We support the thrust of this draft Policy. Notwithstanding this, we believe it is important that these considerations continue to be approached in the context of the wider planning balance rather than as expected pre‐requisites, and therefore would suggest that the wording includes flexibility this effect.

The Environment Agency fully supports the potential of Green Infrastructure in adapting to climate change, connecting open spaces, and creating opportunities for nature. Our comments remain as set out under separate correspondence to North Somerset Council dated 9 April 2021 for the Green Infrastructure Strategy.

We support the thrust of this draft Policy. Notwithstanding this, we believe it is important that these considerations continue to be approached in the context of the wider planning balance rather than as expected pre‐requisites, and therefore would suggest that the wording includes flexibility this effect.

We support the proposed policies, but we would want to see more details on: • Maintain and enhance the green and blue infrastructure network • Conserve, restore and enhance priority habitats, ecological networks and the protection and recovery of priority species • Secure biodiversity net gain We have seen in the past these areas being ignored when it comes to new developments, especially speculative applications. We must ensure these polices are given the necessary strength to allow sustainable

Please ensure that all developers keep all mature trees on sites. In the past, they have clear-felled trees and grubbed up hedges with impunity.

Please see our comments on the AONB, nature parks and green infrastructure under draft Policy LP1.

We appreciate that generally there is a presumption in favour of development, but the Local Plan gives some opportunities to contain and retain some of our important green spaces and landscape. It appears that within this policy the strategic 'driver' is for development in these spaces which surely is at odds with recognising the wellbeing benefits to be gained from green spaces and for the protected status of the AONB. We should be starting with a presumption against development in these areas

Please replace bullet point * Secure biodiversity net gain with 'secure environmental net gain' Reasons are outlined in the HoC Environmental Audit Committee: Biodiversity: Bust or Bloom published in June 2021 and summarised below: The UK is the most nature-depleted country in G7 and one of the worst in the world. In addition, Prof Dasgupta's final report in Feb 2021 for the Government on The Economics of Biodiversity demonstrates that the failure to value nature and account for it in decisio

SP11: Green infrastructure and historic environment. Eighth bullet point: 'Secure Biodiversity Net Gain' This should read ''Secure Environmental Net Gain". Biodiversity Net Gain is a crass metric that does not put the correct value on essential habitats e.g. it gives scrub habitat including ragwort a really low rating, but in reality this habitat is one of the most important, biodiverse habitats that we have in this country. The Natural Capital Committee (NCC) is concerned that a focus on Bio

Whilst we support the broad aims and aspirations of this draft policy, we do have some concerns regarding the wording and the level of detail the policy seeks to set out. Some of the terminology proposed is vague at present, and we consider it may be challenging/difficult for planning applications to demonstrate how they adhere to the various requirements. We welcome the caveat at the start of the second paragraph in the policy that confirms the bullet point examples apply only 'where appropriat