Issue details
North Yorkshire and York Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) - adoption of evidence
Purpose of Report: There is a new system of spatial
strategies for nature recovery, legislated for in the Environment
Act 2021. These are called Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS).
The strategy for the Council’s geography is called North
Yorkshire and York Local Nature Recovery Strategy (referred to here
as NYY-LNRS, or the Strategy). It’s production is led by North Yorkshire
Council (NYC), with support from the Council. The strategy has been
taken through various consultation processes and York, as a
supporting authority, has fed into the technical detail as well as
formal consultations.
This report will present the adopted version of the LNRS following
its adoption by North York Council as the Responsible Authority
with a request for endorsement as supporting evidence base to
inform local decisions and plan-making.
The Executive Member will be asked to adopt the strategy as
evidence base for future strategic planning, green infrastructure
and other environmental decision-making.
Background documents
Executive 12/10/2023 - Biodiversity Net Gain (including information
on Local Nature Recovery Strategy)ref: 6954
EDMS 20/05/2025 - North Yorkshire & York, Local Nature Recovery
Strategy (LNRS) consultation draftref:
7425
Officer Decision 13/06/2025 - To provide written consent to public
consultation on the draft North Yorkshire and York Local Nature
Recovery Strategy (LNRS)ref: 7447
Executive 04/11/2025 - Local Nature Recovery Strategy –
Publication Draft
Officer Decision 05/12/2025 - To support the publication of the
final LNRS
Decision type: Non-key
Decision status: For Determination
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 02/02/2026
Decision due: 03/03/26 by Decision Session - Combined Executive Member Decision Session
Lead member: Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency, Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities
Lead director: Director of City Development
Department: Directorate of City Development
Contact: Alison Cooke, Head of Strategic Planning Policy Email: alison.cooke2@york.gov.uk / Email: guy.hanson@york.gov.uk Email: Alison.Cooke2@york.gov.uk, Guy Hanson Email: guy.hanson@york.gov.uk.
Consultation process
Governance for the preparation of the LNRS
allowed for Technical Officer input from inception of the LNRS
process with oversight from the Executive Member.
A statutory six-week public consultation on the draft NYY-LNRS was
led by North Yorkshire Council in June 2025. Following consultation
and amendments, a further formal 28-day consultation period was
held with City of York Council as Supporting Authority before the
strategy was finalised. A Report to Executive was taken in November
2025 to report on the Publication draft and Officer Decision was
issued in December 2025 to formally respond.
Consultees:
Previous consultation was open to all York stakeholders.
Equality Impact Assessment Completed?: No