Update on Biodiversity Net Gain in South Downs
May 17, 2023
Mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is coming soon and make sure you’re prepared!
That’s the call to action from Katharine Stuart, Planning Policy Lead for the National Park, who has helped to put together a useful technical advice note to help support applicants.
The BNG Interim Technical Advice Note provides guidance on the scope of BNG requirements and key principles to guide habitat creation and enhancement measures that make a valuable contribution to nature recovery. The document also provides guidance around landscape character and habitat that is bigger, better and more joined up.
Biodiversity Net Gain is an approach to development which leaves biodiversity in a better state than before. The principle of the BNG requirement was set out in the Environment Act 2021 and is expected to be mandatory from this November.
The BNG requirement is coming in two phases – from November 2023 for developments in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, unless exempt. The BNG requirement will apply to small sites from April 2024.
Katharine said: “The government is busy putting out lots of guidance – with lots more to come. Most notably the BNG Regulations which are critical in setting out the practical requirements for how BNG will work.
“The Authority has been successful early adopters of BNG principles. We have a policy requirement for net gains for biodiversity set out in policy SD9(1)(b) in our Local Plan adopted in 2019.
“Through our Annual Monitoring Report, a sample of the larger sites have showed an average BNG of 34 per cent, which is very encouraging.
“Please do check out our Technical Advice Note. We’ll updating it later this year to take account of any updates.”
And Kate added: “We know that it will not always be possible for BNG habitat creation and enhancement to be delivered on the site of the development. The Authority’s green financing work is how we are supporting exemplar nature recovery projects that can provide BNG offsetting credits.”