Content

Recommendation approved
 
Reasons for recommendation
The LNRS document is considered to be fit for purpose by the
Biodiversity Net Gain Project Lead and will support the delivery of
the corporate strategy project to develop a Biodiversity Strategy
in Chorley.
 
The
Biodiversity Gain Project Lead, is a
member of the LNRS steering group therefore has had access to the
evolving working draft LNRS and been able to review it which has
informed this recommendation.
 
The pre-consultation draft LNRS
(Appendix A) and the Evidence and Technical Information (Appendix
C) include detailed methodology and strategy development, setting
out how key stakeholders, local authorities and the public have
been involved in its preparation. Further detail on its preparation
is set out in the information note (Appendix B).
 
The Lancashire LNRS will be
critical to guide local nature recovery in Chorley and the wider
county, and the strategy sets out clear objectives and measures
required to be able to achieve the priorities for nature recovery.
The priorities, measures and mapping of opportunity areas within
the strategy have been informed by robust methodologies and
non-biased information, so that if implemented, the strategy would
deliver the best possible outcome for nature.
 
Upon review of the LNRS
documents, and involvement in the steering group, as the
Biodiversity Gain Project Lead, I see no reason to object to the
draft LNRS to go to public consultation.
 
The Lancashire LNRS will inform
Chorley’s Biodiversity Strategy preparation and enable the
Council to identify opportunity areas for nature recovery in the
borough.
 
As the draft LNRS has been
released to Supporting Authorities on the 6th February 2025, the
deadline for fulfilling the first SA duty to approve this draft
LNRS for public consultation is the 6th March; therefore, a
decision by EMD would be required the week earlier to enable time
for a call-in period, and time to formalise and submit the response
to LCC (by the supporting officer) by this deadline.
 
Options considered and rejected
Upon review of the LNRS
documents, and involvement in the steering group, as the
Biodiversity Gain Project Lead, there is no reason to object to the
draft LNRS to go to public consultation.