How the UK is progressing for a net gain in biodiversity

16 Aug How the UK is progressing for a net gain in biodiversity

The development of the Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) legislation earlier this year marked a big policy shift in the national environmental management framework. This legislation requires all new developments to deliver measurable improvements to biodiversity, ensuring habitats are strengthened post-development. These measures, integrated within the broader Environment Act, intend to eliminate biodiversity decline and enhance ecological restoration nationwide.

BNG ensures developers quantitatively assess the biodiversity value of the proposed development sites. The assessment ensures that post-development biodiversity is greater than at the pre-development stage. Developers can achieve this transition with biodiversity enhancements, or if this isn’t possible, by purchasing off-site biodiversity credits.

The BNG includes several key components to enable compliance:

Biodiversity Gain Site Register – Managed by Natural England, this register publicly lists sites earmarked for off-site biodiversity gains. It enables landowners to register enhanced habitats, allows developers to determine potential sites for biodiversity credits, and allows planning authorities to monitor biodiversity initiatives. 

Allocations – Landowners and developers can provide habitat enhancement records via a downloadable PDF application and integrate the enhancements into the Gain Site Register.

Statutory Biodiversity Credits Estimator – A digital tool for developers to determine the financial cost of accumulating biodiversity credits, as well as support budget planning and compliance cost management. 

Statutory Biodiversity Credit Sales Scheme – accessible via PDF applications and moving to a digital platform, the scheme allows developers to purchase required biodiversity credits to offset development impacts.

Statutory Biodiversity Metric Calculation Tool – an Excel tool that calculates the biodiversity value of habitats. It assists developers and ecologists in measuring and quantifying habitat values, allowing for accurate reporting and compliance.

What monitoring is required for Biodiversity Net Gain?

The development of the BNG Service involves extensive stakeholder engagement, including over 500 members from local planning authorities, developers, landowners and ecologists. Through considerable hours of research, Natural England ensured the service could meet the needs of its users and enable effective compliance with the legislation. 

BNG legislation has significant implications for multiple stakeholders:

• Developers are required to integrate biodiversity enhancement measures into their development plans. The new tools support estimating and managing biodiversity credits.
• Landowners can strengthen the biodiversity value of their land and register these improvements on the Gain Site Register, as well as benefit from selling biodiversity credits.
• Local planning authorities are responsible for ensuring development projects meet the BNG requirements. The tools and register enable efficient monitoring and the verification of biodiversity plans. 

Natural England will offer ongoing support with dedicated teams and a digital service to assist those with limited online access. Natural England actively encourages feedback from all stakeholders to refine and strengthen the BNG service. This feedback mechanism is critical for adapting the service to the changing user needs and enhancing its effectiveness.

The BNG legislation is a critical progression in national environmental policy, prioritising biodiversity within future development projects. By ensuring measurable biodiversity gains, this legislation intends to deliver a more sustainable and resilient natural environment, aligning with the UK’s wider environmental plans.