Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council commissioned LUC to undertake an ecological study in preparation for their Stockport Local Plan to 2035.

The Council needed to understand biodiversity conservation and enhancement opportunities within the context of planning policies relating to green infrastructure and resilience to climate change.

Our Ecologists helped the council identify opportunities to deliver locally appropriate Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) as well as producing an up-to-date, cohesive description of ecological resources in Stockport.

Surveying sites across the borough, LUC field surveyors explored enhancement opportunities for local parks, roadside verges, recreational grounds, cemeteries, urban civic space, and canal corridors.

A review of baseline data using a bespoke assessment tool informed our study. Our work considers areas most vulnerable to threats such as development pressure – a valuable study to shape future decisions in Stockport.