Biodiversity Net Gain
Reports from Castledine & Co
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
A Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a mandatory condition under Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Developers will aim to leave the natural environment in a measurably better condition than before they started the development. It is designed to support a planning application by identifying existing wildlife habitats, trees, and plants. This is achieved by calculating biodiversity value and setting out how a scheme can deliver habitat enhancement and meet planning policy requirements.
An area of wildlife will contain multiple trees, plants, and wildlife habitats. These need to be replaced once the development is complete, whether they are designed into the surrounding area or purchased through a BNG unit broker. There are 4 sections to comply with when working out the amount of BNG units: SIZE, QUALITY, LOCATION, and TYPE. You must replace what you have taken away from nature and add a minimum of 10%.
Whether you are building a new home, introducing a small residential development, or redeveloping land with grassland, hedgerows, trees, or other habitat features. A professional BNG report helps assess the ecological baseline and identify practical ways to achieve compliance. This may include on-site habitat creation, habitat retention, landscape enhancements, or, where necessary, off-site measures. Off-site measures are a last resort because of the cost.
Importance of BNG
A Biodiversity Net Gain, or BNG, as it is more commonly known. Is a mandatory condition when applying for planning permissions within England. They are performed by a qualified ecologist and measures how much wildlife habitat will be removed due to the development project. The developers are required to replace the lost habitat and an additional 10% within the development's boundaries, or, if there is not enough land available to replace the habitat on-site, there is the opportunity to purchase off-site BNG units. This is to build wildlife habitats and restore a better balance between commercial/residential and retail developments and local native wildlife. The BNG requirements are covered by law in 2 Acts: 1/ The Environment Act 2021; 2/ The Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
