Introduction

This report sets out how Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) has met its strengthened biodiversity duty during the first reporting period, following the council’s initial consideration of the duty in January 2024. It explains the actions taken to conserve and enhance biodiversity, the progress and outcomes achieved to date, and how biodiversity has been considered across council functions and decision‑making. The report also outlines the policies, projects and partnerships that support delivery of the duty, and identifies key actions the council plans to take in the next reporting period. As the council’s first statutory report under the Environment Act 2021, it provides a baseline against which future progress will be monitored and reported. 

By law, this report must provide:

  • a summary of the action we’ve taken to comply with the biodiversity duty (from 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2025)
  • how we plan to comply with the biodiversity duty in the next reporting period (from 01 January 2026 to 31st December 2031)
  • any other information you consider appropriate

As a local planning authority, we must also include the following Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) information:

  • the actions you’ve carried out to meet BNG obligations (from 01 January 2024 – 31 December 2025)
  • details of BNG resulting, or expected to result, from biodiversity gain plans you’ve approved (from 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2025)
  • how you plan to meet BNG obligations in the next reporting period (from 01 January 2026 to 31st December 2031)

Contents

  • Section 1 – Biodiversity Duty: actions to date and future plans
  • Section 2 – Biodiversity Net Gain: actions to date and future plans
  • Annex A – BHCC Designated sites within our area
    • Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)
    • Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Local Nature Reserves (LNRs)
    • Local Wildlife Sites (LWSs)
    • Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs)

Summary

Biodiversity is our planet’s life support system. Protecting and restoring nature underpins the health and wellbeing of people and wildlife in an era of climate change.  Nature is crucial for our communities in providing vital ecosystem services.

Since publishing our First Considerations Report in January 2024, the council has moved from identifying opportunities to actively delivering a wide range of biodiversity actions across planning, land management, education, and partnership programmes, while also putting in place new systems, updated strategies and strengthened governance to embed biodiversity more consistently across all council functions. 

Since 2024 we have continued to protect and enhance our environment by:

  • working with our county partners on drafting and delivering the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, on track to be published Spring 2026
  • hosting The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere partnership, bringing people and nature together, with a renewed designation in 2025.
  • delivering the Changing Chalk Partnership, including the creation of twenty-five wildflower verges, and the rewilding of ‘Waterhall’, a former golf course, to restore fragile chalk grassland.
  • flourishing of 20 B-Banks  - bee and butterfly‑friendly mini chalk‑grassland habitats  - across the city, attracting over 700 different wildlife species.
  • delivering a long-term strategy, the City Downland Estate Plan, for our agricultural estate and portfolio.

Section 1 – Biodiversity Duty: actions to date and future plans

Declared Climate and Biodiversity Emergency 

January 2024 to December 2025 update

Corporate Leadership Plan 2025 to 2026

“Develop a new programme to address the climate and biodiversity emergencies and help the city transition to carbon net zero.”

Scored 29% for biodiversity action by Climate Emergency UK. This is down 25 places, mainly due to the reintroduction of selective pesticide use for safer pavements, due to the increase of national requirements for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) which brought them in line with the council's previously higher requirement, and due to other councils’ improved performance.

Future actions for 2026 to 2031

Next Corporate Leadership Plan will be published in 2027.

Additional policies and objectives to consider

Brighton & Hove Climate and Nature Action Plan, due Spring 2026.

Council Plan 

January 2024 to December 2025 update

Brighton & Hove City Council plan 2023 to 2027 refresh 2025

  • Renewed commitment to Outcome 1: A city to be proud of.
  • The plan commits the council to:

“Protecting and enhancing the city’s natural environment… and helping the city to combat climate change and biodiversity loss.”

Future actions for 2026 to 2031

Next council plan will be published in 2027.

Additional policies and objectives to consider

  • Alignment to the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, soon to be published.
  • Use of city’s Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment and progress on action plan.
  • Use of Circular Economy Route Map and Action Plan.
  • Development of KPIs / decision making tool to measure success.
  • Use of market engagement and social value to drive biodiversity enhancements in procurement and from our supply chain as and where possible.
  • Brighton & Hove Climate and Nature Action Plan, due Spring 2026.

Corporate Leadership Plan 2025 to 2026

January 2024 to December 2025 update

Corporate Leadership Plan 2025 to 2026

1.2.2 Work towards carbon net zero:

“Develop a new programme to address the climate and biodiversity emergencies and help the city transition to carbon net zero.”

1.2.3 Protect and enhance the city’s natural environment

“Enhance and preserve the city's parks, trees and green spaces to keep them safe and attractive for residents and visitors, and increase biodiversity.”

“Implement the objectives of the City Downland Estate Plan (CDEP) to protect and enhance the land for future generations.”

Future actions for 2026 to 2031

Next Corporate Leadership Plan to be published in 2027.

Additional policies and objectives to consider

  • Same as previous.

Carbon Neutral Programme

January 2024 to December 2025 update

The carbon neutral programme is now under the council’s Net Zero service.

Since January 2024, we have continued to deliver the biodiversity objectives of the Carbon Neutral Programme, including:

  • Delivering the City Downland Estate Plan, including promoting nature-friendly farming.
  • Supporting the stakeholder-led Local Food Growth Plan 2025
  • Supporting the stakeholder-led Food Strategy 2025-2030 including measures to reduce food waste, promote more plant based diets, and tackle food poverty in the city.
  • Delivering biodiversity enhancements across our estate, including Wilding Waterhall, Greening the Cities and managing more of our city parks and green spaces for nature.
  • Maintaining Blue Flag status of our beaches and restoring kelp to coastline.

Future actions for 2026 to 2031

The Carbon Neutral Programme has been refreshed, and renamed the Climate and Nature Action Plan – due to be published in Spring 2026.

Three key strands

  • Climate mitigation
  • Climate Adaptation
  • Nature Restoration.
Nature Restoration and enhancement

Key actions include:

  • restoring nature in the city – supporting delivery of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), administering BNG, delivering a new Green and Blue Infrastructure Study, enhancing biodiversity in our estate, and promoting biodiversity across our communities.
  • Restoring nature in the City Downland Estate – delivering our City Downland Estate Plan, promoting nature-friendly farming and sustainable food production, and enhancing biodiversity in our estate.
  • Financing local nature recovery projects – delivering core measures within the LNRS, develop Habitat Banks and an independent vehicle to attract green finance.

Additional policies and objectives to consider

Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS)

January 2024 to December 2025 update

LNRS went out for final public consultation Oct-Nov 2025 and is on track for publication in Spring 2026

Works undertaken include:

  • Sitting on the board and supporting authority groups;
  • Joint communications campaign undertaken with ESCC & WSCC;
  • Briefings (written and webinars) to councillors;
  • Internal officer workshop to all key services and information on the LNRS consultation submission taken to Director Leadership, Corporate Leadership and Informal Cabinet teams in November 2025

Future actions for 2026 to 2031

  • Work with Responsible Authority ESCC and key stakeholders to publish LNRS for East Sussex and Brighton & Hove; and in Spring 2026.
  • Share / publicise LNRS information and help engage with stakeholders by promoting through social media and communications channels.
  • Inclusion and alignment of the LNRS in the coming workstreams:
    • Climate and Nature Action Plan
    • City Plan review.
    • Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy.
  • All other relevant council functions to have due regard to the LNRS.

Additional policies and objectives to consider

Development management

January 2024 to December 2025 update

  • BNG Technical Advice Note published 2024 to guide applicants on meeting mandatory BNG requirements as well as policy requirements of City Plan Parts 1 and 2.
  • Securing mandatory BNG from relevant major developments from February 2024 and relevant minor developments from April 2024.
  • City Plan 2041 Key Issues consultation undertaken October 2024 to January 2025. Questions sought feedback on option to increase target for BNG sought from new development and where off-site BNG should be located as well as option to use a target for securing green infrastructure.
  • Waste and Minerals Plan Revised Policies adopted October 2024. Includes policy RD1 Environment and Environmental Enhancement. 

Future actions for 2026 to 2031

Review of City Plan Part 1 will take place (2026-2029). City Plan will need to be in accordance with new National Planning Policy Framework  (NPPF) which indicates that only site allocation policies can include a higher target for BNG than mandatory minimum where justified.

Consideration of green infrastructure policies that secure a certain amount of green infrastructure from new major development.  

Additional policies and objectives to consider

  • Ensure relevant developments deliver minimum 10% BNG; and
  • Use of Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD); Planning Advice Notes and Technical Advice Notes; and
  • Ensure any proposed minerals and waste development meets RD1 (delivering BNG and contributing to the delivery of the LNRS).

Species conservation strategies

January 2024 to December 2025 update

  • Renewal letter submitted 12 Sept 2025 as signed by Nicola Hurley, Head of Planning 

Future actions for 2026 to 2031

Renewal of District Licence agreed with NatureSpace beginning 10th February 2026.

Continue to work with NatureSpace, as relevant, to target the delivery of new habitat in the most appropriate locations for the species.

Other strategies

January 2024 to December 2025 update

In this period the following strategies were published, which have a likely impact on biodiversity:

Future actions for 2026 to 2031

All council strategies and plans to ensure they take full account of the biodiversity duty and identify opportunities to deliver elements of the LNRS / recovering nature as and where possible.

Planned strategies which will likely have an impact on biodiversity include:

Additional policies and objectives to consider

Educate, advise and raise awareness

January 2024 to December 2025 update

  • Update of biodiversity webpages – Spring 2026;
  • Biosphere redesignation confirmed including increased boundary area;
  • Our City Our World – worked with around 50 Primary and 6 Secondary Schools, including promotion of nature connection and outdoor learning across the curriculum, visits to local green and blue spaces, assemblies and curriculum resources on local biodiversity.  Support for schools to develop grounds for biodiversity including 3 Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDs) schemes.  Promoting individual, whole school and family pledges for biodiversity.
  • Greening the Cities: 1200 hours of volunteer work to improve existing bee banks- bee and butterfly‑friendly mini chalk‑grassland habitats.
  • The Aquifer Project: delivered over 20 talks and engagement events, along with hundreds of school children engaged on water issues through the Our City Our World programme. Oversaw delivery of the Wild Park Rainscape with significant local and national press interest. Presentation on the associated ongoing research to UNESCO in Venice, Italy.
  • Rangers: facilitated more than 200 individual-workdays with volunteers. The total number of volunteers engaged in 2024 was 1,854.  The total equivalent hours contributed by these volunteers in 2024 was 7301
  • Wilding Waterhall: Up to 20 educational visits to all learners. 

Future actions for 2026 to 2031

  • Continued educational visits at Wilding Waterhall.
  • Continued workdays with CityParks Rangers volunteers.
  • Additional 250m2 of chalk wildflower site at city cemetery.
  • Continued maintenance of urban chalk wildflower sites.
  • Keep biodiversity webpages and net zero hub current and up-to-date, and continue to work on biodiversity focused communications campaigns;
  • Continue to support biosphere objectives as the lead partner;
  • Continue to actively support and align with Our City Our World education programme, with emphasis on enhancing biodiversity in secondary schools.
  • Ongoing delivery of The Aquifer Project focused on three priorities:
    • To protect and improve the quality and resilience of the water environment in the Brighton & Hove urban and rural area
    • Promote sustainable water quality interventions in the urban setting
    • Improve community awareness of the importance of the aquifer through targeted awareness raising, education, knowledge exchange and showcasing best practice

Additional policies and objectives to consider

Local Wildlife Sites (LWSs)

January 2024 to December 2025 update

The most recent submitted data for positive conservation management for LWSs (under SDL160 reporting requirement to Government) is from April 2024 to March 2025 and is still 88 sites and 43% in positive management.

Future actions for 2026 to 2031

  • Continue to support the Sussex Local Wildlife Site Initiative (SxLWSI) to ensure the suite of LWSs are reviewed to give a robust evidence base for protection through the planning system;
  • Work with the SxLWSI to develop a system for exploring the designation of new LWSs, potentially identified through the LNRS process; and
  • Look at internal systems (Rangers teams etc) & community groups / volunteer options to manage more LWS sites in positive conservation management.

Additional policies and objectives to consider

Flood risk management and coastal erosion

January 2024 to December 2025 update

Future actions for 2026 to 2031

  • Citywide SUDs strategy to be published, informed by our Brighton & Hove Green Infrastructure Study and our a city-wide SUDs feasibility study.
  • Review management strategies and SUDs standing advice to preserve geological / ecological diversity;
  • Work with Environment Agency (EA) and others to understand where nature-based solutions and adaptation for flood risk and coastal erosion management could be implemented;
  • Continued delivery of The Brighton Marina to River Adur Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy
  • Review and update biodiversity webpages noting key ecological features such as coastal vegetated shingle and chalk downland habitats;
  • Continued delivery of The Aquifer Project (TAP).

Additional policies and objectives to consider

Estate/land management

January 2024 to December 2025 update

  • Delivery of the City Downland Estate Plan
  • Greening the Cities: 550m2 of urban chalk wildflower sites created, and planting of nearly 5000 wildflowers in existing bee banks.
  • Continued to deliver Tree Planting Plan in parks and streets
  • Continued to protect tree stock from ash and elm diseases.
  • Delivered training for volunteers to manage sites independently.
  • Increasing involvement with management of City Downland Estate: supported farm tenants into new agri-environment schemes

Future actions for 2026 to 2031

In accordance with our Climate and Nature Action Plan to be published in Spring 2026, and aligned with LNRS we will:

  • Continue to conserve and enhance habitats on our land and encourage wildlife to thrive within all open spaces including parks and gardens;
  • Implement management and monitoring of the ecological condition of important sites including Local Wildlife Sites and Local Nature Reserves, and manage rights of way to maximise their biodiversity interest and to support access to the countryside;
  • Continue to actively progress and implement the City Downland Estate plan actions and objectives;
  • Develop Habitat Bank opportunities across the City Downland Estate to enhance and improve habitats through BNG and other potential contributions;
  • Consider where properties/land/estate can be enhanced/managed for biodiversity;
  • Use learning and showcase successes from Wilding Waterhall and other projects across the city where possible;
  • Transition from higher level stewardship to countryside stewardship for short-grassland sites and increased number of sites.
  • Look to invest in dew pond management with South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA);
  • Look to improve management of cemeteries with grazing;
  • Introduce cut and collect on grassland and verge sites including clifftop Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI.)

Additional policies and objectives to consider

The Brighton & Hove Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) adopted 2012

January 2024 to December 2025 update

This plan was superseded by the Carbon Neutral Programme in 2019.

Future actions for 2026 to 2031

This plan will be superseded by Nature Restoration and Enhancement Action Plan in the upcoming Climate and Nature Plan in Spring 2026.

Additional policies and objectives to consider

Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Internal staff policies

January 2024 to December 2025 update

From Jan 2024 to December 2025 our e-learning course on climate change was completed by 181 staff and 9 external partners.

Future actions for 2026 to 2031

  • E-learning course due for a content refresh summer 2026.
  • Investigate biodiversity staff training. 

Additional policies and objectives to consider

Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Section 2 – Biodiversity Net Gain: actions to date and future plans

Actions carried out to meet Biodiveristy Net Gain (BNG) obligations

During this reporting period, the council purchased the new Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) module from Exacom to meet its BNG obligations. This module is an add‑on to Exacom’s main web‑based software. Exacom is a software company which provides tools for managing the Community Infrastructure Levy, Section 106, and project information. The Council already uses Exacom to monitor Section 106 and the Community Infrastructure Levy. Because of this, we were already familiar with the system and only needed minimal training to start using the new BNG module effectively. This new module allows us to import, record, and monitor BNG data directly from the DEFRA BNG Metric spreadsheets (statutory and small site). We've set up workflows to ensure that biodiversity gain plans are logged, checked, and tracked. The system stores all metric scores, habitat information, delivery milestones, and habitat management and monitoring plans in one place. Officers also carry out manual checks on any supporting monitoring reports submitted by applicants or land managers. All information is reviewed internally to make sure it is complete, accurate, and consistent with the approved biodiversity gain plan. This combined digital and manual approach allows us to monitor compliance at set intervals and provides a consistent way to record obligations linked to planning permissions.

Details of BNG resulting, or expected to result, from approved biodiversity gain plans

Where biodiversity gain plans have been approved, all related BNG data gets entered into the Exacom system. This enables us to monitor predicted biodiversity gains, including the type and area of habitats to be created or enhanced, expected biodiversity units, and whether these will be delivered on site or off site. As plans progress, the system allows us to track key delivery milestones and the timescales for habitat establishment and management. Scheduled review points within the system help ensure that required enhancements are delivered and that the predicted biodiversity outcomes are achieved.

How the council plans to meet BNG obligations in the next reporting period

In the next reporting period, the council will continue to develop and refine its BNG monitoring processes and make full use of the Exacom BNG module. As national guidance evolves and additional functionality becomes available, such as public facing features and Application Programming Interface integrations, we'll update our internal procedures to align with these changes. We will continue to require biodiversity gain plans for relevant planning applications, upload metric data into the system, and monitor delivery through formal review stages. This supports clear, transparent reporting and helps ensure that all BNG commitments are fully secured and delivered.

You can see our full Biodiversity Net Gain report.

Conclusion

Since our First Consideration Report in January 2024, the council has strengthened how biodiversity is embedded across its policies, land management, planning processes and community programmes, supported by new monitoring systems for Biodiversity Net Gain.

As we move into the next reporting period (2026–2031), the council will build on this foundation by aligning delivery with the forthcoming Local Nature Recovery Strategy and the Climate and Nature Action Plan, strengthening our regional partnerships, expanding long‑term habitat restoration, enhancing the management of designated sites, and maturing the systems needed to support securing and monitoring Biodiversity Net Gain. These actions will support a more strategic, landscape‑scale approach to nature recovery across the city and wider region, ensuring that biodiversity considerations continue to shape decision‑making, service planning and land management across all relevant council functions.

Annex A – BHCC Designated sites within our area

BHCC Designated sites (LWS, LNR, NNR, SSSI) Information Summary - January 2025.xlsx 

These sites form Areas of Particular Importance to Biodiversity (APIB) mapped on the Local Habitat Map East Sussex and Brighton & Hove.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)

  • Castle Hill
  • Brighton to Newhaven Clifftop

Local Nature Reserves (LNRs)

  • Beacon Hill
  • Benfield Hill
  • Bevendean Down
  • Ladies Mile
  • Stanmer and Coldean
  • Waterhall
  • Whitehawk Hill
  • Wild Park and Hollingbury
  • Withdean and Westdean Woods

Local Wildlife Sites (LWSs)

  • Cockroost Hill West
  • Local Wildlife Sites (LWSs)
  • Mile Oak Fields
  • Cockroost Hill East
  • Foredown Ridge-Eastern Side
  • Emmaus Gardens & St Nicholas
  • Bridleway East of Benfield Ridge
  • Benfield Valley
  • Basin Road South
  • Ovingdean Copse
  • Patcham Court Field
  • Brighton & Hove Golf Course
  • Toad's Hole Valley
  • East Hill
  • Waterhall
  • Three Cornered Copse
  • Bramble Rise Copse
  • Braypool Sports Ground
  • Tivoli Copse & Railway Woodland
  • Foredown Allotments
  • Oakdene, Southwick Hill
  • Chattri Down
  • Hollingbury Industrial Estate
  • Crespin Way
  • Brighton University
  • Volk's Railway and Black Rock
  • Woodvale, Extra-mural & Downs Cemeteries
  • Wilson Avenue, Whitehawk
  • Brighton Marina
  • Sheepcote Valley
  • Westlain Plantation/Hog Plantation
  • Tenant, Lain & Moon's Gate Woods
  • Mount Pleasant, Ovingdean
  • Happy Valley
  • Ovingdean School Grounds
  • Wanderdown Road Open Space
  • Ovingdean Road Horse Paddocks
  • Abinger Road Open Space
  • Bexhill Road, Woodingdean
  • Cowley Drive Paddocks
  • Bostle Bottom
  • Castle Hill Arable Field
  • Whiteway Lane
  • Balsdean Downland West
  • High Hill Pasture
  • Balsdean Downland East
  • Wivelsfield Road Grassland
  • Balsdean Downland North
  • Quarry Field
  • Looes Barn Woodland
  • Coombe Farm
  • Roedean School Bank
  • St Helens Churchyard
  • Ewe Bottom
  • Honeysett
  • Braeside Avenue Scrub
  • Cardinal Newman School
  • Cliff Corner
  • Cliff Road Paddock
  • Dorothy Stringer Wildlife Area
  • Highcroft Villas
  • Hodshrove Wood
  • Land at Westfield Avenue
  • London Road Station
  • North Benfield Valley
  • Park Royal & High School
  • Rottingdean Pond
  • Madeira Drive Green Wall
  • Meadowvale
  • South Bevendean Down
  • St Leonards Churchyard
  • Stevenson Road Quarry
  • Surrenden Crescent and Surrenden Road
  • Surrenden Field Copse
  • The Dyke Trail
  • Withdean Park Copse
  • Bevendean Horse Paddocks
  • Land at Coldean Lane
  • Sidehill Scrub
  • Dyke Trail South
  • Bevendean Farm Slope
  • Ditchling Road
  • Falmer Hill
  • Stanmer Park
  • Green Ridge & Coney Wood
  • Ovingdean Church to Cattle Hill