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Biodiversity Net Gain
Enabling development make a positive impact on nature, on and offsite. We support you to create & improve places for people & wildlife.
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What is Biodiversity Net Gain?

DEVELOPMENT THAT LEAVES BIODIVERSITY IN A BETTER STATE THAN BEFORE.

In terms of planning policy Biodiversity Net Gain seeks to support nature's recovery across England (and beyond). It places a requirement on developers to increase biodiversity levels in measurable units for a defined area of land, to secure planning permission.

The Environment Act came into force in November 2021 and along with it the requirement for mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain for development.  Most Local Planning Authorities already request development to demonstrate positive outcomes for nature, however the Environment Act makes a minimum of 10% biodiversity gain a legal requirement.  Without it, permission is likely to be declined.

1

Field survey to collect pre-development habitat information.

2

Desktop study using proposed development landscape plans to gather post-development habitat information.

3

Review any offsite compensation (or gain) site plans.

4

Use pre and post development information (including offsite) to run the Biodiversity Metric to ascertain biodiversity value.

5

The Biodiversity Metric output will be either a gain or loss for biodiversity and expressed as a percentage.

6

Once planning permission is secured, a full Biodiversity Gain Plan will be submitted before development starts.

BIODIVERSITY GAIN PLAN EXPLAINED

THE PLANS REQUIRED

  • BIODIVERSITY CORE INFORMATION PLAN

Report presenting Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment results, calculations and evidence to support findings.  This will include recommendations on how biodiversity gain will be achieved suitable to support your planning application.

  • GAIN PLANS

Setting out the results of surveys, assessment, metric and how Biodiversity Net Gain will be secured including legal agreement requirements.

  • HABITAT MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT PLAN

30-year minimum plan of how habitats created and enhanced on and offsite as part of your Biodiversity Net Gain proposals will be monitored and managed.

HOW WE HELP YOU

If your development needs planning permission Biodiversity Net Gain requirements will have an impact on your project. 

Our specialist team of ecologists will work with you to understand your project and create a bespoke solution to enable your development to proceed with a positive impact for people and wildlife.

We offer the following services to support your development proposals.

STRATEGIC NET GAIN ASSESSMENT 

A desk-based assessment to inform land purchase decisions and the opportunities and costs that Biodiversity Net Gain presents.

BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN ASSESSMENT 

Field survey & Biodiversity Metric calculations (using the latest calculator) of proposed development and/or any 'gain sites' which are offsite.

STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION 

Stakeholder engagement to maximise the opportunities for biodiversity and your development including onsite and offsite options.

DESIGN

Landscape architect design services specialising in increasing biodiversity value of development both on and offsite.

VALUE FOR MONEY ASSESSMENTS

Independent evaluation of major construction and/or infrastructure projects with respect to delivering value for money biodiversity gains in accordance with HM Treasury's Green Book  guidance.

Do you have investable landscapes?

Nature pays!

Whether you are a landowner, farmer or agent, we can work with you to understand the true potential of the land and how best to utilise the space for both genuine income diversification and to support nature’s recovery. The two are not opposing forces; at Biodiverse Consulting we balance business with biodiversity.  We will strive to get the most impactful and profitable outcome for our clients as well as the environment.

CPD Training in Biodiversity Net Gain

If you’re in need of a crash course on how the Environment Act 2021 impacts your business and/or projects then you can join one of our CPD training sessions to gain a greater understanding of what it all means. 

The session, delivered by Vicki Mordue, explores the background to Biodiversity Net Gain, what it is (and is not), how it is currently calculated and what the implications are for development. 

Set within your local context, where possible, the course covers how Biodiversity Net Gain is implemented and provides insight into how it is likely to embed over the next transitional 18 months whilst secondary legislation is enacted. 

There are also informed ideas on how Biodiversity Net Gain will be achieved on and offsite and finally a bit of horizon scanning at how it will evolve in the future.

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