Natural England’s planning advice and guidance
Advice and guidance on planning applications and proposed developments from Natural England.
Natural England provides advice and guidance to support planning applications and protect and enhance the natural environment.
Use this page to find our planning standing advice, standard guidance and other resources for local planning authorities, developers and others involved in the planning system.
Operational Statement and Standard
The Natural England Operational Statement explains how we will deal with requests for planning advice. We will make greater use of standing advice and standard guidance and focus our advice where it can make the greatest contribution to nature recovery and sustainable development.
The Natural England Standard: Responding to consultations on development summarises how we will respond to consultations on development. It sets out what we will consider in relation to biodiversity, geodiversity, landscape, seascape, access, green infrastructure and soils - for the projects themselves and any associated environmental assessments.
Protected species standing advice
Standing advice is Natural England’s generic, pre-issued advice on common planning issues. It informs decision making and can, in certain cases, replace the need for individual planning consultation responses. It also indicates when further engagement with Natural England may be needed.
Other standing advice
Planning guidance
Guidance for local planning authorities and other public bodies involved in planning and development decisions. You can find further Natural England guidance for public bodies grouped by topic in the following sections.
Agriculture and soils
Coastal and marine
Designated sites and Impact Risk Zones
Impact Risk Zones for Sites of Special Scientific Interest help local planning authorities to determine if a proposed development is likely to affect a terrestrial SSSI and when to consult Natural England.
The MAGIC mapping tool provides authoritative geographic information about the natural environment from across government.
Landscape
Minerals, restoration and aftercare
Nature recovery
Natural England’s guidance on biodiversity net gain (BNG), the Nature Restoration Fund and nutrient neutrality.
Advice for developers
Advice to help developers, consultants and applicants identify environmental considerations early and prepare planning proposals.