Abstract
Before the mid-2000s biodiversity offsetting was not part of the environmental policy discourse in the United Kingdom (UK). Since that time, of the UK’s four national administrations, England has been the most pro-active with regard to biodiversity offsetting. As a result this chapter focuses on the policy and practice of England with a short section summarising relevant developments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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Notes
- 1.
Environmental policy is a devolved matter so the Devolved Administrations of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are responsible for developing their own policy; within a framework set by the United Kingdom Government.
- 2.
Note in this context development refers to the scope of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended). In summary this includes all changes in land use associated with the creation or alternation of industrial, commercial, residential and infrastructure. Changes in agricultural land management are dealt with separately. Nationally significant infrastructure is also excluded.
- 3.
Page 19 estimates of ONS (2012) states there are 500 EIAs per year in the UK.
- 4.
Which are protected via Article 12, Annex IV of the Birds and Habitats Directives.
- 5.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
- 6.
- 7.
CSWAPO was formed of: Warwickshire County Council; Coventry City Council; Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council; North Warwickshire Borough Council; Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council; Rugby Borough Council; Warwick District Council; and Stratford District Council.
- 8.
Due to the long timescales involved with planning applications only one biodiversity offset had been agreed and this had not been formalised before the end of the pilot phase.
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Baker, J., Papadopoulou, L., Sheate, W. (2018). United Kingdom. In: Wende, W., Tucker, G ., Quétier, F., Rayment, M., Darbi, M. (eds) Biodiversity Offsets. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72581-9_12
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