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Read our policy.

%22To achieve biodiversity within new urban areas, the guidance sets out a point score system. Points are awarded for any measure that contributes to the biodiversity within new development. Areas to be developed must score at least 100 points per hectare – so a 2.6 ha scheme, for example, must achieve 260 points. This can be achieved in different ways and the designer, with the advice of a qualified ecologist, selects the ecological features that make up the ecology strategy for the site. The options available to reach the full score are given in the table below.%22
IngredientMeasureGreen point score
Provision of natural space: 1 (Enhancement of existing or creation of protected species habitat; enhancement of existing or creation of Biodiversity Action Plan species habitat; dry gardens – with plants requiring little water; wetland areas – such as ponds, lakes, reedbeds (with native marginal planting) as part of a sustainable urban drainage system)Per 10 m21
Green roofper 10 m20.5
Brown roofper 10 m20.3
Bird boxes or other nesting provisionsper box0.2
Bat boxes or other nesting provisionsper box0.2
Walls covered with climbing plantsper 10 m21
Plants with good source of nectar, berries, seeds or nuts per plant0.01
Tree planting or retention of trees that are not protected by a tree preservation orderper tree1
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So, for example, the 2.6 ha scheme detailed above scores 260 points as follows:ÌýÌý
IngredientÌýPoints
1170 m2 of natural spaceÌý117
850 m2 of brown roofÌý26
960 m2 of green roofÌý48
180 m2 of climbing plantsÌý18
47 treesÌý47
10 bird boxesÌý2
10 bat boxesÌý2
TotalÌý260