The government has given Local Nature Partnerships (LNPs) a formal role in the planning process. Public bodies bound by the Duty to Co-operate should co-operate with and have regard to the views of LNPs in the planning of sustainable development. This means that LNPs now have a similar role to that of LEPs on cross-boundary strategic planning.
The Tees Valley Nature Partnership is currently considering with the local planning authorities how best to carry out this planning role so that it can play an active role in the “plan making process” in the Tees Valley. At the TVNPs management group meeting in December it was proposed that at a delivery group be established from the TVNP Management Group :
It should be noted that the role of LNPs is strategic or “forward” planning, and it is not envisaged that LNPs will be involved in responding to individual planning applications.
These recommendations will be discussed at the first meeting of the TVNP board on the 22 January.