Guide Biodiversity Net Gain

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4. How to Achieve Biodiversity Net Gain?

Three ways a developer can achieve BNG

  • By enhancing or creating habitats onsite – within the red line boundary of a development site
  • If a minimum of 10% gain in biodiversity cannot be achieved onsite, it can be delivered through a combination of onsite and offsite. Where the LPA is satisfied that it is simply not feasible to achieve the minimum 10% BNG onsite, then an offsite solution may be considered as per the following options: 
        • through a habitat bank
        • on other land owned by the developer/applicant
  • If none of the options above are available, then as a last resort, National Statutory Biodiversity Credits can be purchased from Natural England. The government will use the revenue to invest in habitat creation in England

The Biodiversity Gain Hierarchy

Developers can combine all three options listed above but must follow the steps in order. The specific order of steps is called the biodiversity gain hierarchy. This is a material consideration for LPAs when determining whether to approve a Biodiversity Gain Plan.

  1. Avoid and reduce clearance of very high, high and medium distinctiveness habitats
  2. Enhance existing onsite habitats
  3. Create new onsite habitats
  4. Allocation of registered offsite biodiversity units
  5. Last resort: purchase of statutory credits

Mitigation Hierarchy

The biodiversity gain hierarchy is distinct from the mitigation hierarchy, as below. You should follow both when designing and preparing your development scheme.

  • Avoid habitat damage from the outset
  • Minimise habitat damage and loss
  • Restore any damaged or lost habitat
  • Compensate for the unavoidable loss of biodiversity