Guidance

Local Sites and nature conservation

Published 10 August 2026

Applies to England

Local Sites are non-statutory areas of significant nature conservation value. They are not legally protected, but rely on local policy and decision making.

Local Sites are identified and selected at a local level. They make an important contribution to ecological networks and nature’s recovery.

They can also provide wider benefits including public access (where agreed), climate mitigation and helping to tackle air pollution. They can be in in rural, urban or coastal locations. They can vary considerably in size, and may be made up of a number of separate sites. 

There are 2 types of Local Sites:

• Local Wildlife Sites (LWS), identified for their significant biodiversity value
• Local Geological Sites (LGS), identified for their significant geological value

Local Wildlife Sites (LWS)

Local Wildlife Site is the nationally recognised name, but they are also known regionally by different names including:

• Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI)
• Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC)
• County Wildlife Sites (CWS)

The Royal Society of Wildlife Trust maintain a website with information about LWS in England, including the total number and area covered.

Local Geological Sites (LGS) 

Local Geological Sites are also known as Regionally Important Geological Sites (RIGS). This was their former name and is still in common use.

You can find out more about LGS at GeoConservationUK, and in ‘2.2: Site audit and selection’ in part 1 of Natural England’s Geoconservation: Principles and practice (NE802).

The role of Local Sites

Local Sites should include all areas of substantive value including both the most important and the most distinctive species, habitats, geological and geomorphological features within a national, regional and local context.

Local Sites:

• provide comprehensive, rather than representative, networks of important sites
• act as wildlife refuges for most of the UK’s fauna and flora, complementing statutory protected sites through buffering and connectivity
• play a significant role in achieving national and regional biodiversity targets
• represent local character and distinctiveness
• represent local geological diversity
• contribute to quality of life and community wellbeing
• provide opportunities for research and education

How Local Sites are managed

A Local Sites system is the process for identifying, selecting, assessing and monitoring Local Sites, including the management and sharing of Local Sites data, and the maintenance of the Local Sites network.

Local Sites systems are usually administered at a county or unitary authority scale and are usually managed through a Local Sites partnership. This partnership consists of local organisations, each contributing different expertise and responsibilities.

Local authorities

Local authorities are responsible for creating partnerships and developing the processes and systems to identify and manage Local Sites.

Local Environmental Records Centres

Local Environmental Records Centres (LERCS) gather, maintain, analyse and share information about the features, habitats and species present.

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and local groups

These partners can bring important connections and local knowledge, and can include organisations and groups such as:

• Friends of the Earth
• Geologists’ Association groups
• local natural history and conservation societies including local species recording groups
• RIGS Groups
• RSPB
• The Conservation Volunteers (TCV)
• The Wildlife Trusts
• other ‘friends of’ groups

Statutory agencies

Statutory agencies such as Natural England, the Forestry Commission and the Environment Agency have direct responsibilities for nature conservation through regulation, influence over land management, and the management of their own estates.

What Local Sites partnerships do

Partnerships agree clear roles and responsibilities for all partners and set out the process and criteria to use when selecting Local Sites.

The partnership’s role should be to:

• agree the basis for site selection
• coordinate site selection procedures, including survey and identification of candidate sites
• actively promote and support site management
• provide support and advice to landowners
• coordinate funding provision or identify opportunities for funding
• promote educational use where appropriate
• maintain and promote data standards for site selection and review
• establish a process for monitoring the condition of Local Sites
• review the operation of the Local Sites system at appropriate intervals
• promote the role and importance of Local Sites at a strategic level
• promote the enhancement of sites through buffering and increased connectivity

Find out more about how Local Sites partnerships should select, manage and deselect Local Sites.

How Local Sites relate to government policy

Local Sites are non‑statutory, and so not legally protected. Instead, they rely on local policy and decision making. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and national planning practice guidance set out requirements for their protection.

Statutory biodiversity duties

Public bodies have a duty to further the general biodiversity objective. This means that they must conserve and enhance biodiversity in England through the exercise of their functions. This is covered in Section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (NERC) (as amended by the Environment Act (EA) 2021).

Public bodies must:

• consider what action they can take to further the general biodiversity objective
• determine policies and objectives for taking that action
• act on those policies

This includes observing any relevant:

• local nature recovery strategy
• species recovery strategy
• protected sites strategy

With the exception of parish councils, public authorities must also report on their performance of this duty. This is specified under section 40A of NERC 2006 (introduced via the EA 2021).Local Sites provide a vital local evidence base on habitats and species, helping public authorities understand where biodiversity value exists and how their decisions and activities may affect it.

Most Local Sites will contain habitats or species of principal importance, and therefore all local authorities have a legal duty to have regard for their conservation.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) regularly publishes statistics about Local Sites in positive conservation management in England.

Priority habitats and species

The Secretary of State must publish a list of habitats and species of principle importance for conservation of biodiversity, under Section 41 of the NERC Act 2006. Many LWS contain Section 41 features. Public authorities must consider these features when carrying out their functions and making planning decisions.

Local nature recovery strategies

Local nature recovery strategies (LNRS) are a system of spatial strategies to guide action for nature recovery and environmental improvement required by law under the Environment Act 2021.

LNRS recognise LWS as areas of particular importance for biodiversity being a mandatory and integral part of local nature recovery.

LNRS preparation is collaborative, bringing together a wide range of land managers, environmental organisations, infrastructure agencies and public bodies. This supports broader recognition, maintenance and enhancement of Local Sites, However, LNRS mapping may not include every Local Site in detail due to variations in local approach and data availability.

Biodiversity net gain

Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is an approach to land management that aims to deliver measurable improvements for nature in association with a new development. This is achieved by creating or enhancing wildlife habitats, rivers and streams and hedgerows. It was made mandatory for most developments in 2024 under Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as inserted by Schedule 14 of the Environment Act 2021).

BNG does not change existing legal protections for important habitats, wildlife species, and protected sites, including Local Sites. There must still be proper application of the planning mitigation hierarchy to avoid impacts first, then reduce, mitigate and only compensate as a last resort. Early consideration of Local Sites in plan making and decisions will help ensure impacts are avoided and minimised at the outset.

BNG requires nature to be left in a better state than it was before the development took place. This means that improvements to biodiversity through BNG must be additional to existing mechanisms and funding for nature conservation and enhancement, that would have or should have happened anyway.

Contribution to the 30by30 targets

The UK has committed to protecting and effectively managing at least 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030.

Some Local Sites could contribute towards the 30by30 target under a category known as other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) where they demonstrate long-term effective nature conservation management.

30by30 recognition does not change a Local Site’s non-statutory status. However, it does create incentives for landowners, conservation organisations, and public bodies to improve long‑term management standards on Local Sites so that they can contribute to national nature recovery targets. It encourages practitioners other than local authorities to commit to long‑term environmental management. 30by30 on land in England: confirmed criteria and next steps

Agri-environment schemes

In England, Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes, including Countryside Stewardship (CS), provide financial support for actions that create, restore, maintain or enhance habitats and support species recovery. For privately-owned Local Sites, participation in agri-environment schemes (AES) should support the management of habitats and species for which the site was selected. The schemes operate separately from Local Site designation, but AES management agreements could contribute to maintaining site condition.

Other relevant legislation and policy

The government’s Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP 2023) sets national ambitions, targets and delivery frameworks that Local Sites support.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, Local Sites may be relevant when screening EIAs, but only sites above 2ha.

The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act (LURA) 2023 contains environmental reporting and plan‑making provisions relevant to LNRS.

Local Sites are also considered within the following legislation and policy frameworks:

• regional plans and frameworks
• the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
• the conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017
• the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949

Local Sites in planning context

National planning policy requires that planning decisions contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment. Local Sites are part of the evidence base that supports this approach and can be a material consideration when plans are drawn up, and planning applications are decided.

Local Sites in planning applications

Where development is proposed on or near a Local Site, applicants should:

• at the outset, identify whether the site is already identified as a Local Site
• get up‑to‑date boundary, citation information and survey output
• assess likely impacts on the features of interest (biodiversity or geology) using recognised methods
• apply the mitigation hierarchy: avoid, minimise, restore, and finally compensate

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires that significant harm to biodiversity should be avoided, and if it cannot be avoided or mitigated, planning permission should be refused.

Local planning authorities (LPAs) should consider:

• the site’s ecological or geological value and the significance of likely impacts
• the adequacy of survey information, and of avoidance and mitigation measures
• compliance with legislation, Local Plan policy and national policy

When determining planning applications, LPAs should:

• check whether proposals affect a Local Site
• check whether the applicant has provided current, adequate ecological or geological data at an appropriate level of detail
• consider how proposals avoid, mitigate or compensate for impacts on Local Site interests
• apply BNG requirements where relevant
• make decisions consistent with the Local Plan and the NPPF’s requirement to protect and enhance sites of biodiversity or geological value.

LPAs have a legal duty to consider biodiversity when determining planning applications under the strengthened biodiversity duty in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (as amended by the Environment Act 2021).

Find out more about implementing policy to protect and enhance the natural environment in the planning system.