Roger Hepher, hgh Executive Director, sheds light on the new biodiversity net gain regulations.

It’s been a long time in the making, and Government has been slow to publish the regulations, but statutory biodiversity net gain (BNG) is about to hit the property world. 

From 12th February for major planning applications and 2 April for most minors (e.g. less than 10 dwellings or 1,000sqm of non-residential floorspace), it will be a legal requirement that the net result of development is at least a 10% uplift in BNG. This is not just another item to be added to the planning shopping list and open to viability testing and negotiation; it is as a non-negotiable legal requirement.

If the BNG uplift cannot be achieved on site, there are financial mechanisms available to developers to use instead. However, these could add significantly to the cost of development.

The new system begs numerous questions, many of which will only be answered once it is up and running (and doubtless after a few appeal and court cases). However, we have produced the attached briefing note with a view to answering the more obvious ones.

Please click here to view the Briefing Note.

Image: Donald Giannatti on Unsplash