Biodiversity Net Gain
Sustainable development is high on the political agenda which means improving biodiversity and preventing biodiversity loss are key drivers for developers, land owners and local planning authorities alike.
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is an approach used to improve a sites biodiversity value. Once applied, a completed site will have a positive ecological impact, delivering improvements through habitat creation or enhancement after avoiding or mitigating harm.
What is Biodiversity Net Gain?
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) sits within the Environment Act.
The Act requires all development schemes in England to deliver a mandatory 10% biodiversity net gain to be maintained for a period of at least 30 years. The concept seeks measurable improvements for biodiversity by creating or enhancing habitats in association with development.
Development proposals must “leave biodiversity in a better state than before”.
What does Biodiversity Net Gain mean for developers and landowners?
BNG means developers and land owners in England must ensure their projects deliver biodiversity improvements to meet the required 10% increase.
They must determine and evidence a project’s final BNG value using the specified Defra biodiversity metric if they want their plans to move through the planning process swiftly.
What is a biodiversity metric?
A biodiversity metric is a tool, such as Defra’s Biodiversity Metric 3.1 used to measure changes in biodiversity. Metrics do not take protected species into consideration, focusing only on habitats.
Metrics assign every habitat on a site a ‘unit value’ according to its relative value for biodiversity. Once this value is determined for both the existing site and the proposed development, comparisons can be made and used by the local authority to inform planning outcomes.
The metric helps developers and landowners to ensure their project increases the overall biodiversity value of a site.
Habitat value
The value of a habitat will be measured considering the following factors:
- A habitat’s size
- A habitat’s distinctiveness
- The diversity or rarity of the habitat and plant communities found
- The strategic significance of a site and its ecological importance locally
- The condition and quality of the habitat
- The connectivity of the site and how the habitat is connected to other areas
- The local importance of the habitat site.
How to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain
To achieve biodiversity net gain, proposals must follow the ‘mitigation hierarchy’ which primarily aims to avoid harm, then mitigate or, finally, compensate for any losses on-site, off-site or both. These measures will be required in planning conditions.
8 key considerations to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain
We’ve been delivering BNG for some time and know how to achieve a site's maximum value. Our experience has shaped our approach, how we assess BNG and how we deliver it for our clients.
We've summarised what we've learnt into eight key factors that integrate BNG into your development plans effectively.
How to overcome Biodiversity Net Gain challenges
Our project experience has highlighted a number of issues and pitfalls that can pose a real threat to BNG success. Our series of short video blogs address some of the complexities that may arise when applying BNG on site.
We cover:
- The importance of knowing your site's ecological value
- Brownfield and wetter sites - How many credits do you have?
- BNG and Masterplanning
- Habit credits - When offsite is the only solution.
Free Biodiversity Net Gain CPD sessions for your business
BNG is a complex matter and, at first glance, can seem daunting. Our informative CPD webinar covers everything you and your team need to know about BNG and how to deliver it.
To find out more, get in touch using the form below.
Free webinar: How to approach Biodiversity Net Gain
Biodiversity Net Gain is now becoming mandatory on all development projects in England which means any development proposal needs to demonstrate how it will improve biodiversity and how this will be maintained for at least 30 years.
The implications for developers and land owners is huge and failing to deliver BNG could be a costly mistake. In this webinar, delivered in November 2020, Mike Barker, Director of Ecology, demonstrates how to integrate biodiversity net gain into development plans, avoid costly mistakes and effectively and legally manage a site to achieve maximum value.
Use the form below to watch our webinar now.
Free webinar: Masterplanning and Green Infrastructure
Watch on demand
Designing green infrastructure into your developments can tick a lot of boxes from both a planning and environmental perspective. With so many benefits to be gained, integrating Landscape, Ecology and Hydrology into the early masterplanning process is fundamental. In our free, one hour webinar, Director or Ecology, Mike Barker and Director of Urban Design, Jonathan Stewart share how to deliver truly integrated, multi-functional green space that adds real value to your project.
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Is your Biodiversity Net Gain up-to-date?
Read articleThe recently updated Biodiversity Metric 3.1 could mean some developments in England are no longer hitting the mark when it comes to biodiversity net gain.
And with a non-negotiable BNG needed to secure planning, this can be a big problem for those sites assessed before the updated metric came into place in April this year. Here, Director of Ecology, Mike Barker uses his experience on a recent solar project to show the impact of these changes and demonstrate why it’s advisable to review any projects assessed using previous calculators.
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Securing Biodiversity Net Gain on logistics sites
Read articleWith the Environment Act coming into force, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is now mandatory on all projects in England. Hannah Knight, Principal Ecologist looks at the challenges of securing BNG on logistics sites, and why early engagement is essential.
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Peatlands and Nature Recovery Networks: The Environment’s Bill of the ball?
Read articleNature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history. But the Government’s recent announcement, setting out plans to tackle biodiversity loss and climate change is a crucial step forward in restoring nature and safeguarding the environment for the future. Director of Ecology, Mike Barker looks at the implications for developers and landowners moving forward.
Key contacts
Dr Simon Zisman
Senior Director, Ecology T: +44 (0) 131 555 5011 Email
Stephen Lockwood
Director of Ecology T: +44 131 561 1835 M: +44 7515 784174 Email
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