A natural value is a nature quality of an area — vegetation, soil, water, the habitat of particular species — that is named in a zoning or local plan and therefore protected in law. The term turns up mainly in rural areas and in plans with green designations, but it also applies in town, for instance to protected trees and to birds and bats that nest in buildings.
Why it matters to a builder
Where natural values are designated, extra rules apply on top of ordinary development rights:
- Restricted building — small building envelopes, limited eaves and ridge heights, or no new building at all
- Consent needed for works that are not buildings — clearing hedgerows, levelling ground, filling ditches, deep ploughing or laying hardstanding
- Evidence required — an application must demonstrate that the described values are not unreasonably harmed
- Mitigation and compensation — permitted works are often tied to compensatory measures
Separately from the plan, species protection always applies. Breeding and resting places of protected species are safeguarded even when empty at the time of the works. On buildings this concerns bats, swifts and house sparrows in particular.
Where to find it
Zoning and local plans are public documents, normally available through the municipal or county planning portal. Read the written policies as well as the map: they say which values are described for your plot and which exemptions apply — routine maintenance and management is almost always exempt.
Practical points
- Check before buying land or a rural outbuilding. A green designation can block a conversion scheme outright
- Use a pre-application enquiry instead of submitting a full application; it saves fees and disappointment
- Budget for survey costs. A preliminary ecological appraisal typically costs several hundred to over a thousand euros or pounds, depending on scope
- Tree works often fall under a separate regime with a seasonal restriction; do not treat them as an afterthought
Related terms
- Zoning plan
- Planning permission
- Listed building
- Ecological building
- Green roof
- Nest box
Want to know more about building terms? Visit our knowledge base at fredsdiyplans.com.