Guidance

Environmental objectives: useful resources

Updated 20 October 2023

Applies to England

A list of resources to help you meet the environmental objectives in the criteria and scoring guidance.

It might be useful for you to use:

• the UK Habitat Classification which is definitive for habitats - for example, to decide what counts as ‘coastal habitat’
• Designations in Magic Map to locate sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) and other protected sites
• Natural England’s guidance on improving the site’s condition if your project includes SSSIs
• the GB Non-native Species Secretariat to get advice on managing invasive, non-native species
• the Nature Networks Evidence Handbook, a reference guide to support nature recovery
• Natural England’s The Mosaic Approach: Managing Habitats for Species to apply the mosaic approach to different habitats. You could deliver a habitat mosaic through the restoration of natural, dynamic processes in a low-intervention approach, targeted management to create or restore semi-natural habitats or a combination of these 2 approaches
• the Environment Agency’s flood risk maps to check risk in the proposed project area
• Natural England’s Climate Change Adaptation Manual for projects resilient to climate change and supporting species adaptation
• the Catchment Data Explorer to understand the water environment in your proposed project area
• working with natural processes to reduce flood risk documents for nature-based solutions to create or restore water-dependent habitats
• your local Historic Environment Records and the National Heritage List for England to find out about heritage sites in your proposed project area
• Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register for opportunities for enhancing heritage sites in your project area
• the National Character Area profiles for an overview of local landscape character and heritage. Many local authorities have also undertaken landscape character assessment - this should be available on the authority’s website
• Historic Ordnance Survey maps from National Library of Scotland and Historic Landscape Characterisation to understand how landscapes have changed
• the UK Forestry Standard for the government’s approach to sustainable forestry - you can also refer to the Forestry Commission’s guide to planning new woodland in England

If you want to consider how your project will align with the local environmental context, see:

• the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) pilots which are being prepared across England. Responsible authorities will be reaching out to farmers and landowners for their input
• National Park management plans or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty management plans
• National Nature Reserves
• river basin management plans