Putting networks into practice: strategic and development management planning

This section has been divided into information that may be more relevant for strategic planning, and that for development management.  Please see below under these headings:

• Planners involved in policy and strategic planning
• Planners involved in development management

Planners involved in policy and strategic planning

Strategic overview - For networks to be effective, they need to be implemented strategically, rather than on a piecemeal basis.  References to the concept of networks in policy and strategy documents are important because they will give legislative and administrative back-up to the process. For example, there is a clear support for the concept of networks in the new Scottish planning policy  . It's also a way for local authorities to demonstrate that they are delivering their biodiversity duties as outlined in the Nature Conservation Act (Scotland) 2004  .

However, additional strategic level support and promotion is likely to be required to allow networks to develop efficiently.  Individual land managers may be willing and able to implement the necessary changes to their area of land, but in many cases they will only be responsible for the management of a relatively small area of land.  For a network to be wholly effective it may require changes in land management across a large area and hence an over-arching, strategic planning input is also likely to be required.

Prioritise species and habitats... - An initial starting point for the strategic implementation of a habitat network is to establish which habitats / species need protection and enhancement.  Not all habitat networks will function effectively for all species and therefore a prioritisation exercise is likely to be required.  The legal imperative from the Habitats Directive may provide an indication of likely priorities in certain areas through its recommendation to ensure the ecological coherence of protected sites.  Other species and habitats of concern are likely to be included in the relevant Local Biodiversity Action Plans.

... and the socio-economic - In many cases you may be seeking to implement a network which delivers more than just habitat benefits.  For example, you may wish to create a green network which also meets the objectives of other legislation or local priorities, such as offering opportunities for access and informal recreation, or greenspace provision.

Mapping and modelling - Some organisations choose to bring in specialist advice to produce a model of a proposed network. That's because, as highlighted on the modelling page, computer models are only as good as the baseline data that they are working from, so it's important to make sure you're using the right data at the start - particularly relating to your local environment.  A good land cover map derived from recent data sets at an appropriate resolution (eg 25m or better 10m) is fundamental.  Some of the data sets which are most commonly used in habitat network models include:

• Land cover Scotland; National Vegetation Classification data; designated sites inventory; Phase 1 habitat survey; Scottish semi-natural woodland inventory; information from your local biological records centre

The exact details of the data you need and the type of model that could be produced will depend on the type of network you are hoping to create. For example, for a green network you'll also need information such as core path plans; a listing of vacant and derelict land and an inventory of green spaces.

The more you want the network to deliver, the more time you're likely to need to spend developing it. For example, a model of a green network delivering forest habitat for particular species and access opportunities for people will need to be based on more data than a model which focuses on habitat alone.

Towards implementation - The maps produced from the modelling will provide you with an indication of where additional habitat may need to be created or where land management could be changed.  Implementing the network on the ground will involve getting local land managers, planning authorities and others to use those maps to target actions.  From a policy perspective, you may be able to assist this - perhaps through providing financial incentives in schemes like the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) or through planners making provision for areas of green space in new developments.  Again, the precise details will depend on the type of network you are implementing and what you are trying to achieve.  A look through the case studies might give you some inspiration as well as useful examples of how both habitat and green networks have been created in Scotland.

Those involved in developing plans, programmes and strategies can also help to avoid future additional habitat fragmentation. The process of completing a strategic environmental assessment of these longer term documents should flag up their impacts on the wider biodiversity. It's important that this includes a consideration of their likely impact on habitat connectivity, so that existing networks can be enhanced and safeguarded wherever possible. 

Planners involved in development management

As a planner responsible for the day to day decisions on development, your work will be guided by a range of policies. This is likely to include Scottish Planning Policy, strategic and local development plans.

Policy perspective - The new Scottish Planning Policy contains several references to the concept of networks and stresses the importance of facilitating their implementation through planning (see networks in policy and legislation page).  Strategic and local development plans will need to take that guidance on board during their production, so that networks become 'embedded' within the planning system. However, that process is likely to take time and in the meantime, development management will still be taking place. You will therefore need to consider networks on an on-going basis, possibly with only limited policy guidance.

Existing regional planning - In some areas of Scotland, networks have already been modelled (e.g. Glasgow and Clyde Valley; Edinburgh and Lothians forest habitat network; Grampian forest habitat network etc - see the links in further information.) In these areas, maps may already exist which show core areas and potential areas for habitat creation or for altered land management. These maps should be available to planning authorities and can be taken into account when making planning decisions.

Starting from scratch - Where maps of networks do not currently exist, and where clear guidance isn't yet available from strategic and local plans, planners will need to use a less robust method to ensure networks are part of planning decisions.  Where new developments are clearly going to fragment existing blocks of habitat, consideration should be given to ways to reduce or avoid that fragmentation.  There may also be scope to include structural links between existing areas of habitat. Whilst the science behind structural habitat links isn't clear-cut (see the pros and cons of networks page), some species will use these structural connections and the creation of additional habitat is likely to be beneficial for the wider biodiversity of the area.

So using maps, aerial photos and your own (or colleagues' and partners') site knowledge to create structural links within new developments is likely to be an important element in the implementation of networks.  In a lot of cases, these structural links will have additional socio-economic benefits (enhancing the visual appeal of a place; providing health benefits through recreational opportunities etc) which will help to deliver some of the Scottish Government's strategic objectives (smarter, healthier etc).

Environmental Assessments - It's also important to remember that planners have a role in avoiding additional habitat fragmentation as well - and not only under the biodiversity duties as outlined in the Nature Conservation Act (Scotland) 2004  .  For example, when new developments are proposed, the Environmental Impact Assessment should consider its impacts on flora and fauna. If the development will cause habitat fragmentation it could have a detrimental effect on local biodiversity and so ways to mitigate that impact should be sought. With the reform of the planning system, there should be more opportunities to discuss habitat networks with potential developers during the pre-application stages. Hopefully this will provide those in development management with an opportunity to ask applicants to think about both safeguarding and enhancing habitat connectivity.

Further guidance on masterplanning - Within SNH work is in progress to produce additional guidance for planners and developers on how to incorporate green networks within the planning system and particularly for masterplanning - when it's available it'll be added to this site.