Planning applications received since (and including) 2 April 2024
Case reference FOI2024/00989
Received 4 June 2024
Published 17 June 2024
Request
My request is as follows.
1. How many planning applications have you received since (and including) 2 April 2024?
2. Of those applications, how many have been validated?
3.(a) Of the validated applications, how many have claimed exemption from mandatory biodiversity net gain?
3.(b) Of those claiming exemptions, how many have relied on each exemption:
(i) Householder application
(ii) Self build or custom build application
(iii) Application for a biodiversity gain site
(iv) HS2-related application
(v) 'De minimis' exemption where less than 25sqm of area habitat, 5m of hedgerow, 5m of watercourse and no priority habitat are affected
3.(c) Of those claiming the de minimis exemption, how many have set out what habitats are within the red line boundary for the application?
4. Of the validated applications not claiming exemption from mandatory biodiversity net gain (i.e. answer to Q2 minus answer to Q3(a)):
4. (a) how many have been granted permission?
4. (b) of those granted permission under Q4(a), how many have submitted a biodiversity gain plan?
4. (c) of those submitting a biodiversity gain plan under Q4(b), how many have had it approved?
Response
My request is as follows.
1. How many planning applications have you received since (and including) 2 April 2024?
A) 895 (as of 17/06/2024).
2. Of those applications, how many have been validated?
A) 895 (as of 17/06/2024).
3.(a) Of the validated applications, how many have claimed exemption from mandatory biodiversity net gain?
3.(b) Of those claiming exemptions, how many have relied on each exemption:
(i) Householder application
(ii) Self build or custom build application
(iii) Application for a biodiversity gain site
(iv) HS2-related application
(v) 'De minimis' exemption where less than 25sqm of area habitat, 5m of hedgerow, 5m of watercourse and no priority habitat are affected
3.(c) Of those claiming the de minimis exemption, how many have set out what habitats are within the red line boundary for the application?
A) This information is publically available on the Herefordshire Council website and can be viewed via the following link:
Planning Search – Herefordshire Council
Please see the attached FOI2024 00989 Biodiversity Net Gain - Search Information document, which provides information on how to search for the requested information.
As such we consider this information to be exempt under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 because it is reasonably accessible to you via other means. Please take this letter as a refusal notice under S17 of the Act.
4. Of the validated applications not claiming exemption from mandatory biodiversity net gain (i.e. answer to Q2 minus answer to Q3(a)):
4. (a) how many have been granted permission?
4. (b) of those granted permission under Q4(a), how many have submitted a biodiversity gain plan?
4. (c) of those submitting a biodiversity gain plan under Q4(b), how many have had it approved?
A) As of 17/06/2024, the Council has not yet granted any permissions for sites involving Biodiversity Net Gain.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.