Biodiversity Net Gain – Norfolk County Council

Meeting the General Biodiversity Gain Condition

Biodiversity net gain (BNG) – a key policy introduced in the Environment Act 2021 – is designed to reverse environmental degradation and ensure that development projects contribute positively to nature based on further information and first-hand findings from the site. BNG mandates that after a project is completed, the site’s biodiversity value must not only be preserved but increased by a minimum of 10% compared to its initial state for at least 30 years.

To ease the transition, the government granted local authorities and developers a two-year period to adjust to this significant change. During this time, local planning authorities retained the right to enforce BNG on developments, even though full compliance wasn’t immediately mandatory. Like others across England, Norfolk County Council has now fully integrated BNG into its planning requirements from nationally significant infrastructure projects to any time a much smaller planning application relates to a significant biodiversity loss, meaning developers now need to comply with these new regulations to secure planning approval.

Preserving the Natural Environment All Over Norfolk

Along with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Norfolk County Council has outlined how BNG operates within local planning policy. On its website, the council details the BNG requirements, while the wildlife trust provides additional guidance, focusing on the credit system for acquiring statutory biodiversity credits via off-site BNG contributions. Other environmental initiatives, such as carbon offsetting, green infrastructure and Natural Flood Management (NFM) are also supported.

The BNG policy aligns with Norfolk’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). On a broader scale, it is backed by the National Biodiversity Working Group. For developers, understanding these layers of regulations from local to national may seem overwhelming. By working with the right ecological experts, however, these guidelines can be navigated smoothly, ensuring projects meet the necessary BNG targets.

Mandatory BNG in Planning Permissions

Ever since BNG was first introduced in the government’s 2019 spring statement prior to gaining royal assent, developers expressed concerns about its potential impact on planning projects. The two-year transition offered a chance to learn and adapt, but as of February 2024, refusal to comply with BNG rules can lead to planning permission rejections, fines or even legal penalties.

Integrating BNG into a project from the outset is critical, and it can involve any one of three options for retaining, relocating or destroying ecological features, as well as whether it applies based on the number of dwellings, the range of habitat types, the identified scale of the total site area, and whether or not the site equates to more or less than 0.5 hectares.

A site’s biodiversity value is measured before development begins and again after the project is completed, using the DEFRA biodiversity metric to ensure consistency. Use of the statutory metric will then lead to a pre and post-development evaluation, guiding the necessary ecological improvements needed to meet the 10% biodiversity gain required by law and enhance biodiversity net gain calculations to a measurably better state.

Exercises to Demonstrate Net Gain of Biodiversity

Developers must provide an understanding of BNG as it becomes a standard part of future planning. Regardless of their knowledge, however, a licensed ecological consultant is still essential to ensure compliance. Arranging a BNG assessment with a qualified consultant will help to produce a detailed biodiversity net gain plan for the site.

During a site visit, an ecologist will assess natural assets and habitats, focusing particularly on those designated as priority areas. The data collected will act as a baseline for the site’s current biodiversity value, and this will be compared with the projected post-development value. If there is a shortfall, measures will be suggested to close the gap and achieve the necessary 10% biodiversity improvement.

The outcome of a BNG survey varies depending on the site. In some cases, developers may be able to retain existing habitats with minimal changes using the mitigation hierarchy. In other cases, on-site enhancements may not be enough, requiring the purchase of biodiversity units off-site to meet the requirements. The ecological consultant will compile all findings into an extensive biodiversity net gain plan, which can then be submitted to Norfolk’s local planning authority as part of the development proposal.

BNG Support for Development Proposals

Our team of ecological surveyors operates nationwide including in Norfolk, offering expert advice to both private and professional developers, helping to meet the biodiversity gain requirements. A local presence means our consultants are familiar with Norfolk’s planning authorities, nature recovery strategies, each part of the planning process, matters that impact planning applications, legislation such as the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, and organisations such as the Norfolk Wildlife Trust.

With in-depth knowledge of biodiversity policies – including the completed metric calculation tool, biodiversity opportunity areas and other designated sites – our ecologists ensure that all BNG requirements are met, whether on-site or through off-site compensation. We’ve worked on minor developments, major developments and everything in between, from small sites (as of April 2024) to residential developments.

Following minimum information taken from your planning project regarding pre-development biodiversity value, we can then begin providing assistance, showing onsite habitat existing before working on preventing habitat loss to any irreplaceable habitat, and encouraging new habitat creation on the development site. To get started, reach out to us by phone, email, or through our website, and provide us with details about your site and development project. We will offer a free quote, schedule an assessment to begin implementing biodiversity net gain, and develop a complete biodiversity net gain plan to support your project and result in a successful planning application.