Bolton LPA BNG

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

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Biodiversity Net Gain in Bolton 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.

Bolton, located in Greater Manchester in North West England, is a metropolitan borough that spans a mix of urban centres, industrial heritage sites, and upland landscapes. Covering approximately 139 square kilometres, the borough includes the town of Bolton itself along with smaller settlements such as Farnworth, Horwich, and Westhoughton, as well as parts of the West Pennine Moors.

Bolton Council is committed to implementing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in accordance with the Environment Act 2021, which mandates a minimum 10% net gain in biodiversity value for most new developments. This can be delivered on-site or through registered off-site biodiversity units. BNG is supported within local planning policy and is embedded in Greater Manchester’s wider Green Infrastructure and Nature Recovery Strategy framework.

The borough spans several National Character Areas (NCAs), most notably the Southern Pennines and Manchester Conurbation. These areas support a varied mix of moorland, heath, woodland, and post-industrial habitats, creating both opportunities and sensitivities in BNG planning.

Bolton forms part of the Greater Manchester Environment Fund, which is developing regional habitat banks to facilitate off-site BNG delivery. The Council encourages early ecological input into developments, especially in proximity to sensitive moorland and river corridors.

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Habitats in Bolton 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.

Bolton’s landscape includes urban, upland, and post-industrial features, supporting a wide variety of habitats relevant to BNG delivery.

Upland and Moorland Habitats

The West Pennine Moors in the north and west of the borough contain blanket bog, wet heath, and acid grassland, with high distinctiveness and strict protection designations.

Moorland fringe habitats transition into pastoral farmland and wooded valleys.

Grassland Habitats

Lowland neutral and acid grasslands are found along river valleys, parklands, and former grazing fields.

Improved grassland dominates managed pastures and urban greenspaces, offering potential for wildflower restoration.

Amenity grassland is widespread across the urban area and can be targeted for enhancement.

Woodland and Scrub Habitats

Lowland mixed deciduous woodland is found in valleys and older estates, particularly around Smithills and Moses Gate.

Secondary woodland, scrub, and regenerating sites occur on former industrial land.

Wet woodland is associated with river valleys such as the Croal and Irwell.

Wetland and Watercourse Habitats

The River Croal, River Tonge, and parts of the Irwell catchment run through Bolton, supporting priority river habitats.

Ponds, SuDS, and marshy grassland are present in parks and open spaces.

Some reedbeds and flushes are found in low-lying or former mining areas.

Brownfield and Post-industrial Habitats

Open mosaic habitats are widespread, especially on disused rail lines, colliery spoil, and former mill grounds. These areas often support rare invertebrates and diverse plant communities.

Linear Features and Hedgerows

Field boundary hedgerows are more common in the borough’s rural south and west.

Canal corridors, such as the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal, serve as important ecological corridors through urban zones.

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Bolton 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.

In Bolton, BNG planning must prioritise the conservation of high distinctiveness habitats, particularly in and around the West Pennine Moors, blanket bog, and priority rivers. These areas are sensitive to disturbance and often irreplaceable.

More typical BNG interventions can be delivered through enhancement of urban grassland, SuDS integration, hedgerow planting, and brownfield habitat creation. Post-industrial landscapes offer significant opportunities for biodiversity uplift, particularly where they form part of Greater Manchester’s green infrastructure network.

The Council encourages use of the Greater Manchester Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) and supports collaboration with emerging habitat banks across the region for developments unable to deliver BNG on-site.

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