New Requirements for Biodiversity Net Gain in Planning Applications
The Planning Portal recently announced significant changes to planning application requirements regarding Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), taking effect from 12 February 2024. These changes will significantly impact developers and landowners in England, prompting a closer look at biodiversity integration in development projects.
What does this mean for developers?
Developers are now required to include detailed information on BNG as part of their planning applications and post-permission discharge of conditions. The legislation mandates that major development proposals demonstrate a minimum of 10% net gain in habitat units measured by the Statutory Biodiversity Metric. Some Local Planning Authorities may even require higher levels of net gain, up to 30%.
To comply with these requirements, developers must ensure their planning applications provide sufficient details to be validated and, if approved, discharge the ‘general biodiversity gain condition’ before commencing work. Additionally, small sites will be temporarily exempt until 2nd April 2024, after which similar requirements will apply.
What changes can developers expect?
The planning portal introduced several updates to its online application services:
Addition of a specific ‘Biodiversity Net Gain’ question to all full and outline planning applications.
Introduction of a new question for householder planning applications to confirm exemption from biodiversity net gain requirements.
Inclusion or new supporting document types for Biodiversity Net Gain, such as biodiversity statements, gain plans and habitat maps.
These changes aim to streamline the application process and ensure developers can provide the necessary information to meet regulatory standards.
What does this mean for Landowners?
Landowners involved in development projects must also be aware of these changes, as they plan a crucial role in habitat creation and conservation efforts. By working closely with developers and ecologists from the earliest stages of planning, landowners can contribute to sustainable development practices and promote biodiversity enhancement on their properties.
Conclusion
The changes to planning application requirements represent a significant step forward in integrating biodiversity considerations into the development process. For developers and landowners alike, understanding and complying with these regulations is essential to ensure the success of future projects and contribute to habitat recovery efforts on a landscape scale.
For further details and guidance on these changes, please refer to the original article on the Planning Portal website here. Developers and landowners seeking assistance with off-site biodiversity units are encouraged to contact Integrated Land Management for expert support and guidance.
