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From: Costain, Sophie (DEFA) To: DEFA, Planning Subject: PA 20/01517/A - Erection of a dwelling, Plot to rear of Greenmantle Date: 19 January 2021 11:01:53 Good Morning

RE: PA 20/01517/A - Erection of a dwelling, Plot to rear of Greenmantle

Aerial photographs show that this plot has long been an area of long, tussocky grassland with shrubs and small trees, all of which will be supporting a wide variety of biodiversity such as feeding, sheltering and breeding birds and invertebrates and providing a refuge for wildlife in an otherwise very urban environment.

Strategic Objective 3.3 Environment (b) of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016 is ‘to protect, maintain, and enhance the built and natural environment (including biodiversity)’ and Strategic Policy 4 (b) is ‘protect or enhance the nature conservation and landscape quality of urban as well as rural areas’.

In 2013 the Isle of Man Government signed up to the International Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) and in 2015 published a Biodiversity Strategy 2015 to 2025 that set out the aims, objectives ad actions to meet the obligations of the CBD. Habitat loss action 21 under the Biodiversity Strategy is ‘DEFA will continue to promote a policy of ‘no net loss’ for semi-natural Manx habitats and species and ensure that unavoidable loss is replaced or effectively compensated for’.

If approval in principle is given then the Ecosystem Policy Team request that a condition is secured for the next stage of the application to include details of appropriate and proportionate ecological mitigation measures such as replacement Manx native planting and the integration of bird boxes, which will result in no net loss for biodiversity on site.

Best wishes

Sophie

Miss S Costain, Ecosystem Policy Officer Department of Environment, Food & Agriculture, Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St John's, Isle of Man, IM4 3AS Tel +44 (0)1624 685963 Fax +44 (0)1624 685851 Email [email protected] Website: www.gov.im/defa DEFA - working for a clean, safe, healthy, attractive and vibrant environment which will be enjoyed by present and future generations alike.

Our Island, Our Environment, Our Future.

A special place for people and nature Boayl er-lheh son sleih as najoor

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