Frequently asked questions

Local Nature Recovery Strategies are a new way to plan for the recovery of nature in England. They have been introduced by the Environment Act 2021 (opens new window). The local authority areas of Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland have been identified as a LNRS area: the South of Tyne and Wear Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

The LNRS will:

• agree priorities for nature's recovery
• map the most valuable existing areas for nature, and
• map specific proposals for creating or improving habitats for nature and wider environmental goals.

Once complete, the LNRS will be made up of two parts:

• a Local Habitat Map, identifying:
  • existing designated nature conservation sites
  • other areas which are of particular importance for biodiversity (for example irreplaceable habitats)
  • areas which could become of particular importance for biodiversity, and
  • areas where the recovery of biodiversity could make a particular contribution to other environmental benefits (e.g. improving water quality)
• a Statement of Biodiversity Priorities, describing:

  specific proposals for recovering nature and the delivery of wider environmental goals

  specific proposals for recovering nature and the delivery of wider environmental goals

  • the area and its biodiversity
  • the opportunities for recovering or enhancing biodiversity
  • the priorities for recovering or enhancing biodiversity (habitats and species), and
  • specific proposals for recovering nature and the delivery of wider environmental goals

The LNRS will identify and help coordinate targeted action for nature's recovery, delivered through a variety of measures using a mix of public funding and private finance such as biodiversity net gain and environmental land management scheme.

LNRS must be reviewed, updated, and republished every 3-10 years, as instructed by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Part of this process includes mapping areas where nature recovery has taken place since the previous LNRS was adopted, so we can track and measure our progress over time.

Officers preparing the South of Tyne and Wear LNRS are working closely with our neighbours in Durham and the North of Tyne (Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside) to make sure our strategies are aligned and that there is continuity around the borders of our areas.

BNG is a requirement on development introduced through the Environment Act 2021 (opens new window). It requires all eligible development to provide a minimum 10% net gain for biodiversity, so that nature is measurably improved as a result of new development.

The LNRS will play a key role in co-ordinating the delivery of BNG. The LNRS will identify priorities, detail potential measures and map opportunities for nature recovery, which potentially can be delivered through  off-site biodiversity net gains. This will help join up nature recovery work, guiding BNG delivery to projects and areas where it can make the greatest difference.