Ecology advice

Page updated on: 11/01/2019

We recognise the important contribution that planning can make to maintaining and enhancing biodiversity within the County, including habitats and species of international, national and local importance and that biodiversity conservation and enhancement has an integral role in sustainable development and is fundamental to the social and economic wellbeing of Carmarthenshire’s residents.

The development of our urban and rural areas can have significant impacts resulting in a decline of biodiversity. It is also recognised that development can have a positive impact where management, restoration and enhancement features for habitat and species are incorporated.

The planning ecology service seeks to ensure that the provisions of legislation and national policy and that of the Local Development Plan are delivered at a local level and that planning applications are accompanied by the correct information that follows best practice guidelines. The need for biodiversity information is not confined to planning applications. It can apply to applications for Listed Building consent, Tree Preservation Order consent, Conservation Area Consent and Demolition Notifications for example.

The information on our website will assist applicants and developers in identifying the potential for projects and proposals to impact on biodiversity. It will also inform planning officers and ecologists of the level of information required to adequately assess the effects of a development proposal on biodiversity interests.