Biodiversity Net Gain – it’s finally here!

PRESS RELEASE

After some hiccups, no small amount of confusion, some hand-wringing and the odd nudge, the formal Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) regime finally becomes operational statute on the 12th February 2024. BNG was introduced as part of the Environment Act 2021, as a way for development and land-use planning in England to play its part in arresting and reversing biodiversity decline, and securing the Government’s objectives to put nature on a recovery trajectory. The secondary legislation that enacts the key provisions of the 2021 Act introduces a mandatory requirement for all developments (with a few specific exceptions) to deliver a net gain in biodiversity of 10%, as measured against the position before development. BNG therefore affects not only developers and local planning authorities, but it also provides opportunities for landowners who are prepared to commit some or all of their land to long-term biodiversity conservation in return for financial incentives. 

BNG works by using a number of standardised formulae to place a quantitative value on habitat types, as a proxy for their overall importance for wildlife. Normally this is done using a spreadsheet tool known as the Biodiversity Metric, the latest version of which, mandated for use in conjunction with the statutory requirement, was published in December 2023.

Since the 2021 Act was passed, developers, local authorities and landowners have been working to get ahead of the curve and be in a state of preparedness for this moment. Their success in achieving that readiness is very mixed indeed, not helped by incomplete or delayed guidance and advice from central Government about how the system will work in reality. Even now, significant matters remain to be clarified and it is clear that the Government is looking to the various players in this area to resolve those issues themselves, rather than lead from the front.

All of which means that the risks, problems and pitfalls of this nascent industry have not been ironed out. This is where Biofarm comes in. Established specifically in response to the Environment Act, Biofarm helps developers to get their plans approved and meet their Biodiversity Net Gain targets, by allowing them to purchase offsite units, managed by biodiversity specialists.

Working with Biofarm not only helps to negate the environmental impact of your development but helps to accelerate the planning process. Biofarm is a leader in the delivery of genuine and tangible biodiversity net gain, which encourages support from environmental groups and can help to persuade planning authorities to support the scheme.

Evie Hymas, Ecologist at Biofarm said:

“We are thrilled that the long-awaited biodiversity net gain legislation has finally come into effect. It has been a long time coming, but we are looking forward to being able to offer some clarity and assistance to local authorities, developers and landowners, and help facilitate a successful rollout and implementation of the requirements.

At Biofarm, we are interested in genuine BNG delivery. We act as an end-to-end provider because that’s the key to solving this thorny challenge for clients. We take all the logistical and regulatory headaches away and provide a complete, bespoke solution.”