Making Space for Nature Supporting Authorities Group

The Local Nature Recovery Strategy Regulations (2023) creates a Supporting Authority role within the development process of the strategy.  Supporting Authorities for the Kent & Medway Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) are all of the strategy area’s local planning authorities and Natural England.  The regulations require the Responsible Authority (Kent County Council) to take reasonable steps to involve, share information with and have regard to the opinions of supporting authorities.  The Responsible Authority is also required to seek the supporting authorities’ agreement to consult and to publish.

The purpose of the Supporting Authorities Group is to provide a mechanism whereby Supporting Authorities can be involved throughout the LNRS development process, to enable Supporting Authorities’ confidence in the resulting Strategy.   The group also provides a forum where Supporting Authorities’ input to the LNRS can be effectively and efficiently facilitated, in a collaborative manner.  The Supporting Authorities Group will act as a steering group for the LNRS development, providing oversight and guidance in order to ensure that the LNRS is developed in line with the district and borough aspirations for nature recovery, green infrastructure and wider environmental benefits; that it is compatible with local plans (and vice versa); and that the LNRS is a functional strategy that can influence local planning and decision making.

Once the project commences, this page will provide you with:

• Agreed Board Terms of Reference
• Dates of forthcoming meetings
• Minutes of meetings