What is Biodiversity Net Gain?
Biodiversity Net Gain, or BNG, is a new mandatory condition being attached to all planning permissions, where any habitat lost by the development must be replaced with enhanced habitat elsewhere. The improvement in habitat needs to score at least 110% of the value of the habitat that is being lost, according to a ‘biodiversity units’ metric developed by Natural England. There must be a commitment to maintain the new habitat in its target condition for at least 30 years.
Full details of the new regime are set out in Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
It is essential to start planning now, whether you are expecting to make a planning application, are looking to earn money from developers looking for enhanced habitat, either as a landowner or broker, or work for a local authority planning team.