Understanding Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
To help you better understand what is required from developers to meet BNG regulations, we have compiled this helpful Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section.
What is biodiversity net gain?
Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is a government strategy aimed at developers to ensure that habitats for wildlife are left in a measurably better state than they were before the development.
BNG was introduced through the Environment Act 2021 and became mandatory for development projects in February 2024. This legislative framework aims to ensure that all new developments positively impact biodiversity.
Under BNG regulations, developers must demonstrate how their projects will minimise harm to the natural environment and actively contribute to restoring and enhancing local ecosystems. This approach emphasises the importance of integrating biodiversity into planning processes, fostering a sustainable relationship between development and the environment.
How do developers deliver BNG to meet regulations?
Developers must achieve at least 10% biodiversity net gain (BNG) with each development. This biodiversity gain can be accomplished on site by creating habitats that include features like diverse and native plantings to attract and support wildlife or establishing ecological benefits like ponds and wetlands. Developers can also enhance existing habitats on site through soil enrichment and by planting native vegetation. These measures can help developers achieve net gains in biodiversity units on site as part of their 30-year habitat management and monitoring plan.
Where on-site habitat enhancement is not feasible or does not provide sufficient biodiversity gains, developers can also mitigate off site by purchasing BNG units from providers like Kingwell or by purchasing statutory biodiversity credits from the government.
The hierarchy for implementing the BNG process is as follows:
On-site enhancements
Off-site BNG providers
Government biodiversity credits
Developers can combine these options to meet the minimum requirement of 10% BNG.
How to Calculate Biodiversity Net Gain
To calculate BNG, developers need to follow a structured approach that begins with assessing the existing biodiversity on their site, for example, identifying all species present, their habitats, and the ecosystem's overall health.
A statutory biodiversity metric assesses the value of habitats by calculating the number of biodiversity units they contain. This tool is designed to determine how many units a habitat has before development occurs, as well as how many units are required to compensate for the habitat lost to achieve a 10% BNG. This is accomplished through the creation or enhancement of habitats.
What are the advantages of using BNG providers like Kingwell?
Creating BNG units on site presents challenges for developers - there is not only the loss of profit from putting land aside for BNG instead of for development, but the cost of having to produce and implement a detailed habitat and monitoring plan about how the land will be managed for at least the next 30 years.
BNG providers take the headache out of this, as is the case at Kingwell’s Keyhaven site. Working closely with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust who are managing the scheme, we can also provide certainty and reassurance for developers and the local planning authority that purchased BNG units will be delivered.
For more information or to buy BNG units or Nitrate Mitigation credits, please get in contact.