First referenced in 2019, biodiversity net gain has been a mandatory part of planning regulations since 12th February 2024 for major developments and 2nd April for minor developments. As part of this, developers are required to complete a biodiversity net gain assessment with the help of environmental experts, such as Greenlight.
To gain an understanding of ‘what is a biodiversity net gain assessment?’, why it is important for developers and the environment, and how to complete one, this article is here to help.
What is Biodiversity Net Gain?
Biodiversity net gain is the process of making sure biodiversity present on a specific site is measurably better after a development is completed. Whilst this might not apply to every single development site, it is relevant to the vast majority.
Biodiversity Net Gain Assessments (BNGA) are focused solely on habitats (e.g. grassland, woodland, etc.), hedgerows and watercourses (e.g. ditches, streams and rivers).
Legislation dictates there must be at least a 10% increase in biodiversity once a site has been developed. This means, developers must focus on this if their development plans are to success and be permitted.
Why Are Biodiversity Net Gain Assessments Important?
One of the main reasons biodiversity net gain is important is because it may determine whether a development project can be approved or not. Planning permission may not be granted without an assessment, so it can play a vital role in its success.
They are able to highlight any issues that developers may run into ahead of time, particularly when it comes to biodiversity. These environmental issues can then be addressed to further improve the chances of planning permission being approved.
Plus, it goes without saying, that animals and plant habitats all benefit from biodiversity net gain assessments!
How to Complete a Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment
The first step involved in conducting a biodiversity net gain assessment is a site visit to assess the habitats and their condition.
This information feeds into a biodiversity metric which provides a baseline score. We then take the clients plans and feed this into the post-development section of the metric, which provides the overall score. The following steps often depend on the results of these calculations.
If there isn’t a biodiversity net gain of at least 10%, changes may need to be made to the site design and development plans – especially if there is a net loss. The assessor should give you examples of the changes that need to be made e.g. alterations to the proposed plans or the purchasing of offsite credits.
At Greenlight, we specialise in ecology, landscape and arboriculture surveys, including biodiversity net gain assessments. We work with you to get through the process as quickly and seamlessly as possible. As a qualified and experienced team of experts, we deliver a professional and quality service for our clients.
Get in touch today for your biodiversity net gain assessment.
