation (which is based on the Green Infrastructure Standards), will recognise and reward those places that have an ambitious vision to put nature at the heart of towns and cities.

The emerging Nature Restoration Fund (NRF), planned for launch in 2026 under the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, offers a unique opportunity to simplify the developer user journey and deliver better outcomes for nature recovery. The NRF will allow us to assess impacts and develop mitigation, compensation and restoration for habitats and species at a strategic level, rather than at site level. This will in turn allow us to better manage environmental pressures such as nutrient pollution, enable faster delivery of housing and infrastructure and result in on-the-ground improvements for nature at scale. The government is working to refine the legislation and prepare for launch. If done well, the NRF could be a significant means of delivering LNRS ambitions.

– What can the sector do to support planning reforms?

– Engage with the government on the reforms;

– Support efforts to address workforce issues, particularly in local planning authorities;

– Align LNRSs and new Spatial Development Strategies;

– Take a landscape-led approach to masterplanning and make use of nature-positive tools;

– Use digital tools like Natural

England’s Impact Risk Zone tool to streamline consultations; and

– Engage Natural England early on high-risk/high-opportunity developments to ensure high-quality applications that can be assessed quickly.

The current appetite for reform that will enable both development and nature recovery is a significant opportunity for positive change, provided we work together across central and local government, nature organisations, developers, infrastructure providers and businesses, for environmental recovery that benefits us all. Landscape architects, working alongside ecologists and planners, in both the public and the private sector, are ideally placed to help meet the government’s agenda, bringing vital expertise on the planning, design and management of land as a multifunctional resource.

This is a significant opportunity to re-shape the way development and nature work together to achieve benefits for people, nature and climate.

Case Study

Thames Basin Heaths Strategic approaches are delivering beneficial results for nature, greenspace and development. In the Thames Basin Heaths for example, Natural England worked with local authorities and developers on providing 2,000 hectares of alternative greenspace for residents to use, unlocking the 50,000 homes and enabling populations of Dartford warbler, woodlark and nightjar to increase.

Local plan / Masterplan

Houlton, Warwickshire

The Houlton housing development, east of Rugby in Warwickshire, will create design with high-quality green infrastructure at its core. With 50% green cover including natural play spaces, footpaths and green and blues spaces, there is plenty of opportunity for outdoor recreation. It showcases well the success of Natural England’s Accessible Greenspace standard and the Urban

Greening Factor standard. With meadowlands and ecology corridors designed in from the outset, it is achieving 27% Biodiversity Net Gain.

Working in partnership with parish councils, community groups, elected members and neighbouring residents, a place has been created that truly fits with Rugby and its existing communities, and meets the needs of residents, 95% of whom expressed a preference for living close to greenspace.

Marian Spain is CEO of Natural England