Purpose

To inform the Executive of Fareham
Borough Council’s statutory duty, as a Supporting Authority, to support the County
Council’s publication of the Hampshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy by
endorsing the final version of the strategy.

 

Local Nature Recovery Strategies
(LNRS) are a new system of plans for nature recovery.  Their role is to provide county-wide,
practical solutions for nature recovery. 
They are a key mechanism for planning and delivering the National Nature
Recovery Network.  The Nature Recovery
Network is a growing national network of wildlife-rich places.  It is supported by green and blue spaces that
buffer and connect these wildlife-rich sites.

 

The LNRS for Hampshire has been
prepared by the County Council and has been informed by public and stakeholder
engagement at the outset of the project, and the results of the public
consultation that was undertaken between 12 May and 23 June 2025.

 

The aim of the strategy is too
identify locations to create, restore and enhance habitats, providing the best
opportunities to deliver nature’s recovery. 
This is determined based on the connectivity of existing habitats and where
there are opportunities to improve this further.  The strategy will help to target future
effort and funding.  It also provides a
range of options and evidence to inform decisions in the form of
recommendations for delivery.  The LNRS
does not dictate how land is used or limit the choices land managers have on
their land.

 

Hampshire County Council is seeking
Pre-publication approval with supporting authorities.  This process will run for a 28-day
consultation period (ends 29 October 2025). 
If no objections are raised by any supporting authority, the County Council
will formally approve and publish the strategy at its Cabinet meeting on 11
November 2025.

 

Officers have no objections to
the strategy and so the report seeks endorsement of the strategy from the
Executive on behalf of Fareham Borough Council.

Decision

RESOLVED that the Executive
endorses the Hampshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy, as attached at Appendix
A to the report.