What is The Biodiversity Duty?

The Environment Act 2021 introduced a strengthened ‘biodiversity duty' which requires all public authorities in England to consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity.

Public authorities must:

1. Consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity.
2. Agree policies and specific objectives based on their consideration.
3. Act to deliver these policies and achieve their objectives.

Biodiversity Reports

Below is the first Biodiversity Duty Report published by Stratford on Avon District Council (SDC). It covers the reporting period from February 2024 to January 2026. This is consistent with when biodiversity net gain became mandatory for all new developments, unless exempt.

• Biodiversity Duty Report 2026

As a first step, local authorities produced a ‘first consideration' report to consider actions that they can take to conserve and enhance biodiversity when exercising their functions. Our report can be downloaded below.

• First Consideration Report

Future Biodiversity Reports will be published on this webpage when available.

Find out More

• Development Requirements SPD (refer particularly to Part N)
• Natural Environment Technical Evidence