Biodiversity net gain

DOI: https://doi.org/10.58248/PN728

Mandatory biodiversity net gain (BNG) is a new requirement in addition to existing biodiversity and wildlife planning policy. The 2019 impact assessment for the policy states that developers causing the most environmental damage should face the highest costs to steer development towards the least damaging areas and designs.

A baseline survey maps the size, state and presence of differing patches of vegetation types on a development site using the UK Habitat Classification system. The BNG metric, set out in secondary legislation, is used to determine the value of these habitats in "biodiversity units"; the pre-intervention score. Using the metric, biodiversity gain plans demonstrate how the developer will deliver a minimum of a 10% gain in these units; the post development score. These planned units can be on the development site, off the development site or delivered through the purchase of statutory credits as a last resort.

A 2024 NAO report found widespread support for mandatory BNG, but that implementation risks were also being raised. The majority of habitat creation and enhancement is projected to occur on development sites. Researchers suggest this may not deliver optimal outcomes for nature recovery objectives, and more holistic approaches are needed to restoring habitats strategically across landscapes are required. The NAO set out risks local authorities will not be able to discharge legal, compliance and enforcement obligations in relation to BNG, as a result of challenges such as insufficient access to ecological expertise.

Key points

• In 2024, mandatory biodiversity net gain (BNG) was introduced as a planning requirement. This is a new process that requires the habitats lost on a development site to be accounted for and losses addressed.
• On the development site, patches of differing vegetation types, such as woodland, are mapped. Data on their size, ecology and location are used to derive 'biodiversity units'. This involves the use of metrics set out in legislation and supplied in spreadsheets.
• A biodiversity gain plan must be submitted showing how at least a 10% gain in units will be delivered over a 30-year period.
• This gain is achieved by enhancing or creating the same types of habitats that will be lost. This can be on the development site, on separate registered BNG site, or the purchase of statutory credits as a last resort.
• The policy is also intended to ensure a consistent approach to mitigating impacts on biodiversity within the planning system, provide greenspace and economic opportunities for those providing biodiversity units.
• Academic researchers raise concerns about most habitat creation being projected to occur on development sites. They suggest greater biodiversity gains would likely come from requiring the habitat creation to be in areas of strategic conservation importance throughout landscapes.
• Other concerns raised include ecological skills and capacity gaps, and the enforcement and monitoring of the delivery of biodiversity units.

Acknowledgements

POSTnotes are based on literature reviews and interviews with a range of stakeholders and are externally peer reviewed. POST would like to thank the interviewees and peer reviewers for kindly giving up their time during the preparation of this briefing, including:

Members of the POST Board*

Alex Bush, University of Lancaster*

Emma Gardner, CEH*

Adam Sheppard, University of Birmingham

Becky Pullinger, The Wildlife Trusts*

Rachel Hackett, The Wildlife Trusts*

Alistair McVittie, SRUC*

Katherine Simpson, University of Glasgow

Nick Hanley, University of Glasgow

Jennifer Dodd, University of Napier

Heather Rumble, UWE*

Philippa Hughes, UWE

Caroline Nash, UEL

Minerva Singh, Imperial College

Claire Wansbury, Atkins*

Julia Baker, Mott Macdonald

Sam Stafford, Home Builders Federation*

Rachel Danemann, Home Builders Federation

Richard Lankshear, Future Homes Hub

Ben Balmford, University of Exeter

Sophus zu Ermgassen, University of Oxford

Nick White, Natural England

Jez Martin, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and ALGE

David Sutherland, Buckinghamshire County Council and ADEPT

Defra*

*Denotes people and organisations who acted as external reviewers of the briefing

Corrections requested by Defra [11/09/2024]:

P8 Sentence in the second paragraph of the small sites metric subsection relating to risk multipliers deleted.

P10 First paragraph of irreplaceable habitat section reworded to clarify what the BNG secondary legislation definition of irreplaceable habitat is.

P15 Planning Advisory Service reference (118) in fourth paragraph of gains on development site section updated.

P17: Last paragraph of gains off development site section reworded to clarify the sentence relating to statutory credits. First sentence of a strategic landscape approach to gains reworded to clarify the role of LNRS. Sentence in the statutory credits section relating to biodiversity gain plans reworded to clarify the lack of market supply must be set out, and sentence relating to the Wildlife Trusts reworded to clarify their objection.

P20: Reworded to clarify that the review is of secondary legislation rather than BNG policy.

Corrections [24/09/2024]

P1. 'post-development' deleted from third bullet point of overview

P4. Figure 1 in listed exemptions, 'less than 9' changed to 'no more than 9'

P11. Table 4, wording in the rows for lower and medium distinctiveness bands amended for clarity.