Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is a conservation approach that requires developers to demonstrate that their projects will result in an overall increase in biodiversity on their site. Developers must deliver a BNG of 10%. This means a development will result in more or better quality natural habitat than there was before development. Where this cannot be achieved on the development site it is possible for the developer to purchase off-site credits to enhance habitats elsewhere.
BNG is a crucial step towards ensuring that developments are sustainable and leave a positive legacy for future generations. They help to protect ecosystems, mitigate climate change, improve human health, and provide economic benefits.
Why is Biodiversity Net Gain important?
- Protecting ecosystems: Biodiversity is essential for the functioning of ecosystems, which provide us with clean air, water, food, and climate regulation.
- Mitigating climate change: Biodiversity plays a crucial role in carbon sequestration and climate regulation. By conserving and restoring habitats, we can help to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
- Improving human health: Biodiversity is linked to human health in a number of ways. For example, biodiversity can help to improve air quality, reduce the risk of infectious diseases, and provide opportunities for physical activity and mental wellbeing.
- Economic benefits: Biodiversity is also important for the economy. Many industries, such as agriculture, tourism, and pharmaceuticals, rely on biodiversity. By protecting biodiversity, we can help to ensure the long-term sustainability of these industries.
How is Biodiversity Net Gain implemented?
BNG is typically implemented through a three-step process:
- Baseline assessment: This involves assessing the existing biodiversity on the development site, and the surrounding area. There is a Biodiversity Metric calculation tool on the government website here. It is recommended that this assessment is carried out by an ecology specialist.
- Mitigation and improvement: This involves taking steps to avoid, reduce, or compensate for any loss of biodiversity caused by the development and ultimately to improve it by at least 10%. This may include habitat creation, restoration, or enhancement. The design team will usually be responsible, in collaboration with the ecology specialist, for proposing measures to improve the biodiversity of the site by at least the 10% threshold required for planning. There is a mechanism for scoring the biodiversity measures, refer to the government website (link above) for further information.
- Submit your biodiversity gain plan to the LPA: You must submit your biodiversity gain plan, including a metric tool calculation that shows how you will meet your mandatory BNG, to the LPA. The LPA must approve or refuse your biodiversity gain plan within 8 weeks. The LPA must approve your biodiversity gain plan before you can start development.
Challenges and opportunities
While BNG is a promising approach to biodiversity conservation, there are also some challenges to consider. Developers will cite the additional cost of the surveys and BNG measures as a potential barrier to investment, and there are potentially delays to the processing of planning applications compared to previous timescales.
Despite these challenges, BNG offers a significant opportunity to protect biodiversity and create a more sustainable future. By requiring developers to demonstrate that their projects will result in a net gain in biodiversity, we can help to ensure that our development is compatible with the needs of both people and the planet.
CQS Solutions do all that we can to help protect our planet. We have undergone carbon literacy training and are proud to apply our knowledge to the way we run our company, and as many projects as we can.
At CQS we are collaborating with others within our networks to link up developers and/or contractors with land owners where there is potential for off site credits to be kept in the locality of the project.
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