Biodiversity net gain regulations come into force today.
12 February 2024
The government’s long-awaited biodiversity net gain (BNG) regulations have finally come into force today, meaning developers will be required to demonstrate at least a ten per cent benefit for nature on all major schemes in order to obtain planning permission.
The requirement for small sites (between one and nine dwellings) will commence on 2 April 2024.
In November 2023, the government announced that BNG will be measured in biodiversity units calculated through the statutory metric. This calculates how many units a habitat contains before development, so developers can then calculate how many biodiversity units are needed to provide at least ten per cent BNG. To generate the ten per cent gain, BNG guidance asks developers to prioritise onsite enhancements, followed by offsite enhancements and, as a last resort, the purchase of biodiversity credits. The credits will be available as a last resort in an attempt to prevent delays in the planning system.
The government has also confirmed that “Significant on-site and all off-site gains will need a legal agreement with a responsible body or local authority to monitor the habitat improvements over the 30-year period”.
The government has committed £10.6 million of funding to help local authorities “recruit and expand ecologist teams” and increase capacity to help fulfil their duty under the requirement.
Despite this funding however, the MEP team is concerned that the scheme’s introduction is likely to impact on local authority planning department resources. However, we are of the opinion that, as with all new regulations, there will be early teething problems but feel confident that these will eventually settle down. It should also be noted that BNG is not new; many authorities have required developers to demonstrate BNG as part of their proposals for some time.
Should you have any queries relating to BNG and the associated implications, please do not hesitate to contact the MEP team who has an inhouse expert to advise further on this issue.
email: office@morganelliot.co.uk
tel: 07771 572832
Other News
The MEP team was instructed to secure permission for a replacement dwelling and ancillary buildings within the 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝘁. Whilst this project may have initially been viewed as a straightforward farmhouse replacement, the reality was far more nuanced. The proposals involved the demolition of two non-designated 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀 and the new dwelling represented […]
Listed Building Consent has been obtained for the refurbishment of the primary office building for Renishaw at Wotton Under Edge. New Mills is an impressive Grade II* listed building dating back from the early (19th. Currently used as offices, the building is in need for significant internal upgrades. The approved scheme represents substantial additional investment […]
Planning permission has been secured on appeal for to replace a live/work unit with an open market dwelling at Blackberry Barn, Bredon’s Norton, South Worcestershire. The proposal was for the replacement of a live/work unit with an open market dwelling, reflecting an extant permission. Planning permission had been granted for the replacement dwelling in 2021, […]