A Guide to Achieving Net Gain in Development Projects

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is transforming the way developers approach environmental impact. A key element in this process is the Biodiversity Gain Hierarchy, a structured approach that prioritises maximising positive outcomes for nature. This article explores the hierarchy's steps and their significance in achieving BNG goals.

What is the Biodiversity Gain Hierarchy?

The Biodiversity Gain Hierarchy outlines a series of steps developers should follow in order of priority when planning and implementing biodiversity improvements for their projects. The hierarchy emphasises prioritising on-site measures before exploring off-site options, ensuring developments make the most effective contributions to local biodiversity.

The Steps of the Hierarchy:

1. Avoid Adverse Effects: The first priority is to minimise negative impacts on existing habitats within the development site. This is particularly important for areas with medium, high, or very high distinctiveness (scoring 4 or more on the  Statutory Biodiversity Metric).

2. Mitigate Unavoidable Effects: If adverse impacts cannot be entirely avoided, the next step involves minimising and mitigating these impacts as much as possible.

3. Enhance On-Site Habitats: Once impacts have been minimised, the focus shifts to enhancing the quality of existing habitats within the development site.

4. Create New On-Site Habitats: If further improvements are needed to achieve the 10% net gain requirement, developers should explore creating new habitats within the development area.

5. Secure Off-Site Biodiversity Units: If achieving the required net gain on-site proves insufficient, developers can secure off-site biodiversity units. ILM excels in facilitating this step for developers, with a diverse portfolio of high-quality Biodiversity Gain Sites that generate these units. These units represent habitat creation or restoration elsewhere, contributing to the overall 10% biodiversity net gain requirement.

6. Purchase Biodiversity Credits: As a last resort, if all previous options have been exhausted, developers can purchase statutory biodiversity credits. However, this option should only be considered after exploring all other possibilities within the hierarchy.

Key Points to Consider:

• The Biodiversity Gain Hierarchy is distinct from, but complementary to, the Mitigation Hierarchy used in planning decisions.

• The Mitigation Hierarchy focuses on avoiding, minimising, and compensating for biodiversity losses.

• The Biodiversity Gain Hierarchy specifically guides the process of achieving the mandatory 10% net gain in biodiversity.

• Developers must demonstrate in their Biodiversity Gain Plan how they have followed this hierarchy in their approach to achieving the required net gain.

• Offsite BNG measures located further away from the development site hold less value in terms of biodiversity net gain.

By understanding and following the Biodiversity Gain Hierarchy, developers can ensure their projects contribute positively to local biodiversity while meeting BNG requirements. ILM plays a vital role in this process, providing developers with access to high-quality offsite biodiversity units through our network of Biodiversity Gain Sites.

Contact ILM today to discuss how we can help you achieve your BNG goals and go beyond the net gain to maximise benefits for nature.