Biodiversity Action Plan and supporting studies
Biodiversity means the abundance and variety of all life on earth. This includes all animals, plants, the habitats they live in and the ecosystems they are part of. The relationships between species, habitats and ecosystems and their processes are key to sustaining a healthy, functioning planet and creating essential environmental, social and economic benefits for people.
All councils are required to prepare Biodiversity Action Plans (BAP) for conserving and enhancing local habitats and flora and fauna. The aim of a BAP is to ensure the natural environment is managed more effectively to protect, conserve and enhance these resources and to leave a legacy that will benefit present and future generations.
When in place, the Arun BAP will establish a set of objectives and actions to assist in delivering and protecting strategic biodiversity networks and priority habitats and species, taking into consideration both local and national priorities. It will cover the whole of the district (excluding the areas that are located within the South Down National Park) and will include consideration of parks, public and private green infrastructure and transport networks.
The BAP will provide strategic and practical guidance and direction for conserving and enhancing biodiversity for a range of audiences, including council departments, individuals, organisations or developers.
It will be developed through consultation with internal and external stakeholders, including conservation and community groups, land managers and different services within the council. All these contributors, in addition to residents, local businesses and developers, are all vital in contributing and successfully delivering actions to protect and enhance biodiversity in Arun.
The Arun BAP is currently being prepared, and it is expected that it will be approved and published in 2026.
Supporting studies
The Arun Biodiversity Net Gain Study 2022 presents the main outcomes and findings of the evidence study, which ClearLead Consulting prepared for Arun District Council.
Arun biodiversity net gain study [pdf] 4MB
A quick reference to the key proposals mapped in the study:
Strategic Areas of High Value [pdf] 231KB
Potential Barbastelle and Bechstein's Bat Corridor [pdf] 165KB
Existing BOAS and Potential Wildlife Corridors [pdf] 197KB
2025 BNG study
The Arun biodiversity and BNG Study (November 2025) takes the recommendations of the earlier Arun Biodiversity Net Gain study 2022 and provides evidence-based priority identification of practical projects to be developed to enable biodiversity enhancements for wildlife and people in Arun.
This study and its recommendations contribute towards Arun District Council's biodiversity duty under the Environment Act 2021, which places a duty on all local authorities to conserve and enhance biodiversity across the whole range of their services. This report also informs the Arun Biodiversity Action Plan and Biodiversity Net Gain Strategy, and will help to inform future policy development.
The study identifies priorities and opportunities for Arun at landscape scale and maps these where appropriate. It also identifies priorities for important species and opportunities for developing Habitat Banks on council-owned land.
Biodiversity and Biodiversity Net Gain Study Final [pdf] 7MB