Biodiversity gain plan at Bus Station, Bouverie Square, Folkestone
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Shepway Planning and Licensing Committee on 16 Dec 2025.
What was proposed
Approval was sought for a biodiversity gain plan linked to the approved change of use of the former bus station to an outdoor park.
“The application site is a former bus station which benefits from planning permission (24/1640/FH) for a change of use and associated development to an outdoor park.”
“A site location plan is attached to this report as Appendix 1. Proposal 3.1. Approval is sought for details relating to biodiversity net gain (BNG) for planning permission 24/1650/FH. The development is required to deliver BNG of 10% as is mandatory under Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as inserted by Schedule 14 of the Environment Act 2021).”
Officer report
Planning history
Permission 24/1650/FH approved the change of use of the existing bus station to an outdoor park, subject to conditions.
“The relevant planning history for the site is as follows:”
“DC/25/36 24/1650/FH Change of use of existing Bus Station to outdoor park, including construction of new surfaces, seating areas and hard and soft landscaping Approved with conditions.”
Officer report
Officers’ recommendation
Officers recommended approval because the plan provides significant biodiversity net gain above 10% and meets the statutory condition.
“DC/25/36 site to a public park with high levels of planting and landscaping will inevitably lead to significant biodiversity enhancements. KCC Ecology provide this Council with expert technical advice on ecological matters and advise that the plan is sufficient to meet the terms of the statutory condition (and informative). Therefore, it is recommended that the biodiversity gain plan is approved. 7.3.”
Officer report
Consultation response
KCC Ecology raised no objection and advised that the submitted information was sufficient to achieve on-site biodiversity net gain.
“Consultees KCC Ecology: No objection. Advise that sufficient information has been provided to approve the statutory condition and that on-site BNG can be achieved through the creation of introduced shrub, modified grassland and urban trees (Although not explicitly part of this application, KCC also advise that the HMMP is sufficient to approve details under condition 8 of the planning permission). Public/Neighbour Consultation 5.2.”
Officer report
The committee’s decision
The committee approved the Biodiversity Gain Plan in accordance with the submitted details and documents, with 12 votes for, none against and no abstentions.
“That the Biodiversity Gain Plan be approved in accordance with the details and documents provided.”
Minutes
Sources
- Shepway Planning and Licensing Committee minutes, 16 December 2025
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Shepway's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Council
- Shepway
- Date
- Tuesday 16 December 2025
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Vote
- 12 for, 0 against
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Shepway committee decisions →
Source: Plota analysis of the minutes.
This committee's year
13 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 1 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.