Gullands Solicitors
Delay to the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain The Government has delayed the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain, which was due to become a mandatory part of the planning system in England in November. Under the changes announced at the end of September, developers in England will now be required to deliver 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) from January 2024 when building new housing, industrial or commercial developments. For smaller sites, BNG will apply from April 2024 and for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects the requirement to deliver 10% BNG remains 2025. The new measures are being introduced to help halt the decline of species abundance by 2030 and to ensure developers agree to a plan for a site which delivers biodiversity net gain, either on or off the site, set at a minimum gain of 10%.
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By the end of November, the Government has now said it will publish all guidance and the regulations relating to BNG which will include: • The statutory biodiversity metric, critical for calculating the correct biodiversity gain. • The draft Biodiversity Gain Plan template which will help developers prepare for what they will need to complete during the planning application stages. • The Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan template which will set out how the improved significant on-site and off-site habitats will be managed for the long term. • A package of BNG guidance that sets out further advice for landowners, developers and local planning authorities around their role and responsibilities in delivering mandatory BNG.
