Biodiversity Information for Developers

Opportunities to protect and enhance our biodiversity are best considered at the earliest stage in development proposals, allowing time to explore possibilities before investing in costly designs.

National Planning Framework (NPF4) presents a step change in the planning system by placing biodiversity loss and climate as priorities within development decisions.

Human actions are driving nature loss at unprecedented rates. Development can accelerate this decline, but it can also contribute to reversing it.

Well-designed developments in the right places can help to protect and enhance biodiversity for the benefit of all. Developments with high quality environments are known to attract a premium price, are good for people’s health and wellbeing and leave a positive legacy for the community by developers.

Protecting important habitats is the least costly approach in terms of financial outlay and biodiversity loss. Enhancements such as wildflower seeding and tree planting or putting in place a woodland or tree management plan, can often provide significant wildlife value for very low cost.

Developers, local councils and other public bodies such as NatureScot  and SEPA all have an important role to ensure that biodiversity is fully considered in proposals. NatureScot is a statutory consultee for developments that require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and those that could affect statutory protected nature conservation sites.

Councils, like all public bodies, have a biodiversity duty under the Wildlife and Countryside (Scotland) Act (2011) to further the conservation of biodiversity.  One of the ways in which local councils deliver this duty is through the planning system, with policies to protect and enhance biodiversity in ALL development.

©Aberdeenshire Council

Protecting important habitats is the least costly approach in terms of financial outlay and biodiversity loss.

Tools & Resources for Developers

Read our summary for developers of all sizes, to help in considering biodiversity.

Scottish Woodland ©Lorne Gill/NatureScot

Important Habitats for Biodiversity

North East Scotland has a great variety of habitat types providing for a huge range of different species.

Important Locations for Biodiversity

Scotland has statutory designated sites of international, national and local importance.

Picture of an endangered Water Vole being held in a gloved hand.

Important Local Species

Although not all species are specifically protected by legislation, it is still important to safeguard them.

Where to get advice

Take a look at Tools and guidance for further help.

Contact the relevant local authority for an early discussion:

Handy hints

Opportunities to protect and enhance biodiversity are best considered at the earliest stage in development proposals, for example through a pre-application enquiry.  This allows time to explore any issues of concern before investing in costly designs. It also helps with scheduling your habitat and species surveys which are often required during specific seasons.

There is additional specific advice for Aberdeenshire.

Engaging a qualified, competent ecologist early on will ensure you have accurate information and will speed up the planning process.