Making BNG a Priority in Newcastle Planning
Following the royal assent of the Environment Act 2021, the UK planning system now mandates that many new developments contribute to a better state of biodiversity than existed prior to construction. Known as biodiversity net gain (BNG), the legal framework requires that every eligible development site achieves at least a 10% increase in biodiversity value once the project is complete.
As of February 2024, BNG has become a mandatory requirement for most major developments across England. With the transition period now over, developers working in Newcastle must meet the new standards or face significant delays in their planning applications, placing extra importance on understanding and implementing BNG measures from the first step of the planning process.
BNG plays a critical role in reversing the trend of biodiversity loss by ensuring new habitats are created or enhanced as part of development. Projects that fail to deliver BNG – either on-site or off-site – risk refusal by the local planning authority. For developers and planners in Newcastle, this means biodiversity must now be embedded into every stage of project design and approval.
The Local Council’s Commitment to Biodiversity Through Planning
Newcastle City Council has taken active steps to prepare for and enforce BNG policies. Working within the broader North East Nature Partnership, the council has integrated biodiversity targets into its green infrastructure strategy and local plan policies. Such documents outline how new projects can align with the city’s natural environment goals, ensuring every development contributes to habitat creation and ecological connectivity.
Newcastle’s approach to BNG supports the ambitions of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, which identifies key sites for biodiversity gain and targets areas where habitats can be restored or enhanced. Developers are encouraged to align with these goals by avoiding adverse effects on designated wildlife sites and delivering significant enhancements through their proposals.
Planning teams in Newcastle now assess each planning application against the BNG framework, considering whether the proposal delivers at least a 10% gain over the pre-development biodiversity value. In doing so, the council uses the standardised biodiversity metric – as endorsed by DEFRA and Natural England – to ensure consistency across assessments.
Why BNG Now Shapes All Major Developments
Since its inclusion in the Environment Act 2021, BNG has become a cornerstone of the modern planning system. It formalises the long-standing principle that development should not come at the expense of biodiversity, and instead, should actively enhance it. While small-scale projects may still qualify for exemptions, the vast majority of new developments must now demonstrate a measurable gain in biodiversity.
BNG success is based on comparing a site’s pre- and post-development biodiversity value using a DEFRA-approved biodiversity calculator. If a development site does not meet the target through on-site measures, developers may opt to secure off-site units via local habitat banks or purchase statutory biodiversity credits as a last resort.
Such fallback options, however, are not to be used lightly. The mitigation hierarchy – intended to avoid, minimise, restore and compensate – remains central to the process. Developers must show that all reasonable efforts have been made to avoid ecological harm and maximise gains on-site before pursuing external alternatives.
Biodiversity Net Gain’s Position in Development
A formal BNG assessment is now essential for securing planning permission in Newcastle. It involves hiring a qualified ecologist to assess the site’s current biodiversity by identifying habitat types, flora and fauna, and calculating its baseline value. This is followed by an evaluation of the proposed development’s impact, including the creation or restoration of habitats post-build.
Based on the results, the ecologist will generate a biodiversity net gain plan that includes design recommendations, mitigation measures, and a habitat management plan that spans at least 30 years. The plan must be submitted as part of the planning application to Newcastle City Council and will be assessed against national and local BNG policy.
The first step to success is early engagement: developers should start the BNG process as soon as possible in order to influence the design of the development and avoid costly redesigns or project delays. Ecological surveys are also seasonally sensitive, so scheduling site visits early in the project timeline is strongly recommended.
Supporting Newcastle Developers to Meet BNG Requirements
Compliance with the mandate in Newcastle can be a complex process, but with the right guidance, developers can deliver BNG effectively and in full accordance with local and national policy. Our team of qualified ecologists has years of experience in providing bespoke BNG assessments, biodiversity calculations and planning support throughout the North East.
We work closely with local planning authorities, habitat banks and statutory agencies to help developers meet all biodiversity obligations. Whether your site contains grassland, woodland, hedgerows or wetland, we ensure that your planning application is informed by accurate ecological data and a credible path to compliance.
From projects in Newcastle’s urban centre to greenfield sites on the outskirts, our consultants are here to support you through every stage of the process, from the first step of planning to long-term habitat management. We also assist with sourcing off-site biodiversity units if your development cannot meet targets on-site.
If you’re planning a new project in Newcastle and need a BNG plan, contact us for a no-obligation quote. We’ll arrange a site visit, prepare all necessary documents, and ensure your development contributes meaningfully to the natural environment while meeting the biodiversity net gain requirements in full.