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Section 1: Our policies, objectives and actions
The London Borough of Bexley has embedded the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity across its strategic and operational functions, in line with Section 40 of the NERC Act. This section summarises the Council’s key policies, objectives and actions that contribute to delivering its biodiversity duty during the reporting period (1 January 2023 to 31 December 2025).
The Climate Change Statement and Action Plan, 2022 to 2026
Read the Climate Change Statement and Action Plan
Bexley aims to take practical action to address climate change and to protect and preserve the local nature and biodiversity. We are proud to have a strong record in looking after our environment and on delivering on our pledges. This includes having planted over 13,000 trees on the borough’s highways, which we are continuing to nurture and support in their growth. Our key commitments in this action plan are:
- Celebrate, promote and protect our natural environment,
- Reduce, reuse, recycle,
- Send no waste to landfill,
- Enable a greener economy,
- Empower our residents, businesses and partners to make positive changes,
- And to keep an open mind and to go further when we can.
These actions combined support the Council to work towards a stronger biodiversity.
Some key actions from the Action Plan which support our biodiversity include:
| Category | Action | Lead Officer |
| Parks and open spaces | Prior to tendering grounds maintenance contracts, seek to reduce fossil fuel and chemical/pesticide usage and impact on biodiversity where it is cost-effective. | Head of Leisure, Parks and Open Space |
| Parks and open spaces | Create new habitat to encourage new species. | Head of Leisure, Parks and Open Space |
| Parks and open spaces | Create more sustainable planting schemes – for example, use plants that will attract wildlife, have a longer life span and require less water, energy and tendering. | Head of Leisure, Parks and Open Space |
| Parks and open spaces | Maintain and seek additional funds to retain and increase tree cover in parks, public land and highways. | Head of Leisure, Parks and Open Space |
| Parks and open spaces | For future projects in parks and green spaces, use best practice to assess any climate change impacts and to consider appropriate mitigation options where feasible. | Head of Leisure, Parks and Open Space |
The Bexley Plan, ‘#MakingBexleyEvenBetter’, 2022 to 2026
The London Borough of Bexley’s approach to fulfilling its biodiversity duty is guided at a strategic level by the Bexley Plan, adopted in 2022. Although the Plan predates the enhanced biodiversity duty requirement, it demonstrates the Council’s proactive commitment to conserving and enhancing local wildlife and habitats. The Plan sets cross-council priorities for a ‘cleaner and greener borough’ and includes policies and actions such as:
| Activity | Cabinet Member |
| Investigate the opportunities of the green economy. | Growth |
| Continue zero tolerance of littering/fly-tipping - new enforcement contract tender. | Places |
| Increase investment in grounds maintenance of parks, hedges, and verges to improve green spaces in our borough. | Places |
| Invest in parks and open spaces through Cory Environmental Fund for 4 parks; plus new Gov Levelling Up funding. | Places |
| Make the most of our parks and open spaces, being open to new investment and opportunities that deliver against our core priorities. | Places |
These policies, objectives, and actions provide a clear framework for how the Council meets its statutory biodiversity duty and are highlighted throughout this report.
The Bexley Town Centres Strategy, adopted 2019
Read the Bexley Town Centres Strategy
The Bexley Town Centres Strategy refers to ‘Clean and green local space’ as one of its strategic themes, linked to the Council’s corporate plan. This is picked up in several places within the document, where the need to protect and enhance green features (e.g. street trees and planting) on most of the borough’s high streets is mentioned. The protection, enhancement and introduction of trees and plants in town centres can have a benefit for biodiversity. The Town Centres Strategy still provides the guiding principles for town centre initiatives delivered through the Council’s Economic Development and Placemaking Teams.
The Bexley Local Plan, adopted in 2023
The Bexley Local Plan was adopted in 2023. It sets out the spatial strategy for sustainable growth while protecting and enhancing the borough’s natural environment. The Plan embeds biodiversity protection, conservation, restoration and enhancement throughout its spatial and development policies. It requires measurable biodiversity net gain, the application of the mitigation hierarchy, and the integration of green and blue infrastructure within development proposals. Through policies SP8, SP9, DP20 and DP21 the Plan safeguards designated sites, strengthens ecological connectivity, and promotes the Urban Greening Factor. Policies SP14, DP30 to DP33 encourage nature-based solutions such as SuDS, river restoration in the context of climate change and flood resilience. These measures ensure that planning and development decisions actively conserve and enhance biodiversity.
Read the Design Guide supplementary planning document
The Design Guide SPD provide further advice and guidance on the policies in our Local Plan. It sets out the key principles for achieving good design and, provides practical support for those developing, commenting on and deciding applications for new buildings and public spaces within the borough. The SPD includes guidance relating to biodiversity, specifying the key planning requirements that new development proposals should consider to ensure that biodiversity, and ecological requirements are properly addressed. It includes a 5-point mitigation hierarchy and a dedicated section on incorporating space for nature using locally appropriate habitats and urban greening within development proposals.