Current projects
Biodiversity Net Gain
ROADMAP GOAL
Places that maximise biodiversity net gain
Purpose
To help developers with guidance, information and tools to implement BNG successfully and seamlessly as part of designing and planning sites.
We will work with partners who represent the many facets of biodiversity net gain, to help provide the necessary support and overcome barriers.
Context
The Government has introduced Biodiversity Net Gain to help achieve the twin goals of building the high-quality homes people need and help restore the natural environment. The Government plans to introduce new legislation in February 2024 that will require developments to prove a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain compared to the site baseline. This marks a significant change in planning requirements and the way that habitats for nature are recorded and designed in all new developments.
The new legislation imposes obligations on developers that can have a significant impact on viability, layout and timescales. But it also provides opportunities for high quality placemaking, and well designed BNG compliance which can benefit the overall development to create nature rich developments that work for people and planet.
Planned projects and output
- Create and contribute to guidance and training. Working with Defra, Natural England and the Planning Advisory Service to ensure developers have simple and quick guidance on what they need to do to comply successfully.
- Identify and address enablers and barriers. Undertake a call for evidence to understand the barriers and enablers that need to be addressed for successful implementation. Maintain a prioritised log of issues and work with partners to resolve them.
- Develop and collate good practice case studies.
- In collaboration with Natural England, provide a forum for the Markets Advisory Group on biodiversity units, offsite market mechanism and how to facilitate work between unit providers and developers.
- Work collaboratively with Government to identify and anticipate teething problems with the new regulations through seeking to advise on the regulations before they are published and providing a rapid feedback route on issues found to help the regulations achieve their aims.
- Create an online community of practice.
Timescales
BNG represents a significant change to the planning process and its impact will be felt across the sector. The activity of the Hub will be determined by liaising with stakeholders to help identify and address issues that they face. The projects and outputs shown below only address known issues and we will add to this as the Hub knowledge base develops.
Outputs
View the BNG best practice process flow.
This will be periodically updated, if you have any feedback, please get in touch.
View the Biodiversity Unit Finder
Find details of available units near your site
View guidance on Biodiversity Net Gain.
Find out how to get ready for the introduction of BNG in February 2024
Participants
The work will be overseen by an industry oversight group, comprising specialists from the multiple sectors, including designers, developers, planners and policy makers.
Members of the oversight group:
Members of the hub participate in liaison groups and the BNG oversight group to resolve challenges and share their knowledge. Members can access the BNG members area below.