Animal and wildlife welfare considerations in town planning

Why does animal welfare matter in town planning decisions?

Planning towns for animal welfare reflects a wider shift in how development is assessed. The National Planning Policy Framework requires local authorities to conserve and enhance the natural environment, and biodiversity net gain is now a requirement for most developments in England. 

Public expectation has shifted too. Communities increasingly raise wildlife impact as a planning consideration during consultation, and local authorities are required to give those concerns thought. A scheme that has not addressed animal welfare issues from the outset is more likely to attract objections that slow down decisions.

There is also a commercial dimension. Sites with strong ecological credentials, including new habitat creation or retained green spaces, are often more attractive to occupiers and investors who have their own sustainability commitments to meet.

What are the main considerations of animal welfare in development?

The considerations that arise on a typical site fall into a small number of recurring categories. Each one needs to be identified and assessed well before a planning application is submitted.

Protected species and habitat surveys

Bats, great crested newts, badgers, nesting birds, and reptiles are among the species most commonly encountered on UK development sites, and all carry legal protection. A pre-acquisition survey or dedicated ecological assessment will identify whether any of these species are present and what animal welfare considerations, such as timed works or alternative habitat provision, will be required.

Where protected species are confirmed, a licence from Natural England may be needed before certain works can proceed. Highlighting animal welfare considerations in the programme early avoids the common problem of a scheme being held up at the construction stage.

Biodiversity net gain and habitat creation

Biodiversity net gain requires most developments to deliver a measurable improvement in habitat value compared with the pre-development baseline. This can be achieved on site, through habitat creation elsewhere, or by purchasing biodiversity credits.

• Retaining and enhancing existing hedgerows, trees, and watercourses.
• Creating new green roofs, wildflower areas, or wetland features.
• Providing wildlife corridors that connect a site to the wider landscape.
• Securing long term management commitments through planning conditions or a Section 106 agreement.

Each of these measures needs to be costed and programmed from the earliest design stage, as retrofitting biodiversity net gain into a scheme that is already designed is far harder and often more expensive than building it in from the start.

Domestic animals and the built environment

Protecting animals in cities is not limited to wildlife. Pet ownership has grown substantially in the UK, and housing developers are increasingly expected to consider how residents will exercise, manage, and care for domestic animals within a scheme.

• Garden sizes and balcony provision suitable for pet owners.
• Secure, well-lit routes for dog walking within public areas.
• Pet friendly green space that does not conflict with protected habitat areas.

These details are rarely a planning condition in themselves, but they increasingly form part of design and access statements, and they affect how a scheme is received by occupiers once it is built.

How can you plan a site with animal welfare in mind from the outset?

Considering animal welfare in town planning works best when it starts at the feasibility stage rather than being added after a design is fixed. A site appraisal that considers animal welfare alongside the usual technical surveys gives a much clearer picture of constraints and opportunities before significant design costs are committed.

Working with an experienced town planner alongside ecologists and architects allows animal welfare issues and requirements to be reflected directly in the main plan, rather than treated as an afterthought layered onto a finished layout.

Coordinating this work with feasibility studies and the wider planning application process means animal welfare issues are addressed alongside access, drainage, and other technical constraints, rather than in isolation.

Speak to BTG Eddisons about animal welfare and town planning

Our town planning specialists work alongside ecologists, architects, and our wider building consultancy team to help landowners, developers, and public sector bodies address animal welfare issues at every stage of a project, from initial site appraisal through to a successful planning application.

With more than 180 years of experience in the property sector, a proven track record of successful planning outcomes, and consistently positive reviews from our clients, we build plans around your site and your objectives rather than generic templates. 

Whether you are appraising a new site, preparing a planning application, or addressing an ecological constraint on an existing scheme, call 0330 191 8107, email [email protected], or complete the contact form on our website to arrange a consultation.