The Environment (Local Nature Recovery Strategies) (Procedure) Regulations 2023

Review

20.—(1) The Secretary of State must from time to time give notice to a responsible authority of the need to review its local nature recovery strategy.

(2) A notice under paragraph (1) must—

(a) be in writing;

(b) specify a date at least 4 months and no later than 8 months beginning with the date on which the notice was given before which the review must begin;

(c) give an indicative date for completion of the review;

(d) give an indicative date for republication of its local nature recovery strategy.

(3) The Secretary of State must give their first notice under paragraph (1) to each responsible authority—

(a) after the expiry of three years beginning with the date on which these Regulations come into force; and

(b) before the expiry of 10 years, also beginning with that date.

(4) Subsequent notices under paragraph (1) must be given at intervals of no less than 3 years and no more than 10 years.

(5) A responsible authority given a notice under paragraph (1) must begin its review of its local nature recovery strategy before the date specified in accordance with paragraph (2)(b).

(6) A review of a local nature recovery strategy must include—

(a) a review of the statement of biodiversity priorities and local habitat map;

(b) an assessment of progress in achieving the priorities for recovering or enhancing biodiversity set out in the local nature recovery strategy’s statement of biodiversity priorities;

(c) an assessment of any actions taken to enable areas in the strategy area to become of particular importance for biodiversity; and

(d) an assessment of any actions taken to recover or enhance biodiversity in areas within the strategy area for the purpose of achieving environmental benefits.

(7) Paragraph (8) applies where changes to a local authority’s area or the boundary of the strategy area of a local nature recovery strategy may affect a responsible authority’s published local nature recovery strategy.

(8) Where this paragraph applies, the responsible authority must, as part of its review under this regulation, consider the effect of those changes on its local nature recovery strategy.

(9) When reviewing its local nature recovery strategy, a responsible authority must have regard to—

(a) the indicative date for completion of the review, given in accordance with paragraph (2)(c); and

(b) the indicative date for republication of its local nature recovery strategy, given in accordance with paragraph (2)(d).