Purpose

In 2024 the Council obtained Biodiversity
Baseline Surveys for 56 sites owned by TDC as an initial stage to
asses potential of creating a biodiversity land bank of sites. The
works have been funded by a DEFRA grant fund 2023/2024 which was
arranged by the TDC Planning team.
Following the review of the baseline surveys, 21 sites have been
selected for further consideration. Habitat Management and
Monitoring Plans (HMMP) are required as the next stage, to support
a legal agreement that will ultimately be needed to register the
site as a biodiversity gain site.
TDC Planning has secured DEFRA grant fund 2024/2025 for the sum of
£26,807.00. The grant is claimed retrospectively therefore
the Council is required to pay for the works upfront and claim back
the spend before the end of this financial year (claim must be
submitted by 15th March 2025).
Quotations have been received and Geosphere Environmental are the
best value.

Content

To procure Habitat Management and Monitoring
Plans for 21 sites owned by TDC.

Alternative options considered

To not procure Habitat Management and
Monitoring Plans - In order to inform any future decisions over
potential Biodiversity Gain on TDC land, Habitat Management and
Monitoring Plans are required.