Trafford Council has agreed to work with Greater Manchester Combined Authority to create a network of habitat banks, starting with William Wroe Meadows at Flixton.
The aim of the project, approved by Trafford Council’s Executive Committee, is to channel money from developers in Trafford to natural environments in the borough.
By law since 2024, all new developments – whether housing, commercial or other projects – must result in a 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), meaning better wildlife habitats than before building work was carried out.
When this cannot be achieved on site, developers must buy offsite units, from a habitat bank that has been registered with the Natural England Gain Site Register.
There are currently no habitat banks in Trafford, meaning developers’ funding could be channelled to other sites across Greater Manchester or elsewhere.
The project will see the Council enter into Conservation Covenants with GMCA, which will act as the ‘responsible body’ to secure sites as habitat banks.
Top of the list is scenic and much-loved William Wroe Meadows which is already the subject of a plan to re-establish lost wetlands.
Collecting BNG funding for habitat banks in Trafford will allow the Council to work with partners to improve Council-owned sites with planting, landscaping and other measures to help plants, birds, insects and wild animals thrive in enhanced surroundings, supporting the Greater Manchester Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
A total of 1,122 new homes are expected to be built in Trafford per year, on average, between now and 2042.
Cllr Aidan Williams, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Climate Change, said:
“This is an exciting scheme that means we will be able to maximise our revenue from new developments in Trafford and use it to bring to life all sorts of nature recovery opportunities, for years to come. We are delighted to be working with our partners at GMCA to make this happen.”