A significant proportion of London boroughs do not have access to ecological expertise when processing planning applications. This means that planning permission could be granted with little or no regard for the impact on local wildlife. The London Assembly Environment Committee has called for action from the Mayor to ensure that the capital’s wildlife is protected for future generations. In a letter to the Mayor, the Committee urges him to develop a London-wide resource that local planning authorities can access.
The Committee also calls for biodiversity data to be gathered across London every ten years, as a lack of research into the capital’s green spaces is threatening its wildlife in the long term.
Chair of the London Assembly Environment Committee, Stephen Knight AM said:
“From the update we’ve seen of the Mayor’s Biodiversity Strategy, it’s clear that more needs to be done.
While we appreciate the expense of monitoring all wildlife sites on a regular basis, we do suggest at the very least, that London’s Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) are surveyed. The Committee also believes that the GLA should have a role in encouraging or coordinating data collection at borough level. It doesn’t take an expert to deduce that without accurate information about the species inhabiting London, it’s impossible to support their conservation.”
Notes for Editors:
1. Read the Environment Committee’s letter to the Mayor below.
2. Stephen Knight AM, Chair of the Environment Committee, is available for interview – see contact details below.
3. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Mary Dolan on 020 7983 4603. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.