Runnymede’s Environmental Characteristics

Nature and Biodiversity Headlines

Within and bordering Runnymede, there are:

  • 5 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), two of which have also been designated at an international level, and form part of the Windsor Forest & Great Park Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the South West London Waterbodies Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar
  • Thursley, Ash, Pirbright and Chobham Common SAC, which forms part of the wider Thames Basin Heaths SPA (adjacent to the west borough boundary)
  • 1 National Nature Reserve (Chobham Common)
  • 38 Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI)
  • Large areas of land protected by Tree Preservation Orders
  • 2 Local Nature Reserves
  • 6 Parks & Garden of Special Historical Interest
  • Habitats of principle importance: wood pasture & parkland, meadows, heathland, acid grassland, mixed deciduous woodland, wet woodland, hedgerows, fen, ponds, standing open water, floodplain grazing marsh and reedbeds.
  • 100 priority species for recovery (see Part 2 of the LNRS)  
  • 111ha of green/blue corridors
  • 7 Designated Local Green Spaces
  • 6 Strategic Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspaces (SANG) (as well as bespoke and third party private SANGs)
  • 201ha of ancient semi-natural woodland
  • 111ha of replanted woodland or ancient woodland

Taken together, the numerous types of designated and non-designated sites, habitats and green/blue infrastructure network play a key role in delivering ecosystem services such as food production, materials, flood defence as well as benefitting health and well-being. The green/blue infrastructure network also plays an important role in carbon capture and urban cooling as mitigation for climate change impacts.

What does this mean for the Local Plan?

The new Local Plan should, as far as it is able to do so and without repeating national decision-making policies (NDMPs), retain, strengthen or include policies/actions to aid in the protection and enhancement of biodiversity by minimising risks to habitat condition, fragmentation and loss as a result of development. The Local Plan should seek to provide net gains in biodiversity in line with national planning policy, retain and enhance priority habitats, support Local Nature Recovery Strategy priorities and contribute to resilient ecological networks.

The Local Plan should also seek to protect, enhance and provide a coherent green/blue infrastructure network and connectivity taking account of Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework and/or any local Green Infrastructure Strategies. The location of potential site allocations will need to be carefully considered within the context of Runnymede’s valued landscapes and natural environment. The Local Plan will need to continue to secure mitigation measures to protect biodiversity of the Thames Basin Heaths SPA.

Sources of further baseline information

Detailed baseline information on Runnymede’s natural environment and biodiversity, an analysis of existing conditions and future trends, and how this information will inform the new Local Plan, can be found in Chapter 3 of the SA Scoping Report available on the new Local Plan evidence base web page:

Sources of other useful information: