- Item
- Biodiversity Net Gain Information
- Driver
-
National and local requirement.
The National Planning Policy Framework.
Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (inserted by the Environment Act 2021).
The Biodiversity Gain Requirements (Exemptions) Regulations [2024].
The Biodiversity Gain Requirements (Irreplaceable Habitat) Regulations [2024].
- When required
-
Major developments received from 12 February 2024.
Changes of use received from 12 February 2024. Please note that some change of use applications are exempt.
Minor developments received from 2 April 2024.
- Further information and guidance
-
The following must accompany an application:
- A Biodiversity Statement
- Biodiversity metric spreadsheet
- Onsite Biodiversity baseline plan
- Onsite Biodiversity draft proposed plan (unless claiming exemption).
The required content and format of these documents is explained on our Biodiversity Net Gain page.
These requirements incorporate the Planning Practice Guidance requirements.
All onsite information (pre- and post-development) habitats is required at application stage.
The information about any offsite habitat biodiversity gains required, will depend on the proposed approach. If local biodiversity units or national credits will be purchased, full details are unlikely to be required. If a separate biodiversity gain site is proposed, then detailed information about this will be required at application stage.
If the site boundary of a proposed development includes land within 10m of a canal or river and/or 5m of a ditch, the adjacent lengths of watercourse should be included within the watercourse baseline assessment in the Metric.
A River Condition Assessment will also be needed to accompany the biodiversity statement to ensure that watercourse biodiversity is considered when calculating for net gain.
