Planning authorities in England and Wales now require submission of “Biodiversity Net Gain” or “Net Benefits for Biodiversity” assessments as part of their planning processes. These measures are designed to address the huge reductions in populations of animals, plants and habitats caused by man’s development activities in the past. Submissions to English authorities will have to be built around the application of the Statutory BNG Metric tool, whilst Welsh authorities require less numeric assessment processes to be applied. In general, though the assessments include:
- Assessment of the type, extent and quality of habitats affected by the proposed activity, including how the current habitats link with others in the local area.
- Consideration of the effect of the development on national and local nature recovery and local biodiversity action plans.
- Design of developments which prevent habitat loss or damage where possible.
- Determination of how much habitat would be lost, either temporarily or permanently, as a result of the development.
- Identification of mitigation measures to minimise losses and to compensate for those that are unavoidable.
- Definition and assessment of plans which will replace lost habitat and/or improve the habitats that remain.
- Installation of new habitats to offset losses caused by the work.
- Provision of funded management plans to ensure that the overall biodiversity of the site is improved and maintained by an acceptable degree over the original state.
- Assessment of the resilience of the improvements to biodiversity.
The exact nature and length of the assessment will depend on the size of the site, the number of different habitats and species thought to be impacted and the nature of the project itself, but an assessment will normally include:
- Detailed examination of the site and surrounding areas to map habitat types, using approved JNCC/UKHab criteria.
- Completion of local ecological record checks, historic land-use studies and consideration of the results of other appropriate ecological surveys, as well as the examination of any local nature recovery plans.
- Determination of how the work will be completed to minimise ecological damage and its impact on identified habitats.
- Proposals on how remaining habitats can be enhanced or extended to improve biodiversity.
- Calculations/explanations that demonstrate how much the proposed changes will improve biodiversity.
If you have been faced with the requirement for a “biodiversity net gain” or “net benefits for biodiversity” assessment for the first time, or it is part of a large and complex project, it can seem like a daunting issue. There is therefore always the temptation to leave it until the last moment, but the early inclusion of ecologists, and consultation with your local planning authority, will help speed the proposal through the planning process and minimise the associated costs.
We have assisted project teams at Jarrow and Chester to develop designs and management plans which more than satisfied the planning authorities. To speak to one of the team about a Net Gain project, simply get in touch; we are happy to help.
JP Ecological Services 