urban brownfield sites

As a child I recall disused sites, old factories and derelict buildings were the best places to play and to find lizards.

All over grown, nature had got a firm hold on what was always hers before the buldozers moved in.

Years on these memories came flooding back when I saw a story in our local paper on central goverment putting pressure on local council to develop these sites saying that they are eye sores on the land scape. So I got thinking is it possible that these site could be home to a undiscovered source of wildlife including amphibians and reptiles.

In an ideal world the land agents and developers would request a study to see if they are going to destroy a already reducing population of wildlife.

Just a thought has anyone ever done a survey on a urban brownfield site?

I'm sure I'm not the best person to answer this, but I'll give my perspective on the subject...and when Gemma 'puts me straight' we'll both learn something !

The Government issues planning policy guidance (PPG) concerning development (building). One of these PPGs may require a council to determine the archaeological significance of a site, another PPG (PPG9) requires the ecological value of the site to be assessed.

The summary of PPG9 states:

"Planning Policy Guidance notes set out the Government's policies on different aspects of planning. Local planning authorities must take their contents into account in preparing their development plans. The guidance may also be material to decisions on individual planning applications and appeals.

This PPG (9) gives guidance on how the Government's policies for the conservation of our natural heritage are to be reflected in land use planning. It embodies the Government's commitment to sustainable development and to conserving the diversity of our wildlife."

That's what the Government says...I'm sure there are councils who apply this guidance better than others. Usually, where a PPG issue is raised, the council may force a developer to hire an independant consultant to assess the site. such as Lee !

It might be worth looking up PPG9 on the web and get a better idea of what 'should' happen :P

Bad day Lee ?   *snix*

It can't be quite that bad :-)