Biodiversity Net Gain's successes and challenges explored
The implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in the UK's development projects is a topic of current interest, particularly in the realm of healthcare real estate. This environmental initiative, introduced to offset ecological losses, presents both opportunities and challenges for developers and local authorities.
One of the key challenges for smaller sites and brownfield developments is the complexity and costs associated with BNG. Financial constraints, limited available habitats, and the intricacies of the BNG process can make it a burden for minor developments.
Another challenge lies in the insufficient biodiversity gain targets for large infrastructure projects. The current 10% BNG requirement is seen as inadequate for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), which often cause significant habitat damage. Environmental groups advocate for raising this minimum to 20% to better offset ecological losses and meet government nature recovery goals.
Balancing habitat protection with development needs is another complex issue. Developers must ensure biodiversity gains of at least 10% over the pre-development baseline are sustained for 30 years, involving detailed management and monitoring plans secured by legal agreements.
Regulatory and guidance clarity and exemptions are also concerns. Ongoing consultations aim to refine rules around exemptions and improve the implementation of BNG for different site types.
However, solutions are in progress. BNG requirements have been extended to small sites since April 2024, and from May 2026, they will also apply to major infrastructure projects like power stations and highways. Advocacy for a 20% biodiversity net gain target on NSIPs seeks to create more substantial ecological compensation commensurate with the scale of impacts.
Developers use standardized metrics and biodiversity gain plans to calculate baseline biodiversity values and incorporate these into Biodiversity Gain Plans that document how the 10% gain will be met and maintained, ensuring transparency and consistency. Enforced legal agreements ensure that biodiversity gains are not only achieved but maintained for at least 30 years through ongoing management and monitoring.
In summary, while mandatory BNG is now embedded in UK planning law for various types of development, challenges around costs, complexity, habitat availability, and appropriate targets for different scales of projects remain active issues. Ongoing government consultations and stakeholder engagement are refining these frameworks to balance development needs with ambitious environmental protection and biodiversity enhancement goals. Key solutions focus on regulation refinement, increasing targets for large projects, standardizing assessment methods, and securing long-term management.
- To achieve the proposed 20% biodiversity net gain target for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), a need for increased guidance on environmental science and health-and-wellness implications arises, as such projects could have significant impacts on local ecosystems and human health.
- As policy makers consider raising the minimum biodiversity net gain required for NSIPs, they should also invest in the development of science-led health-and-wellness policies that address the potential health impacts of altered environmental conditions caused by such projects, ensuring a balanced approach towards sustainable development.
