With the planning world becoming more environmentally savvy, new legislation for planning development has come into force. As from April 2024 the biodiversity net gain calculations for small sites will be required for all minor applications except householders.
This means that if you build or develop a site, you will have to make sure that your planning application includes a Biodiversity Net Gain calculation setting out how you are to leave the natural environment or habitat in a better state than it was pre to your development.
The Planning Advisory Service, Biodiversity Net Gain for local authorities | Local Government Association, provide good guidance as to the requirements and how you might be able to do this via onsite delivery. Your scheme could include features such as planting a wildflower meadow, installation of living green roofs or walls, trees.
Offsite delivery could also be provided by buying units from registered off site providers within the area, or from the Government land bank.
It is likely that planning approvals will be with pre-commencement conditions for landscaping plans to be accompanied by maintenance plans that show how the environmental mitigation will be maintained for the long term.
Please contact us if you’d like further information on Biodiversity Net Gain requirements or how it should be incorporated into your planning application.