Biodiversity Net Gain
Biodiversity Net Gain is a way of creating and improving natural habitats.
What is Biodiversity Net Gain?
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is an approach to improving the sustainability of development. It makes sure development has a measurably positive impact (‘net gain’) on biodiversity, compared to what was there before.
BNG measures the biodiversity of a site using the Defra Biodiversity Metric, which follows the mitigation hierarchy of ‘avoid – mitigate – compensate’. It assesses the impact of development and aims to create new habitats as well as enhance existing ones.
The Environment Act 2021 requires a minimum of 10% net gain for all major development. From April 2024 this will also apply to small sites, unless your proposal is listed under the exempt developments criteria.
Developments must achieve this net gain within 30 years and manage and monitor the net gain site for this period.
Applicants should refer to the (draft) BNG Planning Practice Guidance when considering their application.
Biodiversity Technical Advice Note
We have produced a biodiversity technical advice note which details our approach to BNG, including validation requirements and how to provide on-site and off-site BNG.
The current Biodiversity Net Gain Planning Requirements for major development are:
- submission of latest version of Biodiversity Metric
- submission of Biodiversity Gain Plan or Statement
- demonstrate 10% Biodiversity Net Gain
Applications should continue to make provision in line with policy NBE4 of the Hart District Council Local Plan April 2020 and meet the validation requirements detailed in the biodiversity technical advice note.
This includes the submission of the latest DEFRA metric, and a plan showing how on-site net gain shall be achieved, or a statement detailing the intention to purchase off-site credits where necessary.
See the planning validation requirements for further details on submission requirements.
Forthcoming changes
Minor developments - in line with the Environment Act 2021, minor developments will soon need to use the recently released Small Sites Metric. The Council will publicise the introduction through this webpage and through validation updates.
Additional guidance
- Government Biodiversity and Ecosystems page
- Biodiversity Net Gain Technical Guidance for Developers and Planners (in-depth guidance including Biodiversity Offsetting)
- DEFRA Biodiversity Metric Download user guide and metric spreadsheet)
- CIEEM: Biodiversity Net Gain Report and Audit Templates (includes useful templates for biodiversity gain and monitoring reporting)
- BSI Standards BS 8683:2021 (process standards)
- Planning Advisory Service FAQs