Biodiversity Net Gain - 1 month on / what we’ve learned
It’s been just over a month since Biodiversity Net Gain became mandatory in England for all new planning applications (with some smaller developments excluded until April) and we’ve been inundated with enquiries, questions and requests for help.
We speak to BNG providers across England every day and we’re gaining more perspective on how the market is evolving.
Here’s what we’ve learned.
BNG - 5 key things
1. There’s a shortage of BNG units in the market with appropriate paperwork at the moment. Be warned, there’s a lot of providers saying they have units ready to go, but they don’t have legals in place or agreements with their LPA’s.
2. When buying land, you should definitely begin to consider a BNG survey to avoid problems later on. This should be factored into negotiations on land purchases and price. We’ve spoken to a number of developers who’ve been caught out by this already. 3. You need your BNG solution in place for your Biodiversity Gain Plan, which can be completed any time between the day after planning consent, right up to when you begin construction. But it’s recommended to have a solution in place, with Heads of Terms agreed and deposits paid to guarantee prices (see point 5).
4. Depending on your projects location and timelines for development - planning & commencement of construction - your options can vary hugely, so speak with someone that can advise you through the process (like us)
5. BNG Unit Prices are expected to fluctuate heavily in the first 12 months of the new legislation, read about our predictions here.