CPRE has held another of its regular training sessions for CPRE’s volunteers and members who provide advice to planning authorities developing strategic plans and on significant planning applications that they are reviewing.
The latest training session, held in Haywards Heath on 14th June, considered Planning for Biodiversity. This session, run in conjunction with speakers from Sussex Wildlife Trust, explained the provisions built into the planning system for the protection from inappropriate development of our Sussex landscapes – especially areas such as the South Downs National Park, the county’s two areas of outstanding natural beauty and other specially designated sites. It also focussed on the requirement to achieve net biodiversity gains from new development proposals.
This training day highlighted the significance of the environmental component within the planning process, as well as the fact that many local planning authorities lack the specialist expertise required fully to evaluate the biodiversity and countryside implications of development proposals. This makes it all the more important that independent input is offered from bodies such as CPRE and the Sussex Wildlife Trust.
Feedback indicates that the training session was very well received by the 26 CPRE members and supporters who attended, including representatives from a number of parish councils. CPRE is very grateful to Jess Price and Laura Brook of the Sussex Wildlife Trust for their professional presentations and for setting up sample workshops during which participants had the opportunity to study examples of actual applications in which biodiversity issues were key factors affecting the planning decision.
For further information about CPRE’s planning work please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or give us a ring on 01825 890 975.