Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: October 2, 2025

Purpose:

Content: The Council voted (5 voting in favour, 13 voting against, 0 abstaining from voting) on an amendment submitted by Councillor Dan Lentell, which was defeated.     A vote was taken (unanimous, with Councillor Richard Stobart abstaining from the vote) and the altered motion was carried as follows:   “Council notes:            I.         That Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), introduced in the 2021 Environment Act, was designed to ensure new developments leave nature in a better state than before.          II.         That the Labour Government has consulted on exempting minor developments (up to 9 dwellings on sites up to 1 hectare) from BNG requirements and weakening BNG requirements for medium developments (10-49 dwellings on sites up to 1 hectare).         III.         That sites up to 1 hectare make up a large proportion of developments nationally, and if all were to be exempted from BNG requirements an estimated £250 million per year in habitat creation and restoration would be lost.        IV.         That this weakening of BNG comes at a time when the UK is already one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.         V.         In July 2025, an open letter from industry leaders and environmental charities, including the Wildlife Trust, urged the UK Government to get BNG back on track across England.         VI.         That Liberal Democrats and all members of our council have consistently called for stronger protections for biodiversity, climate action, and local environmental safeguards, and for giving local councils the powers and resources to deliver them.    Council believes:  A.    That Labour’s proposal to weaken BNG represents a serious step backwards, undermining nature recovery, climate resilience, and community wellbeing.  B.    That residents in South Cambridgeshire want new housing and infrastructure that works with nature, not against it, and are deeply concerned at yet another government is planning to water down environmental standards.  C.    That South Cambridgeshire District Council has shown that it is possible to both promote biodiversity and economic growth simultaneously – as evidenced by the award-winning network of BNG habitat banks across the Greater Cambridge area and that the DCN has reported that last year, South Cambridgeshire had the highest percentage growth in its housing stock of any English local authority.    Council resolves:  1.     To request that the Leader write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government:  a.     to express our concern at the Government’s proposals to weaken BNG by exempting smaller developments;  b.    to implore that they abandon these specific proposals immediately and instead explore other ways to support SME developers that strengthen, rather than not weaken, environmental safeguards in planning; and  c.     to promote, through reference to our local successes, the Council’s view that nature recovery and economic growth can both be achieved together.”