In an era where sustainability is more crucial than ever, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) has emerged as a transformative approach to nature-positive development. This world-leading policy ensures that new developments not only minimise their ecological footprint but actively contribute to the enhancement of biodiversity. With the Environment Act mandating BNG for almost all developments in England from February 2024, understanding its key principles is essential for developers and local planners alike.

In the most basic terms, imagine a piece of land completely stripped of wildlife – where every animal, plant, and microorganism has been removed. This reality represents a 100% biodiversity net loss, a situation that would be catastrophic for our ecosystems. In contrast, BNG aims for a 10% net gain, striving to enrich the land with more wildlife and diverse habitats

More specifically, BNG requires developers to leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than before development. The main elements include:

  • A minimum 10% net gain in biodiversity, calculated using the Biodiversity Metric;
  • Approval of a biodiversity gain plan which sets out how the net gain is to be achieved;
  • Habitat improvements to be secured for at least 30 years; and
  • Enhancement can be delivered on-site, off-site or by purchasing Statutory Credits from Defra.

On-site enhancements: This involves creating environmental benefits directly on a development’s site, whether through enhancing existing habitats, establishing green infrastructure, or creating entirely new habitats that support local wildlife.

Off-site Biodiversity Units: If on-site improvements are not feasible, developers can purchase approved and registered biodiversity units – or BUs – from third parties. These units must be validated by the Local Planning Authority (LPA) and maintained for 30 years.

Statutory credits: As a last resort, developers can buy statutory credits from the Secretary of State. These credits are intentionally priced high to encourage developers to explore on-site or off-site solutions first.