BNG Partnership

What is BNG?

BNG Partnership

What is BNG?

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a policy introduced by the UK government within the recent Environment Act, which mandates that any new construction development must deliver an increase in biodiversity of at least 10%. In more simple terms, new development projects will be expected not only to avoid damaging existing nature, but to be contributing positively with new or improved woodlands, wetlands, grassland, moorland, or heathland. This is a progression from previous legislation where developers needed to mitigate for any loss of habitat on behalf of certain species. BNG is expected to improve not only the nature footprint of new developments, but also drive habitat restoration in the wider countryside. Increasing biodiversity on new housing and workplace developments will also have significant health and wellbeing benefits for residents and workers, leading to a closer connection to nature and more sustainable construction practices.

BNG Partnership

How Will the BNG Process Work?

The BNG process will be a collaboration between developers, landowners, the Local Planning Authority (LPA), and intermediary agents, transferring the sale of biodiversity units as defined by the DEFRA Biodiversity Metric. These units will act as currency to demonstrate increases in biodiversity that developers can use to offset any loss of biodiversity on their projects. Construction developments will need to adhere to a hierarchy of options in mitigating for their projects, and likelihood of planning consent declines as they progress through the hierarchy. Developers should aim to:
‍
1. Reduce the destruction of natural habitat as much as possible.

2. Offset the impact of the development by increasing biodiversity onsite through tree planting, pond construction, or meadow creation for example.

3. Fund the creation of biodiversity units offsite, either at another location they own, or by purchasing biodiversity units from a habitat bank within the local planning authority area.

4. Purchase biodiversity credits as a last resort from a national repository.

Planning will be granted based on the demonstration that the development has secured a 10% increase in biodiversity at their chosen site, although it is expected that approval will be easier to obtain with evidence of onsite or local units. The increase in biodiversity will be expected to be maintained at all locations for 30 years.

BNG Partnership

How Will BNG Work For Developers?

Developers will need to understand the requirements of the LPA within which they are operating, as the LPA decides upon the requirements for BNG within their area. Broadly speaking, the developer will need to use an ecologist to assess their site against the DEFRA Biodiversity Metric or equivalent to ascertain the number of biodiversity units present before the works commence. The developer will then need to demonstrate how they will ensure a 10% increase in biodiversity (either onsite or offsite) before planning consent will be given. The onsite and offsite biodiversity net gain projects will need to be assessed by external agents to determine if the predicted gains have been met, with the eventual unit maturation being at 30 years. Once the developer has secured or reserved the units, the liability for delivery of the units rests with the landowner or intermediary agent, unless the units are being delivered by the developer themselves.

BNG Partnership

How Could BNG Benefit Landowners?

Landowners will be able to create or improve natural habitats on their land and fund the restoration implementation and maintenance using the sale of BNG units. These sites are known as habitat banks and will fund the conversion of land that has marginal value for nature (e.g. a marshy grazing field) into another habitat type which has a higher biodiversity value (e.g. a reedbed). The Biodiversity Metric scores not only the habitat type, but also the condition of the habitat, so improvements to existing habitat can also contribute to creating biodiversity units. Landowners will usually employ an intermediary agent who will broker the sale of units to developers and recompense the landowner with either an annual lease payment for the 30 years, or a share of the eventual sale, or both. The BNG process will, therefore, restore biodiversity in the wider countryside by incentivising landowners to convert degraded or marginal land into high quality habitats. The restored habitat will be assessed at regular intervals to ensure that biodiversity increases are materialising as predicted.