Meeting Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements is now a mandatory aspect of development in England. But what if your site lacks the space or conditions to achieve all of these gains on-site? Off-site biodiversity gains offer a viable solution whilst still enhancing the existing biodiversity on site. We’ve put together a handy guide with the steps, strategies and considerations for developers looking to fulfil their BNG obligations with off-site biodiversity units.

Why Off-Site Gains Matter

Under the BNG legislation, developers are mandated to deliver 10% BNG, regardless of whether the development impacts existing biodiversity. Off-site gains are crucial for project that are unable to achieve all of their BNG on-site. However, it’s important to note that off-site gains must also be maintained for at least 30 years. Working with a provider such as ILM transfers this responsibility from the developer, whilst ensuring full compliance, effective delivery and long-term sustainability.

Steps to Make Off-Site Gains

1. Use the Biodiversity Metric: You must start with a pre-development habitat survey to fully explore all possible on-site options. If on-site options are limited, use the mitigation hierarchy to explore off-site alternatives.

2. Find Off-Site Units for Sale: Contact us to find suitable off-site units that align with your BNG requirements.

3. Secure Off-Site Gains with Legal Agreements: Ensure the off-site habitat is legally secured as part of your Section 106 Agreement.

4. Obtain Planning Permission: You can secure off-site units before applying for planning permission.

5. Agree to Buy Units: Negotiate terms with the land manager or seller regarding the purchase of off-site biodiversity units.

6. Record Allocation of Off-Site Gains: Record the allocation of biodiversity units to your development on the biodiversity gain sites register.

7. Submit a Biodiversity Gain Plan: Complete and submit a biodiversity gain plan to the Local Planning Authority (LPA), ensuring all off-site gains are duly recorded.

8. Deliver 10% BNG: Should you incorporate on-site delivery into your development landscaping, these need to be managed for the statutory 30-year period.

How do you make off-site gains? Find out in Part 2, where we delve deeper into the specifics of making off-site biodiversity gains and explore additional considerations for developers.