Blog: 15/07/2022 - Helen McGrath, Head of Public Affairs

If ever there was a week to refocus attention on climate change - this was surely it. As the UK swelters in temperatures, so too are many other parts of the world. 
 
Ethiopia and the Sudan are frequently afflicted by drought. Much closer to home, Italy's river Po, which supplies a third of the country's agricultural production, is experiencing its worst drought for 70 years. In the UK, the ten highest temperatures since records began have all been recorded since 2002, with Cambridge seeing the hottest temperature ever captured in the UK on 25th July 2019 at 38.7°C. 
 
Local authorities, we know, are declaring climate emergencies and finding ways to speed up decarbonisation. But what else about the environment should we be considering? Well, the buzz words with increasing importance are ‘biodiversity net gain’ and ‘nutrient neutrality’.

For those of us who aren’t planners, nutrient neutrality refers to ensuring that nitrate and phosphate levels do not increase within vulnerable waterways as a result of land development. Currently, it is estimated that more than 100,000 new builds are currently on hold across 74 local authorities in consequence.

Councils are now scrambling to identify mitigation schemes whilst the government is being pressed to ensure that water companies improve waste-water treatment plants to treat the pollution at source and implement regulatory action to ensure compliance.    
 
What else should we be keeping an eye on? Most definitely the 10% net gain in biodiversity for new developments, (including national infrastructure projects), Local Nature Recovery Strategies, Species Conservation and Protected Site Strategies.  
 
Biodiversity and nutrient neutrality are being woven into the LLG Governance Conference on the 11th and 18th November. If you book before 5pm on 5th August 2022 you can benefit from a £75 discount. It’s also worth noting that Junior Lawyer Member tickets (less than 5 years pqe) are significantly lower to enable growth for our future leaders.  
 
Throughout the summer LLG remain both operational and contactable but will suspend production of National Lead meetings and the Grapevine Podcast. Never fear however, as the Bulletin will continue throughout August. If you find yourself missing the dulcet tones of Dennis Hall or my own London lilt, you can always catch up on the podcast via YouTube. Don’t forget to subscribe to find us more easily in the future!  
 
Best wishes 

Helen McGrath 

Head of Public Affairs.