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Biodiversity Duty Report January 2026 Local Plan

Walsall Council’s existing policies are covered by the Black Country Core Strategy adopted February 2011, Site Allocation Document adopted January 2019, Walsall Unitary Development Plan adopted March 2005 and Supplementary Planning Document ‘Conserving Walsall’s Natural Environment’.

The specific policies covering the safeguarding of the Natural Environment within the borough are:

Black Country Core Strategy

  • ENV1: Nature Conservation
  • ENV4: Canals
  • ENV5: Flood Risk Sustainable Drainage Systems and Urban Heat Island

Walsall Site Allocation Document

  • EN1: Natural Environment Protection, Management and Enhancement
  • EN2: Ancient Woodland
  • EN4: Canals

Walsall Unitary Development Plan

  • ENV16: Black Country Urban Forest
  • ENV17: New Planting
  • ENV18: Existing Woodlands, Trees and Hedgerows
  • ENV23: Nature Conservation and New Development
  • ENV24: Wildlife Corridors

Walsall Habitat Regulations Requirement Policy

  • EQ2: Cannock Chase Special Area of Conservation

In addition, guidance for developers in relation to Nature Conservation, including BNG is also provided within Walsall’s validation guidance document produced in March 2024 and Conserving Walsall’s Natural Environment Supplementary Planning Document adopted 24 July 2013.

Walsall Council is in the process of producing the Walsall Borough Local Plan which will see an update on all policies including those covering Natural Environment. This will replace all existing policies. The regulation 18 consultation included four nature conservation policies:

  • Policy 1: Nature Conservation – This policy will provide protection for statutory and non-statutory protected sites, important habitats, protected and priority species and ecological corridors. With reference that developers must take account of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy which preparing their schemes.
  • Policy 2: Nature Recovery Network and Biodiversity Net Gain – This policy will reference that development shall deliver the West Midlands Combined Authority Local Nature Recovery Strategy in line with specific principles and deliver on local requirements of BNG.
  • Policy 3: Trees, Woodlands and Hedgerows – This policy ensures the retention and protection of trees, hedgerows and woodland and provide guidance on habitat creation.
  • Policy 4: Cannock Chase Special Area of Conservation (SACs) – This policy focus on the requirements of the habitat regulations for recreational disturbance on Cannock Chase SAC.

A revised natural Environment Supplementary Planning Document will be completed by 30th June 2026, to include update in best guidance and legislation since its adoption January 2013.