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Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG): A game-changing opportunity to protect nature and enhance development, fostering a sustainable future.
map marker United Kingdom | 31 October 2023

The new legal requirement, which demands development projects to leave biodiversity in a measurably better state poses challenges for the whole industry. But it also represents a fantastic opportunity to create vibrant places for people and nature.  
 
Biodiversity underpins much of what we need to survive – from food and clean water to our mental health and wellbeing. Biodiversity is vital for our economy too, with 50% of global GDP directly dependent on nature. It’s deeply concerning that populations of the UK’s most important wildlife have declined by an average of 60% since 1970, and that the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. 
 
It’s clear that past approaches to safeguarding biodiversity through the development process have not been successful. Historically, most habitat loss was simply accepted. More recently, the idea of no net loss was introduced. But inconsistent implementation across different developers made it hard to create meaningful benefits for wildlife. The new biodiversity net gain requirements, which come into force in 2024, are better for wildlife and create a level playing field for developers.  


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What does biodiversity net gain involve?

From January 2024, most larger developments will need to deliver a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain (BNG). This requirement will apply to smaller developments from April 2024. 

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BNG is calculated using a metric that considers the habitat’s size, condition, type (called distinctiveness) and location. If biodiversity net gain cannot be achieved on site, then off-site opportunities should be identified. 

Land used for BNG will need to be secured for a minimum of 30 years and, if it’s not within the boundary of the development, registered on the national BNG Register. There’s also a requirement for developers or offset managers to manage, monitor and report on land delivering BNG for the duration of the net gain agreement as set out during the design process.

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Where BNG cannot be delivered on-site or off-site, the Government has plans to make statutory credits available to purchase as a last resort. These would provide BNG through large-scale habitat projects set up and overseen by the Government. These credits have deliberately been priced so they would be the very last resort for developers.

Biodiversity Net Gain - understanding the process and top tips for success. An overview for developers, local planning authorities and landowners of what BNG is, how it is measured and how the new approach will be applicable to those organisations.

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Biodiversity Net Gain: offsite delivery: An overview for developers and land of the early lessons and options for BNG offsite delivery. Recent and live project examples will be explored with speakers from WSP, Iford Estates & RSK Wildling.

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BNG is probably the biggest change since the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) system was introduced in 1949. But it’s one we believe can work well for nature, for our clients and for the industry. As biodiversity consultants, WSP has been actively involved in the development of BNG in the UK.

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We were members of the steering group reviewing BNG metrics.

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We’ve developed implementation guidance and run training for Chartered Institutes across the UK.

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We’ve helped to write the British Standard for BNG in the UK.

This is in addition to working with landowners, developers and local authorities on how to implement BNG at a strategic and project level. The insight we’ve gained from this experience enables us to advise our clients across the project lifecycle, from feasibility to habitat creation and ongoing management. This has shown us how the new rules will create real opportunities for our clients.

Avoiding high-value habitats reduces risk and is better for nature

Much of the conversation around BNG so far has focussed on whether it can deliver nature recovery. But its biggest benefit could ultimately come from placing more emphasis on avoiding developing on valuable habitats in the first place. This is harder to measure but vitally important. 

Our biodiversity consultants are already helping housebuilders and developers of linear infrastructure such as pipelines, road and rail projects use baseline assessments to avoid developing areas that are rich in biodiversity. Not only does this avoid damage to habitats such as species-rich grassland or native scrub – which have no other protection under planning legislation – it also saves our clients from having to reinstate large amounts of biodiversity. 

Our strategic biodiversity assessments have helped Anglian Water, Transport for London and National Highways identify areas of valuable habitat. We’ve also helped an electricity distribution and transition network develop its approach to BNG, running assessments for a large range of projects, which supports the country’s energy transition.  
 
Because we work as part of a multidisciplinary consultancy, we can integrate BNG into every stage of a project – including the crucial early stages. Innovations such as traffic-light labelling for different habitats, which show higher value areas in orange and red, make it easy for clients to see the likely impact and choose design options that minimise their risk. We also run workshops with our clients and key WSP design disciplines to help them prioritise biodiversity in their decisions. Early collaboration with a biodiversity consultants can be key. It can help minimise habitat loss and produce a design that achieves the client’s objectives, while also identifying opportunities to both restore and create biodiversity. This enhances both nature and the development.  

Offsetting creates opportunities for developers, local authorities and land owners

A key principle of BNG is the mitigation hierarchy: first avoiding biodiverse habitats, then reducing impacts and then identifying the best places to enhance biodiversity. Not every project will be able to avoid developing on habitat, and not every project will be able to deliver BNG on-site. So this is where off-site BNG comes in – meeting the 10% net gain requirement by creating habitats outside the area of development. 

We’ve applied BNG accounting across a range of projects for major organisations such as The Ministry of Justice, The Crown Estate and National Highways – identifying and assessing habitats and calculating biodiversity baselines to enable our clients to follow the mitigation hierarchy. We’ve also worked on multiple commercial, mixed-use and residential development projects to identify offset sites and create biodiversity management plans. From this experience, it’s clear to us that off-site BNG offers real opportunities. 

One opportunity lies in creating habitat banks. We’re working with landowners and developers to help them enhance biodiversity on land they already own to create habitat banks. They can use or sell the biodiversity units from these banks as part of the BNG process. It’s a win-win, with landowners able to get more value from land they might not be able to build on and nature getting a much-needed boost. 
 
But it takes expertise to create suitable habitats in different settings and it’s vital to get it right. To set realistic targets for habitats, factors such as ground and soil conditions need to be taken into account – as well as whether the area will also be accessible to local people. Because we have biodiversity consultants across the UK, we understand the local context and can determine whether the offset will succeed. 
 
There are opportunities for local authorities too. Within each county in England set to publish a nature recovery strategy, BNG offsets have a vital role to play contributing to delivering these plans for nature. Habitats can be prioritised and aligned in the most effective way for conservation. As we create BNG guidance for clients such as combined local authorities, we help them consider how to get the most for their region from BNG. 
 
Even at a more local level, there are opportunities to ensure the benefits add up. Why not, for example, encourage developers to join together to create a community orchard that both enhances biodiversity and provides an amenity for local people?  
 
Ultimately, we believe that the BNG process can create places that work better for nature and for people. That’s why we’re determined to work with our clients to make it succeed for them, and for future generations who will benefit from living in a more biodiverse country. 

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Biodiversity Net Gain – Considerations and Opportunities

Biodiversity Net Gain was set to become a mandatory requirement of the planning process in November 2023. The UK Government delayed this to January 2024. The webinar provides an introduction to what BNG means for you and your developments.

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