What is Biodiversity Net Gain?
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a legal requirement that applies to certain development projects in England, setting out that the natural environment of a site must be left in a measurably better state than beforehand.
All qualifying developments must deliver at least a 10% net gain compared to baseline levels – calculated using DEFRA’s Statutory Biodiversity Metric. Compensation for both major and minor developments should follow the Mitigation Hierarchy: avoid; minimise; restore; offset.
For major developments the Biodiversity Gain Hierarchy also applies. The Biodiversity Gain Hierarchy specifically focuses on how developers of major projects should be achieving net gain, with on-site delivery being a first priority. If on-site mitigation isn’t feasible, gains can be delivered off-site. If these options aren’t suitable, developers may purchase off-site compensation ‘credits’ as a last resort.
BNG is recognised as a world leading policy, combining private investment with local planning. By delivering targeted compensation aligned with Local Nature Recovery Strategies, BNG maximises nature recovery across England.
Applicable Developments
Since 12 February 2024 for major developments, and 2 April 2024 for minor developments, BNG has been mandatory under Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as inserted by Schedule 14 of the Environment Act 2021). The policy is expected to extend to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) from 2nd November 2026.
You can find details of development types exempt from BNG legislation on the DEFRA website. We also recommend checking the Local Planning Authority’s Local Plan, to see if any of these exemptions are requested in local policy or if there are further net gain policies that could apply to your project.
Solutions
Purchasing off-site compensation units is a practical mitigation solution for developers available through organisations like NatureSpace. This option is available to all minor developments. For major developments, it may be used where on-site enhancement or creation cannot achieve the 10% requirement.
With our Stacked BNG package, you can compensate for impacts to great crested newts at the same time as meeting your BNG requirements – ensuring an efficient and effective route to fulfilling your planning obligations.
