Brett Spiller, founding Director at Chapman Lily Planning, has been accepted onto the Board of the Dorset Local Nature Partnership [“LNP”].
The Dorset LNP brings together a wide range of partners in public, private and voluntary sectors across the Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole and Dorset council areas. It exists to maximise the benefits to be gained from protecting and enhancing the unique natural assets of the area for people, wildlife and businesses.
The Dorset LNP:
• Provides leadership for those working to protect and enhance the environment in Dorset
• Advocates the good management of Dorset’s natural environment for its own sake and the many benefits it offers
• Articulates the importance of Dorset’s natural environment to economic and social wellbeing in a manner appropriate to diverse audiences
• Ensures that the natural environment is taken into account in policy and decision-making
Brett commented ‘This is a really exciting time to join the Dorset LNP Board. The Environment Act is already transforming land use and land management, as various parties speculate on future challenges and opportunities. The Act will ensure that our natural environment transcends decision making – offering scope to align different regulatory and fiscal regimes to optimise public benefits.
The development industry has begun to wake up to the implications of Biodiversity Net Gain. The current consultation around its implementation, management and monitoring will be crucial to its practical operation. Like me, many in the development industry are looking for a smooth transition. Those in the agricultural sector are busy understanding ELMs, with initial pilot projects yielding some interesting results. Again, this is likely to have further ramifications for the planning profession, particularly those working at a strategic level.
I’m particularly enthused by the prospect of Local Nature Recovery Strategies. They offer the chance to go well beyond protecting designated sites; to identify and enhance key areas and corridors in a co-ordinated way and optimise the health and well-being benefits of the natural environment. I continue to be passionate about the need to address climate change (which I have long viewed as a significant threat to nature) and have lauded the opportunity to think big. With growing recognition that the nature is critical to the health and wellbeing of both the planet and individuals; I’m please to see the dots joining up. The Board is a fantastic forum for exchanging ideas and bring new initiatives forward, so I’m pleased to be able to bring my experience to bear and represent the planning profession and be a conduit to the wider development industry.’
For more information about the Dorset LNP visit: Dorset Local Nature Partnership (dorsetlnp.org.uk)
