Biodiversity Net Gain – West Berkshire Council

Enhancing Berkshire’s Natural Environment

The 2021 Environment Act introduced several key policies, including biodiversity net gain (BNG). The planning requirement was brought into general planning in February 2024 (with a secondary introduction for small sites in April 2024) and aims to ensure that development projects not only maintain the existing biodiversity of a site but also enhance it by at least 10% once the development is complete, lasting for a minimum of 30 years.

Developers and local councils were given a two-year transition period to prepare for the mandatory implementation of BNG. After this period, the policy became compulsory for most planning projects, with few exceptions. Like many local authorities, West Berkshire Council chose to enforce BNG early, contributing to environmental restoration and nature recovery. It created new challenges for developers, however, who now must integrate mandatory BNG into their plans to meet the stricter requirements.

Working BNG into the Local Planning System

In an effort to combat climate change, protect sites of special scientific interest (SSSI) and recover nature that has been destroyed or damaged by development, West Berkshire has set out a clear vision for enhancing biodiversity through its local planning policies and partnerships. Following local nature recovery strategies (Berkshire LNRS) and other spatial strategies, the nature recovery network, the national planning policy framework (NPPF) and relevant legislation such as the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 made it possible to do this in a calculated and effective way.

The new approach was also made universal by not only taking advice from local communities, Natural England and the Berkshire Local Nature Partnership, but also from other interested parties such as the neighbouring local planning authorities of Bracknell Forest Council, Reading Borough Council, Slough Borough Council and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. Berkshire local authorities and all supporting authorities could then ensure that the entire county was following the same course of action, working hard to support ecological networks and enhance habitats.

As the BNG planning policy would require developers to enhance biodiversity to a measurably better state, it has instantly become a key part of West Berkshire Council’s plans to improve the condition of the environment. Although it won’t affect all pre-development plans, developers are advised to ensure that they are exempt from it or risk being met by potentially significant penalties. BNG has introduced additional complexities for developers, but the transparent approach and public consultations on biodiversity issues have helped to clarify how the policy will be implemented on a local level.

Ties Between the Mandate and Development

With the Environment Act now law, BNG has become a crucial part of the planning process in West Berkshire and such areas nearby. Developers must demonstrate that their projects comply with BNG requirements to receive planning permission from the local planning authority, including showing how they will achieve a minimum 10% increase in biodiversity value on the development site.

Developers can ensure compliance by working with ecological consultants who will assess the site’s current biodiversity and predict its future value after the development. The assessments use a universal metric to quantify the ecological value of the site, both pre-development and post-development. If there is a deficit between the two, the ecologist will propose mitigation measures to bridge the gap and guarantee that they can achieve net 10% biodiversity gains.

Inspection of Priority Habitats

For developers, it is essential to understand the BNG policy and its implications for planning projects. Even with a strong grasp of the concept, however, the input of a qualified ecological consultant is critical. Prepared by a licensed ecologist, a BNG plan ensures that a development meets the mandated biodiversity requirements in the eyes of the local planning authority and adheres to planning policies legally secured by connected legislation.

During a site visit, an ecological consultant will assess all ecological features and determine the current biodiversity value. They will then project the future biodiversity value based on the proposed development. If the assessment reveals a biodiversity deficit, the ecologist will recommend changes to meet the 10% net gain. In cases where protected species or other ecological assets are involved, the consultant will follow the mitigation hierarchy to determine the best course of action.

It will always be the intention to deliver BNG on the site whenever possible. Alternatively, a last resort option is available if the numerical value of biodiversity units cannot be accomplished through enhancing or restoring existing habitats on the site. Secured by conservation covenants, developers are able to obtain offsite biodiversity units from habitat banks owned by land managers as biodiversity credits, enabling them to create new habitats elsewhere and both enhance and protect biodiversity away from the site.

The BNG plan will include all the findings from the assessment, the biodiversity calculations, and any necessary changes or biodiversity offsets required to meet the BNG mandate. If net gains cannot be achieved on-site, the plan will outline how biodiversity units or statutory credits will be applied off-site, obtained from a habitat bank and secured by a conservation covenant. Once complete, the BNG plan can be submitted to West Berkshire Council as part of the planning application, increasing the likelihood of approval.

Utilise Our Expert Guidance on Biodiversity Net Gain

At Arbtech, our team of licensed and experienced ecologists is fully qualified to help you navigate the BNG planning requirements in West Berkshire. We ensure that our staff possess the necessary expertise and personal qualities to deliver high-quality services, making them the perfect partners for stepping in on your development project and producing a biodiversity gain plan to support planning applications submitted to the responsible authority.

Whether it involves biodiversity offsetting to source biodiversity credits, collecting feedback and researching to uncover more about ecological assets on the site or land management techniques for optimising the effectiveness of achieving biodiversity net gain, our team is able to work to numerous strengths in order to ensure that your development can progress.

If you’d like a free quote for a BNG assessment based on your project and site, contact us today. You can reach us by phone, email or through our website. Once you’ve reviewed your quote, you can decide whether to move forward with us. If you choose Arbtech as your BNG solutions provider, we will schedule a site visit and begin working to meet the biodiversity net gain requirements and secure your planning permission from West Berkshire Council.