Biodiversity Net Gain

Introduction to Biodiversity Net Gain

Most developments will be required to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). The biodiversity on the development site must be left in a better state than before the works were undertaken. In this way development will have a positive impact on biodiversity and this will be achieved by developers working with local government, wildlife groups, landowners and other stakes holders.

It follows the government’s pledge to ‘leave the environment in a better state than we found it and pass on to the next generation a natural environment protected and enhanced for the future’, as set out in the 2018 DEFRA 25 Year Environment Plan.

BNG will transform how developments are planned, designed, built and maintained. It has the potential to bring benefits to both people and wildlife such as giving communities beautiful natural spaces and bringing back wildlife.

But it is also vital for reversing the effects of years of habitat destruction which have left our environment less resilient and natural resources depleted.

Strategic significance

Strategic significance is one of the inputs of the Statutory Metric which contributes towards the calculation of biodiversity units. It is a multiplier within the calculation that responds to the local significance of the habitat based on its location and the habitat type.

Where a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) has been published, you should use the relevant published LNRS. In the interim, prior to the LNRS being published, the table below should be used to assign strategic significance.

Strategic significance		Definition
High	Location and habitat type formally identified in the local strategy	With the exception of built or sealed surfaces, every constituent habitat-type: Within Biodiversity Opportunity Areas (BOAs); and Within designated sites (Special Protection Areas, Special Areas of Conservation, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation and Ancient Woodland) Relevant cropland, grassland, and wetland habitats: Within Solent Waders and Brent Goose Network The Solent Waders & Brent Goose Network (arcgis.com)
Medium	Location and habitat ecologically desirable but not in the local strategy	Habitats included in the Ecological Network opportunities mapping produced by Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre (HBIC)
Low	Not ecologically desirable	All other habitats

Biodiversity Opportunity Areas (BOA), designated sites and Ecological Network mapping can be requested from Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre (HBIC): Request a data search | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk)

Applications within the South Downs National Park should follow their advice note for guidance on strategic significance: Biodiversity Net Gain Technical Advice Note March 2024 (southdowns.gov.uk)

Habitat Bank Criteria
The council welcomes proposals from local habitat bank providers, but before the council can consider entering a legal agreement via s.106 with a habitat bank provider, the following criteria must be satisfied:
- The provider must have legal control over the land with no conflicting consents, licences, or permission for the site.
- A baseline ecological assessment, statutory metric and habitat plans have been carried out by suitably qualified ecologists.
- Habitat uplift must be considered achievable, and the best outcome for biodiversity.
- A detailed Management and Monitoring Plan must be provided and costed.
- Evidence that there are sufficient funds for the 30-year period.
Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) Pilots – lessons learned
A short report on the LNRS pilots was published by Defra on 12 July. The report explains some background on the LNRS and the pilots and summarises five lessons learned in relation to:
- How responsible authorities can best set up for the LNRS process
- Resources and capacity
- Data and evidence
- Collaboration
- Using the evidence
It then outlines that the next step will be a public consultation on the LNRS process and developing regulations and statutory guidance, as well as some steps areas can start taking now around building partnerships, local data and evidence; and capacity and resourcing.
Local Authority Tree Management & Woodland Creation Webinar

On 16 July from 2pm – 4.30pm, the Local Government Association will be running a webinar with speakers from The Tree Council talking about why tree management matters, speakers from Defra and the Forestry Commission talking about new opportunities including the England Woodland Creation Offer and Local Authority Treescape Fund and a presentation on the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative. To register your interest please email mamun.humayun@local.gov.uk

Last Updated: Wednesday 23 October 2024

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