As a local authority we must consider what we can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity in England. This is the strengthened ‘biodiversity duty’ that the Environment Act 2021 introduced.
We are required to consider what actions we can take to further the biodiversity duty and report on it by March 2026. A new report must be published every five years.
The report must include:
- a summary of the actions taken to comply with the biodiversity duty
- plans to comply with the biodiversity duty in the next reporting period
- any other information considered appropriate
Our report must also include the following biodiversity net gain (BNG) information:
- the actions carried out to meet BNG obligations
- details of BNG resulting from approved biodiversity gain plans
- plans to meet BNG obligations in the next reporting period
We have always considered biodiversity and the importance of the natural environment. This is reflected through our current corporate priority, Priority 3 - Climate Change, Nature Recovery and the Environment, that states, "Protecting nature, … and ensuring nature recovery, significantly contributes towards not only the health of our local area but our entire planet, making it more sustainable for our future generations."
Our main response to the Biodiversity Duty is contained within the revised Biodiversity Strategy 2026-2030 (pdf 8.2mb) providing information on how biodiversity has been actively considered and acted upon. Taking a baseline date of January 2024, it will be revised every five years.
Biodiversity Net Gain
A Delivering Biodiversity Net Gain in Stafford Borough Guidance Note (pdf 1mb) has been prepared by the Council.
Information provided within the guidance note is designed to help applicants, ecologists and other interested parties understand our BNG process, and to assist decision-making.
In July 2024, we approved a schedule of fees for monitoring significant on site biodiversity enhancements and all off site biodiversity enhancements resulting from Biodiversity Net Gain, found in the appendix of the Biodiversity Guidance Note.
Meeting biodiversity net gain obligations going forward
We will maintain our biodiversity objectives and follow up-to-date Government guidance. Over the next five years, the number of significant onsite and off-site biodiversity enhancement schemes requiring monitoring is expected to increase. To ensure that we can continue to meet statutory biodiversity net gain (BNG) obligations, monitoring fees may need to be reviewed occasionally to maintain sufficient ecological capacity and expertise.
Net gains resulting from approved biodiversity gain plans
Up to 31 December 2025, six biodiversity gain plans have been approved. All six agreements were of low significance, generally consisting of the creation of small areas of other neutral grassland and tree planting.