Biodiversity Net Gain Wirral: Understanding BNG

Wirral Council is committed to safeguarding and enhancing the natural environment through its planning policies. In line with national legislation, Wirral’s biodiversity requirement is set at a minimum of 10% for all new developments within the county.

All planning applications must include a BNG Wirral local plan that clearly demonstrates measurable biodiversity improvements sustained for at least 30 years. Where onsite gains are not feasible, developers are expected to off-set biodiversity impacts by purchasing biodiversity units from approved habitat banks.

Promoting BNG is particularly crucial in areas of high wild capital, such as environmental Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and sites of national, European, and international significance. BNG already plays a central role in local nature recovery strategies and has already been implemented in the National Planning Policy Framework.

Inclusive to developments of all sizes, both minor and major developments should be supplemented with a BNG plan. For larger infrastructure projects, this applies to residential projects that host 10 or more dwellings or sites that span more than 0.5 hectares. Minor developments are also included, such as projects with 1 to 9 dwellings or sites smaller than 0.5 hectares, as well as commercial developments where the floor space created is under 1000 square metres or the site area is less than 1 hectare.

There are 10 vital good practice principles of biodiversity net gain that can help a project showcase a conscious effort towards the BNG requirement. Outlined below are the mandatory net gain principles to successfully achieve BNG:

• 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-development stakeholders in creating mandatory BNG solutions. Those involved after development should also be included in the process.
• Focus on producing sustainable 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

Developers have a key role in safeguarding local biodiversity. If your proposal may significantly affect the surrounding environment, it is crucial to seek early guidance from your local planning authority or a qualified ecologist.

At Collington Winter, our ecological consultants can carry out a comprehensive habitat assessment using the Statutory Biodiversity Metric (formerly Defra Metric 4.0) to calculate biodiversity units. Based on this assessment, we develop tailored habitat management and monitoring plans aligned with local nature recovery strategies to help ensure full compliance with BNG regulations.

Our ecology team, licensed by Natural England, supports a wide range of clients across England and Wales, including projects in the Wirral region.

From small residential schemes to large-scale infrastructure developments, we offer expert guidance on biodiversity net gain strategy and implementation. Our team prepares bespoke Biodiversity Net Gain plans that meet Wirral Council’s policies.

To learn how we can support your project, contact us at info@collingtonwinter.co.uk or complete the form below.