Frontrunner councils show that Biodiversity Net Gain can be more than a glorified offsetting scheme - Wildlife and Countryside Link

• Nature groups welcomed the start of mandatory “biodiversity net gain” in new housing developments.
• New research shows that the majority of local authorities currently have no plans to go above minimum requirements on Biodiversity Net Gain.
• There are a handful of examples of local authorities surging ahead with more ambition of 20%–30%+ biodiversity net gain.
• Government advice and Impact Assessments suggest that 10% net gain may in practice only achieve “no net loss”—so the policy is likely to make no material contribution to nature recovery, unless Local Authorities go beyond the minimum.
• Nature groups are urging the Government to support more local authorities to commit to higher BNG ambition.

Ahead of roll out of mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) on 12 February, Wildlife and Countryside Link (Link) has released new analysis revealing that in most Local Authorities, Biodiversity Net Gain will fail to go beyond “offsetting”. The scheme requires developers to create new habitat to compensate for harm to nature in new developments.

The Environment Act 2021 allows Local Authorities to set net gain requirements above 10% in their Local Plans. However, nature organisations say that the vast majority of local authorities are set to go no further than mandatory 10% Biodiversity Net Gain minimum requirements.

The Government’s Impact Assessment acknowledged that 10% BNG may not go beyond “no net loss” and Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, said last week that “biodiversity net gain is really about keeping things as they are”.

Based on Freedom of Information requests sent to the 317 local authorities in England, the figures show that just 26 local authorities (8%) have either committed to, or are considering, BNG requirements above the mandatory requirement of 10%.

Further key findings from the study. Out of 317 local authorities in England:

• 293 local authorities (92%) currently have no policy on Biodiversity Net Gain in place and will only be committing to the mandatory 10% when BNG becomes compulsory.
• 26 local authorities (8%) have a current target of around 10% BNG that will continue after it becomes mandatory.
• Just 2 local authorities, Guildford & Worthing, have adopted BNG policies of 20% into their local plans currently (for Worthing this applies to land that has been previously developed only). This is just 0.6% of local authorities.
• 18 local authorities including East Devon, Canterbury and West Oxfordshire have emerging* BNG policies above 10%. These range up to 30% for Kingston Upon Thames and Tower Hamlets.
• A further 6 local authorities including Birmingham, Herefordshire and Greater Cambridge are seriously considering BNG policies above 10%.
• Just 24 authorities were found to have active targets on Biodiversity Net Gain ahead of the 10% rule becoming mandatory on 12th February 2024, with the vast majority at or around 10%