Move to block building on ex-industrial site that harbours rare species could be first of many
The government's statutory wildlife adviser is stepping up its defence of brownfield land after a clash with the East of England Development Agency.

The row erupted over the Canvey Island estate in the Thames Gateway. EEDA wants to convert a former oil refinery to light industrial use as part of a regeneration programme.

But, in what could be the first of many such disputes, English Nature has stepped in, determined to protect the 1300 species – 300 of which are endangered – that inhabit Canvey Island.

The disputed site makes up 28 ha of the northern banks of the Thames Estuary – one of four areas earmarked in deputy prime minister John Prescott's Communities Plan for up to 200,000 new homes in the next 15 years.

An EEDA spokesman said: "We are in talks with English Nature with regard to preserving parts of the site for the various wildlife species that inhabit it."

Neil Fuller, conservation manager at English Nature, said: "We will engage with EEDA to ensure a sustainable development solution is reached for this area. We are not opposed to development within a wider area but this is the very best place for biodiverse interest."

Brownfield land is the focus for much of the government's housebuilding strategy – its target is to build 60% of new housing on brownfield. But this row has woken up English Nature to the need to protect such sites when they are environmentally valuable.

Fuller said many other places earmarked for development in the four growth areas could be home to rare species because the bare ground and relative lack of pesticides there provided an ideal environment. He said: "More work will be required to highlight these issues, which are now coming through with a faster pace. A consideration of the many ways brownfield sites can contribute is required in the planning of development. Brownfield land can have very significant biodiverse interest and each site needs to be looked at on its own merits."

English Nature is encouraging its partners, including regional development agencies and government departments, to carry out an audit of brownfield land, and consider using valuable sites as community space rather than development land.

A spokesperson for the House Builders' Federation welcomed the move, saying: "We have long maintained that each site needs to be looked at on its own merits and a decision made whether it is suitable for development.

"Finally people seem to be realising that greenfield sites aren't always green and brownfield sites aren't always brown."

Source

Housing Today