What is Biodiversity Net Gain?
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is an initiative included in the Environment Act 2021. It will affect all housing and nationally significant infrastructure projects in England with the key goal of ensuring that new developments leave the environment in a demonstrably better condition than before. It works alongside initiatives like the Green Infrastructure Framework, a commitment in the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan to create a network of accessible green spaces, climate resilient towns and cities across England. Key benefits include; cleaner and greener areas to live and work, more habitats for wildlife to thrive, improved natural flood protection and a positive impact on the effects of climate change.
Minimum 10% gain
BNG requires an increase in the biodiversity value on a site to a measurably better state by a minimum of 10%. The biodiversity metric is a habitat based approach to determining a biodiversity value. Using the biodiversity metric all areas within the development boundary, affected or not, must be included within a baseline calculation. This information is then used to assess what habitat retention, enhancement and/or creation is required to meet or exceed a 10% increase.
On-site and off-site delivery
Efforts must be made to ensure Biodiversity Net Gain can be achieved on the development, however if this is not feasible in its entirety, then it can be achieved elsewhere off-site.
The developer can secure the unit shortfall by securing a bespoke site for net gain, or from appropriate sites from other landowners. Off-site land will need to meet the criteria of the biodiversity gain sites register. A developer can purchase statutory biodiversity credits from government as a last resort which will be invested in large scale, high value, habitat projects.
Our lifetime adoption model means we take legal responsibility for POS and BNG management with onsite and offsite solutions, providing options for annual customer contribution and commuted sums.
30-year agreement
Biodiversity net gain is subject to a 30-year period of ongoing maintenance, monitoring, and evaluation. The land used for BNG delivery will have to be secured for the length of the net gain agreement, securing the habitat enhancement, monitoring and management, either via Section 106 agreements, or a conservation covenant. The local authority or responsible body, depending on the agreement in place, will enforce compliance of the legal agreement.
As a long-standing, land-owning business, Meadfleet are well positioned to ensure Biodiversity Net Gain requirements are upheld for the 30-year term with an aim to also enhance and create additional ecological benefits long into the future.
Adaptive management in perpetuity
When submitting an application, the completed biodiversity metric will have to be accompanied by an approved habitat management and monitoring plan, a document which sets out how a development will deliver Biodiversity Net Gain.
Our sustainable approach to land management means we have been applying the principles of Biodiversity Net Gain for some time now. With inhouse ecology professionals, we recognise and promote the need for new build developments to provide suitable habitat and resources for native species. We have the skill set required to successfully deliver the management and monitoring requirements for a development for the 30-year duration and beyond.
We also offer bespoke guidance to housebuilders from the inception of a development, advising on the layout and potential ecological benefits that could be added.
Community engagement
Our aim has always been to improve biodiversity on open spaces in our care; working to enhance and create additional habitats whilst engaging residents in the journey. Historically, open spaces have contained formally mown grass areas and ornamental shrub beds but over recent years there has been the addition of features such as wildflower meadows and wildlife friendly sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS). These require a different management approach to ensure they successfully achieve their intended purpose.
Education and engagement to create an understanding of the wide range of benefits is crucial in enabling amenity and biodiversity to be delivered harmoniously to the future. We work with resident’s groups and local communities aligning their views and expectations, developing an understanding of the positive impact biodiversity has for wildlife and climate change plus the benefits of easy access to nature on mental health.
A BNG case study
We took handover of this development in Lancashire in 2018 and since then we’ve been enhancing the areas of open space for biodiversity including the addition of native hedgerow and the creation of a wildflower area. Using the UKHab quantifying metric the improvements have resulted in a 12.3% increase in habitat units, above the 10% minimum required for Biodiversity Net Gain. This is a relatively small residential development however it demonstrates the excellent results that can be achieved with expert management.