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The first option is on-site. The UK government expects that developers will deliver the full 10% gain within their development sites as achieved through enhancements or new green infrastructure.
Enhancements involve extending an existing habitat or improving it to make it suitable for many more species. Green infrastructure are essentially features in the landscape that should serve as wildlife habitats (woodlands, hedgerows, meadows, ponds, etc.).
The legal obligation of establishing and sustaining the new habitat falls entirely on the landowner, and will continue for a minimum of 30 years.
Should the 10% gain be unattainable on-site, two alternatives exist. However, you must present a justifiable case as to why biodiversity can not be achieved on site. Any shortfall is made up for with the remaining options.
You have the off-site option as the first alternative. If the 10% net gain can not be secured on site – that is, if the development land itself can not be made to support the amount of biodiversity required – look to achieve this elsewhere.
When we say “offsite,” we mean lands outside of the development. Your development requires a 10% gain in biodiversity (flora and fauna) beyond what is currently available on site. So, you can obtain “units” of biodiversity from a land manager. To do that, you have two basic methods:
If you opt to provide the biodiversity net gain on your own property, you assume the legal responsibility to maintain the new habitat for at least 30 years. If you purchase your offsite credits from a land manager, they will be responsible for habitat maintenance over this
The third option is to buy statutory biodiversity credits. These are a last-resort. They are available for developers who have tried to achieve net gain on and off site and have failed. If you buy statutory credits, you must explain why you couldn’t achieve the 10% net gain by using the preferred options.
Developers may mix and match the 3 options, but they must give first and second priority to on-site and off-site gains in that order. For example, if a developer achieves on-site and off-site gains together totalling 8%, they may then purchase statutory credits to bring their total to the required 10%.
To buy statutory biodiversity credits, the developer must go through an application process with Natural England and wait up to 8 weeks to find out if their request has been granted. The application process and waiting period are bound to frustrate some would-be developers.
To learn more about how to apply, follow the link below: Government Guidance on buying statutory biodiversity credits.
As of now, these developments are exempt from the requirement to provide BNG:
projects affect a single dwelling and its grounds (e.g. extensions, outbuildings, etc.);
when an individual or a collection of individuals constructs a custom building that they will live in, so long as it is no more than 0.5 hectares and has no more than 9 dwellings.
There is also a de minimis exemption, meaning that both of the following two conditions need to be satisfied for your development to be exempt from BNG requirements:
how connected the habitat is to other habitats of similar type
gauges whether the habitat occurs within an ecologically significant area identified by local planning strategy.
We are capable of providing assistance with nearly all elements of Biodiversity Net Gain.
Much of the documentation that relates to BNG processes is now produced by our panel of consultants. For large, complex schemes that fall under BNG regulations, however, a portion of that BNG documentation may be provided by an affiliate with whom we have a longstanding relationship built on trust.
Biodiversity Surveyors organises a competitive and comprehensive planning application service. If you opt for this service, your surveyor can ensure that your BNG strategy is incorporated into the planning application and considered from the very earliest design stages of your development. This should help prevent delays and additional, unexpected costs cropping up during the course of your project. If you think BNG might affect your development, contact us today and find out how we can help. Our initial advice is always free. See Government Guidance on Biodiversity Net Gain for more information.
Ecologists via our organisation work in close conjunction with landowners and developers to establish Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans (HMMPs) that are fully compatible with site plans and achieve a Biodiversity Net Gain.
Existing habitats can often be enhanced, and new habitats can be created to favourable effect. One way to achieve this is to plant wildflower meadows, hedges, and trees. Another largely successful way to achieve this is through extensive planting (as at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London) and numerous other routes to habitat creation that favour the local condition.
When on-site measures can not yield Biodiversity Net Gain, off-site solutions can be employed (i.e. biodiversity credits). Contact us to learn more.
Property owners can sell Biodiversity Credits while engaging local authorities or brokerages in the process. These credits are accumulated when landowners improve biodiversity on their land.
To earn the credits, property owners must undergo an assessment process using the UK Government’s Biodiversity Metric. They first need to get in touch with local authorities or brokerages to schedule a property survey. The property is then assessed for biodiversity.
Local authorities and brokerages use the results from these assessments to determine “net gain”: a conservation term that describes whether property under development has improved, worsened, or stayed the same in terms of biodiversity.
Your consultant BNG surveyor can help you with the above (including guidance on landscaping to plant wildflower meadows, hedgerows, trees, etc.).
