Biodiversity Net Gain assessments
Our knowledgeable and friendly team has years of experience and a passion for driving innovative solutions for you and nature.
What is Biodiversity Net Gain?
Biodiversity Net Gain is the creation of new habitats or improvement of existing habitats to ensure that a development has a measurably positive impact on biodiversity.
It ensures that biodiversity is left in a better condition than before development.
The introduction of Biodiversity Net Gain legislation will result in habitats being created and enhanced nationwide, providing valuable habitat for British flora and fauna and green spaces for people to enjoy.
What does Biodiversity Net Gain mean for you and your project?
Development must deliver a 10% Biodiversity Net Gain compared with the pre-development value of the habitat or a Biodiversity Net Gain unit equivalent.
Before development takes place, the Biodiversity Net Gain required must be agreed with the relevant planning authority.
As part of Biodiversity Net Gain, developers must demonstrate and maintain the habitat for at least 30 years to ensure that biodiversity is achieved long-term.
Although the introduction of Biodiversity Net Gain can mean that developers have to factor it into planning, logistics and potential costs, Biodiversity Net Gain is a real win for the natural world which will benefit us all.
How to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain on your projects
The first and best way to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain is to create biodiversity improvements on site or adjacent to the development.
The second option is to compensate by achieving Biodiversity Net Gain through habitat improvements on another site.
This should only happen where Biodiversity Net Gain cannot be achieved fully on site. Developers can either retain or sell the biodiversity gains on their own land outside the development site or buy off-site biodiversity units.
The third and final route is to buy statutory biodiversity credits from the government. This should only be used where a developer cannot achieve on-site or off-site Biodiversity Net Gain. The government will use the income to invest in habitat creation in England.
Developers can use a combination of all three options to achieve the necessary Biodiversity Net Gain.
Biodiversity Net Gain legislation
In England, Biodiversity Net Gain is mandatory under the Environment Act 2021.
The requirements apply to qualifying developments and require planning applications to demonstrate how the statutory Biodiversity Net Gain target will be achieved and maintained.
The government established a Biodiversity Net Gain advisory group and continues to support local planning authorities with implementing Biodiversity Net Gain legislation, resources and guidance.
Are you impacted by Biodiversity Net Gain? Net Gain legislation
Biodiversity Net Gain will impact you when your development includes:
- A development of 10 or more dwellings
- A development on a site of more than 0.5 hectares
- A development that does not fall within the small sites definition
- A Local Planning Authority-led development
- Works for a Local Planning Authority
How to get started with Biodiversity Net Gain
Our team can undertake Biodiversity Net Gain assessments across a range of projects.
We can guide you through the process, help you understand the requirements and recommend practical ways to deliver measurable biodiversity improvements.
Whether you need support at the planning stage or throughout delivery, we can help you create a compliant project and support nature at the same time.