Our Simple 5 Step Guide to solving BNG for your development
As the January 1st 2024 deadline approaches, and with new legislation recently passed in the House of Commons making 10% Biodiversity Net Gain mandatory, developers should take urgent steps to familiarise themselves with new rules.
Here we provide a simple guide on how to handle BNG for your forthcoming development plus some useful links to templates you may require to submit your Biodiversity Net Gain application.
5 Steps for Developers
1. Get an ecologists report for your development. This should include a pre development BNG baseline and a post development calculation. Ecologists as part of this will need to complete the Mandatory DEFRA Metric (download template here)
2. Decide how to accommodate 10% BNG improvements - onsite, offsite or via ‘credits of last resort’. It's unlikely you'll be able to create enough BNG onsite (and credits of last resort are VERY expensive and the least favourite option for LPA’s ) so as a provider of offsite BNG we recommend this approach. We provide high quality, price competitive, hassle free BNG Units. Ask us for a quote here
3. Submit a Biodiversity Gain Plan - download template here. As well as details of your development you'll need key information on the units you've sourced including a unique reference number (we provide this for your planning application) and details from our Section 106. If you don't have these details from an Offsite BNG provider, you won't get through planning.
As part of this step you should also secure a Commercial BNG "Supply & Assurance" Agreement (bi-lateral with developer).
4. Get planning permission - local planning authorities will have 8 weeks to approve the Biodiversity Gain Plan
5. Your BNG Units get registered – Your provider should then register the use of your units with the Biodiversity Gain Site Register.
Please note: Throughout the whole process be very wary of any BNG Unit providers that cannot give you key information on the units they are quoting as it takes a significant amount of time to get these approved. They should have a section 106 agreement in place, and have legal paperwork to identify the units and be able to provide a 30 Year Habitat Management Plan, specific to the units being provided.