About Stacked Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
Project Origins
Thanks to funding from the Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF), administered by DEFRA, NatureSpace and the Newt Conservation Partnership delivered a project exploring how Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and District Licensing could be integrated.
The project focused on delivering cost savings to developers, while enabling BNG income to create ecologically high-value freshwater conservation projects. The results also sought to support thriving plants and wildlife, clean and plentiful water, and climate change mitigation.
Successfully integrating BNG and District Licensing involved addressing several key differences. This included the time required to secure compensation, the potential for double funding, and the different legal systems underpinning each scheme. Despite these differences, this project was successfully completed after two years.
A Lasting Outcome
The result is a sector-first BNG scheme that funds the highest-quality, specialist freshwater habitats and helps developers save money. Our scheme is fully aligned with DEFRA guidance and legislation, so you can be confident in its compliance from the outset.
As the first of its kind, the scheme sets a new benchmark for strategic solutions that are better for people and nature. When BNG compensation needs to be secured off-site, our stacked package allows you to compensate for impacts to great crested newts at the same time as meeting your BNG requirements.
Better for Nature
Our gain sites are designed to support nature at a landscape scale, creating habitats that work together to help wildlife thrive.
Alongside achieving the habitat types and conditions needed for Biodiversity Net Gain, we can incorporate management measures that benefit particular species and strengthen ecological recovery.
Our gain sites work alongside ponds created through the District Licensing Scheme for great crested newts, providing connected habitats for a range of species.
While our scheme is now operating across the country, we remain committed to improving and evolving the way BNG is delivered.
We continue to contribute to discussions on industry standards, support the development of a well-regulated off-site market and explore opportunities to deliver even greater benefits for nature.
