Blackburn with Darwen LPA BNG

Discover key habitats, BNG requirements, and planning guidance for developers in Blackburn with Darwen LPA Local Planning Authority.

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Biodiversity Net Gain in Blackburn with Darwen LPA Local Planning Authority

West Berkshire, located in South East England, is a predominantly rural Local Planning Authority (LPA) known for its diverse natural environment and rich ecological heritage. Covering an area of approximately 704 square kilometres, the district includes a range of urban centres and rural settlements, with Newbury serving as the principal town. Other significant towns and villages within the LPA include Thatcham, Hungerford, Pangbourne, and Theale, each contributing to the area's distinctive landscape character and biodiversity value.

As part of its commitment to sustainable development, West Berkshire Council actively supports the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in line with the Environment Act 2021. Developers working within the LPA are required to deliver a minimum 10% net gain in biodiversity value for most developments, secured through habitat creation, enhancement, or approved off-site units.

West Berkshire encompasses several National Character Areas (NCAs), notably the North Wessex Downs and Thames Basin Heaths, each influencing the typical habitat types found in the region. These include ancient woodlands, chalk grasslands, river valleys, lowland mixed deciduous woodlands, and floodplain meadows—many of which are priority habitats under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. This ecological diversity presents both opportunities and constraints for BNG delivery, requiring careful ecological assessment and strategic planning.

For developers, landowners, and planners operating within West Berkshire, understanding the LPA’s landscape, habitat distribution, and regional policy context is critical to meeting BNG obligations. Our team provides tailored support through BNG assessments, habitat mapping, and access to verified local BNG units and schemes.

To learn more about BNG opportunities in this area, contact us or register to be notified when local schemes become available.

Blackburn with Darwen, located in Lancashire in North West England, is a unitary authority comprising two main urban centres—Blackburn and Darwen—set within a broader landscape of moorland, woodland, and river valleys. Covering approximately 137 square kilometres, the borough combines industrial heritage with green corridors, upland rural fringe, and the upper catchments of the Rivers Darwen and Blakewater.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council supports the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) under the Environment Act 2021. A minimum 10% increase in biodiversity value is required for most developments, which must be delivered through habitat creation, enhancement, or recognised off-site biodiversity units. The Council promotes BNG through its Local Plan, Green Infrastructure Strategy, and Ecological Network Mapping, aiming to deliver both ecological uplift and community benefits.

The borough lies primarily within the Pennine Lancashire Ormes and Valleys National Character Area and the southern edge of the West Pennine Moors. These character areas influence local habitat types, including upland acid grasslands, heath, wooded cloughs, and species-rich pastures. Areas such as Witton Country Park, Darwen Moor, and the River Darwen Corridor offer key opportunities for nature recovery and habitat enhancement.

Understanding habitat distinctiveness, landscape connectivity, and long-term stewardship is essential for successful BNG delivery in the borough. Our team provides tailored support through ecological baseline surveys, BNG metric assessments, and access to local habitat banks.

To learn more about BNG opportunities in Blackburn with Darwen, contact us or register to be informed when local schemes and offset sites become available.

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Habitats in Blackburn with Darwen LPA Local Planning Authority

West Berkshire’s landscape is shaped predominantly by the North Wessex Downs National Character Area (NCA 116), a chalk downland landscape of international ecological importance, and partly by the Thames Basin Heaths (NCA 129). These NCAs support a rich mosaic of habitats, many of which are priority habitats under BNG classifications and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

Grassland Habitats
Lowland calcareous grassland dominates the chalk ridge areas, supporting diverse plant species like orchids and wild thyme.
Lowland meadows are scattered along the Kennet Valley and floodplain, offering high biodiversity value, particularly for invertebrates and ground-nesting birds.
Areas of modified grassland are common in improved pastures and paddocks, but these hold lower BNG value unless enhanced.
In some acidic soils, lowland dry acid grassland and other lowland acid grassland can be found, especially on sandy substrates and heathland edges.

Woodland and Forest Habitats
The LPA contains extensive lowland mixed deciduous woodland, particularly on the clay-with-flints plateau and valley slopes, providing habitat for bats, dormice, and woodland birds.
Veteran trees and old estates feature wood-pasture and parkland, a rare and highly valued BNG habitat.
Areas of wet woodland, often associated with river valleys, add to the ecological complexity.

Heathland and Shrub
On the fringes of the Thames Basin Heaths, lowland heathland and mixed scrub are present, though often fragmented, supporting heathland birds like nightjar and Dartford warbler.

Wetland and Watercourse Habitats
The River Kennet, a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), provides priority river habitats and supports adjacent floodplain wetland mosaics.
Smaller ponds, reedbeds, and ditches are scattered across the landscape, particularly in floodplain areas.

Cropland Habitats
Much of West Berkshire’s agricultural land is under cereal crops or temporary grass and clover leys, but there is increasing scope to integrate arable field margins for biodiversity gain.

Hedgerows and Linear Features
The rural landscape is strongly characterised by native species-rich hedgerows, often associated with ditches and banks, which function as critical wildlife corridors under BNG classification.

Blackburn with Darwen includes a diverse range of habitats spanning upland and lowland zones, influenced by topography, hydrology, and post-industrial land use.

Grassland Habitats

Upland acid grassland is prevalent on Darwen Moor and other Pennine fringe areas, supporting specialist flora and invertebrates.

Neutral grasslands occur in valley bottoms, parks, and pastures, often semi-improved and supporting small-scale biodiversity.

Improved grasslands dominate in farmland, sports fields, and urban green spaces; BNG potential is greatest where these can be diversified.

Calcareous and species-rich grasslands are locally significant in roadside verges and unmanaged plots.

Woodland and Forest Habitats

Lowland mixed deciduous woodland occurs in cloughs, valley slopes, and plantations such as those in Witton Country Park and Pleasington.

Wet woodland is found in association with river corridors and low-lying areas.

Scrub and early successional woodland are widespread on post-industrial land and hill slopes.

Wetland and Watercourse Habitats

The River Darwen, Blakewater, and associated streams offer priority river habitat, with some reaches bordered by riparian woodland and floodplain grassland.

Ponds, ditches, and reedbeds are found in parks, golf courses, and wet depressions, providing important habitat for amphibians and birds.

Flood-prone areas present opportunities for wetland restoration and SuDS integration.

Moorland and Heath Habitats

Lowland and upland heath are found on Darwen Moor and associated gritstone uplands, though often fragmented or in need of restoration.

These habitats support birds such as skylark and curlew, and form part of the wider upland biodiversity network.

Brownfield and Urban Habitats

Open mosaic habitat is frequent on disused industrial land, railway corridors, and unmanaged spaces, offering high distinctiveness under BNG metrics.

Urban greenspaces, though often low in biodiversity, can be enhanced through wildflower planting and habitat creation.

Hedgerows and Linear Features

Species-rich hedgerows and stone walls form boundaries in rural areas and function as important wildlife corridors.

Green corridors along rivers, paths, and old rail lines provide ecological connectivity within the urban fabric.

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Blackburn with Darwen LPA BNG Planning

For BNG delivery in West Berkshire, high and very high distinctiveness habitats such as lowland calcareous grassland, lowland meadows, wood-pasture, and priority rivers are particularly important to protect and enhance. Restoration or creation of such habitats provides the highest biodiversity uplift but also carries stricter requirements under the BNG metric.

Conversely, improving lower distinctiveness habitats, such as modified grassland or cropland through buffer planting, hedgerow enhancement, or field margin creation, offers practical options for on-site or local BNG contributions.

BNG in Blackburn with Darwen is best achieved through a combination of protection of high distinctiveness habitats (e.g. upland heath, open mosaic, riparian woodland) and strategic enhancement of lower distinctiveness areas such as improved grassland, urban greenspaces, and disused brownfield land.

Priority should be given to enhancing habitats along key ecological networks, such as the River Darwen corridor, clough woodlands, and moorland edges, where biodiversity uplift can be delivered at scale. Habitat banks and offsetting schemes are being explored within the borough to support developers who are unable to meet BNG targets on-site.

Practical delivery options include creation of species-rich grassland, wetland features, woodland edges, and hedgerow planting. Post-industrial areas offer particular scope for biodiversity restoration and are well-aligned with green infrastructure strategies.

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