Biodiversity Net Gain Herefordshire: Understanding BNG

With the intention of promoting nature recovery, Herefordshire Council requires a minimum 10% increase in biodiversity for all proposed development projects. Projects must also deliver biodiversity net gain that is sustained for at least 30 years. If BNG is not possible at the location of development, developers must offset this by purchasing off site biodiversity units.

The Planning Practice Guidance for Biodiversity Net Gain for England can be found on the GOV.UK website.

In England, the Biodiversity Net Gain requirement applies to most developments that require planning permission under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. However, certain types of developments are exempt from this requirement. Notably, householder applications, such as small home extensions, are commonly exempt.

There are 10 vital good practice principles of biodiversity net gain that can help a project reach the minimum requirement of 10% if they are implemented. Outlined below are the mandatory net gain principles:

• Utilise the mitigation hierarchy to minimise the impact on biodiversity
• Eliminate any negative impacts of development on biodiversity
• Communicate each BNG outcome with complete transparency
• Cover all areas of sustainability, including societal and economic factors
• Involve any pre and post-development stakeholders in creating mandatory BNG solutions
• Focus on producing lasting natural benefits for biodiversity to leave a site and local wildlife in an improved state
• Understand the variable factors and potential risks in order to deliver BNG
• Attempt to exceed the base level requirement for biodiversity gains where possible
• Determine a suitable method in order to secure measurable on-site BNG gains
• Ensure the best possible results from biodiversity net gain

If you are uncertain about how statutory BNG requirements could impact your planning application, it is advisable to reach out to your local planning authority. If there is any indication that your development could be impacted, we recommend that you consult an ecologist at the earliest opportunity.

This will help to ensure that your proposals align with local requirements and allow you to identify whether any changes are needed to comply BNG regulations.

Our ecological consultants will complete a habitat classification assessment using a Statutory Biodiversity Metric (previously the Defra Biodiversity Metric 4.0). We will then convert the results into a habitat management and monitoring plan to achieve biodiversity gain objectives.

At Collington Winter Environmental, our professional team of ecology experts hold Natural England licenses. We work with a number of clients across England and Wales, including those in Herefordshire, to create biodiversity gain plans for long term effectiveness.

For projects both large and small, we can provide policy guidance, project recommendations, and clarification on the principles of BNG. To learn more about Collington Winter’s approach to biodiversity net gain, Herefordshire, we encourage you to get in touch with a member of our team at info@collingtonwinter.co.uk, or by using the contact form below.