Policy OB2
Biodiversity
The council will seek the retention and enhancement, the creation and restoration of biodiversity in the borough by:
a) Protecting existing Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC), Local Nature Reserves (LNR), priority habitats and species and other features of biodiversity value such as wildlife corridors, parks and open spaces.
b) Requiring all major schemes, and those that have the potential to impact biodiversity and designated sites, to prepare an Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) demonstrating how any impacts on biodiversity will be avoided or mitigated and how biodiversity enhancements will be maximised. Where mitigation measures are proposed these should be delivered on-site, unless it can be demonstrated to the council's satisfaction that this is not achievable.
c) Requiring all developments subject to Biodiversity Net Gain to deliver at least 10% as per legislation and secure this for 30 years. This will be achieved by:
i) maximising BNG, calculated using the up-to-date national statutory biodiversity metric and submitting a Biodiversity Gain Plan.
ii) ensuring that gains are provided onsite, though offsite provision may be considered in accordance with the biodiversity gain hierarchy.
iii) ensuring the provision is consistent with the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
iv) securing and monitoring delivery of BNG through a habitat management and monitoring plan and legal agreement
d) Ensuring that all development contributes to enhancing and restore biodiversity and protects existing site ecology.
e) Placing emphasis on measures that enhance and support biodiversity in meeting the Urban Greening Factor (See policy OB3) and SUDs delivery and planting.
f) Supporting developments on the riverside that facilitate river habitat restoration and enhance biodiversity using guidance provided by the estuary edges project: Home - Estuary Edges .
f) Recognising and protecting the biodiversity value offered by gardens. Protecting back, front and side gardens from new development and encouraging de-paving and wildlife friendly planting over front and back gardens.
g) Protect urban and natural environment from invasive species by requiring developers to not introduce any of invasive species in new development and remove any existing invasive species on site.
h) Requiring all developments to have at least a 50% native species planting mix.
Where adverse impacts from development on biodiversity cannot be avoided measures must be taken to ensure that they are appropriately managed to reduce and /or mitigate any disturbance to wildlife as appropriate. These measures should be included as part of a planning application and a monitoring schedule agreed at the time of planning permission.
9.12 Nature provides us with a variety of environmental, social, cultural, educational, health and recreational benefits. Hammersmith and Fulham is home to a network of valuable natural assets, including designated Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs), Local Nature Reserve sites and other areas with habitat value such as parks and open spaces, ecological corridors along the rail track and waterways. These green and blue elements make a great contribution towards supporting and increasing habitats and species protected under UK and international legislation. However, over the years, biodiversity in the UK has declined due to a range of factors, including urbanisation, the use of chemicals, agricultural and industrial land use, and improper waste disposal among other pressures. The Council declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency in 2019 with the aim of reaching net zero carbon emission by 2030 and protecting and restoring habitats and species to increase biodiversity and tackle climate change.
9.13 There are 31 Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation in the borough, which are designated according to their spatial significance and quality. A review of SINCs has been recently undertaken to inform the preparation of the Local Plan.
9.14 There are Local Nature Reserves, identified in Wormwood Scrubs, to the north of the borough in the OPDC area, which provide opportunities for habitats and species enhancement as well as for local residents to access and engage with nature and wildlife. To the south of the borough, aquatic habitats are prevalent due to the presence of the River Thames, featuring intertidal substrate foreshore and mudflats. It is a council priority to support the inclusion of ponds and other blue infrastructure wherever possible as all natural freshwater rivers in the borough have been historically culverted which means there is limited freshwater habitat throughout the majority of the borough. Elsewhere, the borough supports several sites of deciduous woodland, as well as wood-pasture and parkland habitats, with the largest Open Space located at Wormwood Scrubs, which contains both of these habitat types. Wormwood Scrubs has been recommended to be upgraded to a SINC site of Metropolitan Importance and has had the central meadow section designated as a Local Nature Reserve in 2025 recognising its importance for wildlife in London. Additionally, a few smaller sites with traditional orchards are found in the central and northern parts of the borough.
9.15 The Greenspace Information for Greater London CIC (GIGL) contains archives of protected and notable species within Hammersmith & Fulham, including those species protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 198119 and under Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006).
9.16 Hammersmith & Fulham is also home to London's largest network of Tiny Forests, with 6 dense, fast-growing woodlands across the borough. These are found at Hammersmith Park, Normand Park, Eelbrook Common, Frank Banfield Park, Wormholt Park and Norland Open Space.
9.17 Habitats and species will potentially face increasing pressures from future development within the borough, with the potential for negative impacts on the wider ecological network. This may include a loss of habitats and impacts on biodiversity networks, which may be exacerbated by of climate change. To maintain and improve the condition of biodiversity in the future, it will be important to not only protect and enhance important habitats, but also the connections between them. It will be crucial to effectively coordinate the delivery of new development to ensure that opportunities to improve green infrastructure and ecological corridors are maximised within the borough.
Ecological Impact Assessments
9.18 The Council will require any scheme that have the potential to impact priority species, habitats and designated sites, for example, if there is potential for bat species to be roosting in the buildings, to be supported by a comprehensive Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA). Developers can seek advice as whether this may be the case during pre-app stage from the LPA, or by consulting an external ecologist.
9.19 Where development is proposed that will indirectly impact on biodiversity through noise, light shading, planting and increased human presence, the Council will require developers to demonstrate how any adverse impacts on biodiversity can be avoided or mitigated. The Council will expect developments to demonstrate how habitats providing multiple functions can be maintained in a way that optimises their environmental benefits.
Biodiversity Net Gain
9.20 All development will be expected to demonstrate that biodiversity has been fully integrated into the design and development of their scheme from an early stage. The layout and type of habitats proposed should consider the role of the site as opportunity to enhance connections to nature sites and wildlife corridors.
9.21 The Environment Act 2021, through schedule 14, introduced provisions for Biodiversity Net Gain. As per legislation, BNG requires all development that qualify for it, to provide a minimum 10% net gain in biodiversity, calculated using the Biodiversity Metric tool.
9.22 The delivery of BNG will vary depending on the site. For example, it is possible that on some sites BNG will not require any up because there is either zero or minimal existing habitat, while other sites may have potential to deliver gains significantly above the 10% threshold. Regardless of the specific BNG requirements of each site, all eligible developments must apply and provide evidence for their calculations. The Council may seek to negotiate nature and biodiversity enhancements where opportunities exist. These enhancements are not a requirement under BNG and are only considered where appropriate, to support ecological uplift in areas that currently lack habitat.
9.23 To ensure that developments deliver a quantifiable net gain, detailed biodiversity gain plans must be approved for any eligible development. Furthermore, any significant or notable gains must commit to the 30-year maintenance period and therefore must be detailed and secured by habitat management and monitoring plans (HMMPs) and a legal agreement (S106 or conservation covenant). Provisions for BNG related fees will be incorporated into the next stage of the plan (Regulation 19).
9.24 All development will be expected to follow the Biodiversity Gain Hierarchy and demonstrate that biodiversity has been fully integrated into the design and development of their scheme from an early stage. The layout and type of habitats proposed should consider the role of the site as opportunity to enhance connections to nature sites and wildlife corridors.
Wildlife friendly
9.25 Invasive species are plants, fungi and animals that have been introduced to an area outside their natural range and cause ecological, economic or social harm.
9.26 Where sites are proposed for redevelopment, developers should identify the presence of invasive species at an early stage and set out appropriate measures to remove any presence of invasive species and prevent their spread during and after construction. As a benchmark, 50% of total planting should be native species and 50% species of recognised value to biodiversity, such as those on the Royal Horticultural Society's 'Plants for Pollinators' list. In particular, invasive non-native plants can outgrow native vegetation, disrupt local ecosystems, and lead to long-term biodiversity loss. Under Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is an offence to plant or otherwise cause to grow in the wild any species listed in Schedule 9 of the Act. Developers must ensure compliance with this legislation, including the control and, where appropriate, the eradication of listed invasive species.
9.27 To protect the borough's urban and natural environments, developers must avoid introducing invasive species through new planting schemes and are expected to remove existing invasive species as part of site clearance and preparation works.