The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management’s (CIEEM) have best practice guidelines advocating for a robust and up to date environmental evidence base at key stages of the planning application process. Environmental considerations must be made for priority habitat and Sites of Importance to Nature Conservation (SINCs).

In Greater London, planning authorities and environmental consultants achieve this via accessing GiGL services. GiGL is the most comprehensive source of high quality environmental data in Greater London. It is vital this is used by planning authorities and developers to make informed decisions.

This visualisation shows the percentage of London’s land that is covered by priority habitat. Priority habitat refers to the nine BAP (Biodiverstiy Action Plan) priority habitats present in London. Please note that dimensions of diagram are illustrative and based on GiGL data as of June 2020. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown Copyright and database right 2020.

This visualisation displays the percentage of London’s land cover that is designated as a SINC (Site of Importance for Nature Conservation). Please note that dimensions of diagram are illustrative and based on GiGL data as of June 2021. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown Copyright and database right 2021.

Borough visualisations of environmental data statistics

The below visualisations present summary statistics on environmental data for each London borough, relating to data contributors, SINCs (Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation), data for species that are of material consideration in planning and priority habitats. These are based on data held at GiGL as of January 2022. For more information on how these factsheets were produced please download the description here.

Inner London boroughs

Outer London Boroughs

All of London