Colchester City Council Preferred Options Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation 2025
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Colchester City Council Preferred Options Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation 2025
Policy EN1: Nature Conservation Designated Sites
Representation ID: 11944
Received: 06/01/2026
Respondent: Buglife
Buglife welcomes the protection of nature conservation sites from development. Although not statutory protected sites, it is vital to recognise the value of Local Wildlife Sites and that they can represent nationally important places for biodiversity and are key for facilitating nature recovery. So whilst it is helpful to consider the value of a site through the NPPF hierarchy, it is also important for each site to be considered on its own merits, recognising that designation status may not fully reflect a sites value, as an individual site or as part of a network.
Buglife welcomes the protection of nature conservation sites from development. Although not statutory protected sites, it is vital to recognise the value of Local Wildlife Sites and that they can represent nationally important places for biodiversity and are key for facilitating nature recovery. So whilst it is helpful to consider the value of a site through the NPPF hierarchy, it is also important for each site to be considered on its own merits, recognising that designation status may not fully reflect a sites value, as an individual site or as part of a network.
Support
Colchester City Council Preferred Options Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation 2025
Policy EN3: Biodiversity and Geodiversity
Representation ID: 11946
Received: 06/01/2026
Respondent: Buglife
Buglife welcome the request for appropriate ecological surveys to support planning applications but highlight that these surveys are often not undertaken for invertebrates when needed. This can result in a site not being adequately valued or impacts assessed and the presence of species of principal importance can be missed. The recognition of wildlife rich brownfield sites is a vital inclusion, with a merit based approach taken rather than assuming all brownfields are suitable for development. Promised management of a site as mitigation for overall loss of habitat area is unlikely to be of overall benefit to biodiversity.
Buglife welcome the request for appropriate ecological surveys to support planning applications but highlight that these surveys are often not undertaken for invertebrates when needed. This can result in a site not being adequately valued or impacts assessed and the presence of species of principal importance can be missed. The recognition of wildlife rich brownfield sites is a vital inclusion, with a merit based approach taken rather than assuming all brownfields are suitable for development. Promised management of a site as mitigation for overall loss of habitat area is unlikely to be of overall benefit to biodiversity.
Support
Colchester City Council Preferred Options Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation 2025
Policy GN3: Local Green Spaces
Representation ID: 11955
Received: 06/01/2026
Respondent: Buglife
Middlewick Ranges is fully deserving of this Local Green Space status due to its immense value to the local community. The community has campaigned tirelessly to protect Middlewick Ranges from development, recognising its significance as a place where people have access to a nature rich environment. Nationally important for wildlife, protecting Middlewick will support nature recovery in Colchester. Many local people would like to see the site become a nature reserve, managed for its wildlife interest alongside being a community space. Given the dual importance of Middlewick to both the community and biodiversity, the site must be protected from development.
Middlewick Ranges is fully deserving of this Local Green Space status due to its immense value to the local community. The community has campaigned tirelessly to protect Middlewick Ranges from development, recognising its significance as a place where people have access to a nature rich environment. Nationally important for wildlife, protecting Middlewick will support nature recovery in Colchester. Many local people would like to see the site become a nature reserve, managed for its wildlife interest alongside being a community space. Given the dual importance of Middlewick to both the community and biodiversity, the site must be protected from development.
