1. Connecting the South East
Alan Law, Chief Officer, Strategy & Reform
Natural England

2. The Future The environment is an integral part of infrastructure
A strategic shift from ‘constraints’ to ‘opportunities’
‘A Green Future: Government’s 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment’
De-risk the planning system, through early discussion on options, regulatory requirements and strategic solutions –
Outcome sought – to reduce costs and delays
Example – District level licensing
Develop approaches that deliver measurable biodiversity net gains that optimise wider environmental gains –
Outcome sought – Optimise the gains from investment in biodiversity to deliver wider environmental gains
Example – working with major transport infrastructure delivery bodies, such as Highways England and Network Rail
Demonstrate how the natural assets and green infrastructure of the South-East are critical for delivering connectivity, place-making and economic growth
Outcome sought – more prosperous places to live, learn and work, with benefits for transport infrastructure resilience and performance, carbon reduction, clean air, flood risk management, health and wellbeing and the visitor economy
Example – strategic development of inter-city green growth corridors and gateways

3. How Natural England can help
Working in partnership to:
De-risk the planning system, through early discussion on options, regulatory requirements and strategic solutions
Develop approaches to deliver measurable biodiversity net gains that optimise wider environmental gains
Demonstrate how the natural assets and green infrastructure of the South-East are critical for delivering connectivity, place-making and economic growth

4. Net gain – maximising opportunities
Local Strategic
Secure in local plans – critical to getting developers on board
Wider strategic opportunities – investment mechanism

5. Case study one: Bird Aware Solent
The Bird Aware Solent Definitive Strategy was recently adopted by 15 Local Planning Authorities around the Solent
10 years of strategic partnership working, awareness raising and relationship building by a range of partners including Natural England
The strategic mitigation will enable delivery of 60,000 houses by 2036, all in close proximity to the coastal Special Protection Areas
Offset impacts of recreational pressure on the internationally important overwintering birds of the Solent coast until 2111

6. Thames Basin Heaths

7. \Case study two: Lower Thames Crossing
£6billion road scheme- increase road capacity by 70% and add £billions of investment to the economy 
NE sought to ensure the environment is part of the infrastructure discussion
Worked with Highways England to
secure a tunnel scheme protecting the Thames Estuary and Marshes Special Protection Area from direct impacts 
design the access road in Kent to avoid direct impacts to an ancient woodland SSSI
Proactive engagement with HE design team (and other partners) to realise their environmental legacy aspirations

8. @hwysuk
@NaturalEngland
#ctse