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This blog post was published under the 2015-2024 Conservative Administration

https://defraenvironment.blog.gov.uk/2023/11/29/biodiversity-net-gain-guidance-what-you-need-to-know/

Biodiversity net gain guidance – what you need to know

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity net gain, Land use
Aerial panorama over a Cotswold landscape

We are pleased to announce the publication of step-by-step guidance taking you through the biodiversity net gain process.

The guidance drafting process has been a truly collaborative effort, involving a range of government departments and ALBs such as Natural England, Forestry Commission, and the Environment Agency.

We are very grateful to the multiple stakeholders who we frequently engaged and consulted with to ensure guidance works best for users.

Defra guidance

Defra guidance covers the following BNG areas:

  • Introduction to BNG
  • Combining payments (stacking and bundling)
  • What counts towards BNG (additionality)
  • Exemptions from BNG
  • Biodiversity metric
  • Onsite and offsite BNG
  • Statutory biodiversity credits
  • Securing gain sites (legal agreements)
  • Biodiversity gain plan
  • Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans

Further guidance

DLUHC have also provided draft BNG planning practice guidance here: Draft biodiversity net gain planning practice guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  DLUHC guidance covers further legal and technical aspects of BNG, including guidance on the planning process, phased development, enforcement and more.

Feedback

We welcome feedback on the guidance, particularly in the run up to BNG coming into force. Please find a survey linked to each guidance page.

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2 comments

  1. Comment by Kate Russell posted on

    The links to the guidance don't work! They appear to be links to Sharepoint documents which aren't accessible.

    Reply

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