Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) are a new, England-wide system of spatial strategies established by the Environment Act 2021. The main purpose of these strategies is to help reverse the ongoing decline of nature in England by establishing priorities for nature recovery, identifying locations to create or improve habitat where this is most likely to provide the greatest benefit for nature and the wider environment.
LNRSs are made up of two key components: a statement of biodiversity priorities and a local habitat map. The statement of biodiversity priorities is a written document that outlines the strategy and includes information on the area, as well as including a full list of the identified priorities and potential measures for nature recovery. The local habitat map is a visual representation of where these measures for nature recovery can take place.
Nature is in significant decline – in South Yorkshire and far beyond. Key species including water vole and curlew are declining, habitats are fragmenting and degrading, and major pressures including development, climate change, water pollution and invasive species continue to grow.
The purpose of the LNRS is to identify actions and locations where focussed, evidence-based and resourced activity should be prioritised to reverse nature’s decline. Using local knowledge to extend, enhance, and join up existing important habitats, the LNRS seeks to build on what is already here in South Yorkshire and identify new areas that may become important for biodiversity in the future. The LNRS is designed to integrate with existing plans and strategies to create a joined-up approach to nature recovery.
The statutory public consultation period runs from 19th June to 31st July 2026. We will use responses to the consultation – surveys completed, map pin drop comments – to help us improve the strategy before its publication.
Following the public consultation period closing on 31st July, we aim to publish the strategy in December 2026. LNRSs must be reviewed, updated, and republished every 3 to 10 years, as instructed by the Secretary of State. This process ensures that the strategies remain live to the changing context of nature recovery progress and challenges.
SYMCA, as ‘Responsible Authority’ is lead author of the LNRS. We have engaged with a range of stakeholders with over 1,800 contributions to help inform the strategy. Farmers and landowners, government arms-length bodies, environmental and conservation organisations, and community groups have contributed through workshops, farmer events, public events, and online surveys. Our ‘Supporting Authorities’ have been most closely engaged with the strategy – this group is comprised of the following:
- Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
- City of Doncaster Council
- Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
- Sheffield City Council
- Peak District National Park Authority
- Natural England
No single organisation is responsible for delivering this strategy – it will take all of us working together to achieve our collective ambitions.
The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) has outlined expectations of all Responsible Authorities (note – SYMCA is Responsible Authority for South Yorkshire). This role involves leading and convening a regional nature recovery partnership, embedding the strategy in local decision making, supporting project development and monitoring nature recovery activity. Following publication, SYMCA will begin work to deliver on the strategy, using capacity funding provided by central government to embed the strategy priorities across the region.
Planners and developers should use the LNRS to provide essential evidence for local plans, helping to identify where nature recovery efforts should be prioritised, and ensuring that planning decisions embed nature recovery.
Farmers, landowners and land managers can use the LNRS to determine appropriate and viable nature recovery uses for land they own or manage, explore nature recovery opportunities with adjacent landowners and farmers, and identify opportunities for Landscape Recovery projects including Environmental Land Management schemes for large-scale, long-term habitat restoration and land-use change.
Environmental organisations, conservation bodies, partnerships, health partners, community groups and members of the public can use the LNRS to develop targeted solutions for implementing nature recovery locally, bring communities together to deliver improvements at scale for the benefit of local people, and secure funding and investment in the locality.
The LNRS is not a delivery plan, and it does not force farmers, landowners, local authorities, or other agencies to deliver the measures identified in the LNRS. Areas that are mapped in the LNRS for habitat creation or improvement do not prevent other land uses, do not place new restrictions on developing land, and do not identify areas to be given legal protection.
New development has a positive opportunity to support nature recovery by incorporating sustainable design and delivering long-term gains for biodiversity. Where mapped measures identified in the LNRS interact with development sites, including sites allocated in Local Plans, developers can use the LNRS to help identify strategic priorities and guide interventions to support nature recovery.
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a significant new approach to development, which aims to ensure that biodiversity is left in a measurably better condition after development has occurred. Ideally the existing biodiversity will stay on the site and will be improved. If this is not possible, new habitats must be created elsewhere, and an important purpose of the LNRS is to help to influence the location of BNG that is delivered at off-site locations.
If you would like to be kept informed about the LNRS and its future delivery, please email the LNRS team at LNRS@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk and request to be added to our LNRS database.