New developments must help restore nature in Scotland

Biodiversity, the rich tapestry of plants and animals that makes up life on Earth, is essential to our survival. But in Scotland, we have lost so much that we are ranked one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. One in nine species, from Puffins to Swifts, now face national extinction.

Development has been one of the key drivers of this nature loss, with precious habitats being fragmented and destroyed across Scotland. That’s why RSPB Scotland plays an active role in the planning system, to make sure nature’s voice is heard when decisions are made about the most potentially damaging developments for birds.

Developments can and must be part of the solution. They have an important role to play in addressing the nature and climate crisis and supporting nature restoration across Scotland.

That is why one of our five manifesto asks for the next Scottish Government is to ensure new developments help restore nature, leaving it in a better state than before.

Developments should avoid the most important places for nature, but sadly this isn’t always the case. When developments go ahead without nature in mind, they can cause serious damage. 

Coul Links in Embo, East Sutherland, is a beautiful and internationally important place for nature. It’s an extremely rare natural coastal dune system, one of the last of its kind on the north east coast, home to rare insects, plants and animals.  

But, for the second time now, Coul Links is threatened with an inappropriate golf course development which would cause irreparable damage to the protected site and the wildlife that relies on it. NatureScot, the Government’s advisers on nature, objected due to the damage it would cause to protected sand dune habitats. Alongside partners in other wildlife charities, RSPB Scotland also objected and spoke out against the development at a public inquiry. We are still awaiting the final decision from Scottish Ministers (you can email them here).  

It’s not enough for developments to simply avoid or reduce damage. To turn the tide on biodiversity loss, we need developments to actively enhance nature.

The Scottish Government has committed to stopping biodiversity loss by 2030 and restoring nature by 2045. In its national strategy for development, National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), it introduced a requirement for all development on land to enhance biodiversity. This was a potentially game changing move.

However, we are still seeing significant amounts of development which are leaving nature worse off. The next Scottish Government must ensure the NFP4 requirement is properly implemented so that all developments contribute to nature recovery.

Ensuring new builds enhance nature – and stopping the most damaging developments like Berwick Bank and Coul Links – is one of our five key priorities for the next Scottish Government.

All developments must contribute to the enhancement of biodiversity. This includes: 

• Avoiding, mitigating and compensating for any potentially negative impacts on the environment. 
• Designing development to make room for nature and benefit people, for instance including Swift nesting bricks, making drainage ponds great for nature and planting to support butterflies and bees.  
• Strengthening nature networks and habitat connectivity for wildlife. 
• Restoring damaged and degraded habitats. 

Working with nature and helping it thrive again benefits everyone, creating healthier, more attractive and more resilient places.

• Write to your local politician and urge them to call for nature positive development.
• Find out more about our other manifesto asks and sign up to our campaigns newsletter for the latest email updates.