Biodiversity Net Gain
Practical BNG advice for development, planning and land management
Biodiversity Net Gain is now an important consideration for most development projects in England. It requires development to leave biodiversity in a measurably better condition than it was before, with qualifying habitat enhancements generally secured and managed for at least 30 years.
Croft Ecology provides clear, practical advice throughout the BNG process. We support developers, planners, architects and landowners from initial feasibility and habitat assessment through to planning approval, habitat delivery and long-term management.
We also advise landowners who are considering creating or enhancing habitat to provide off-site biodiversity units, including the development and operation of habitat banks.
Biodiversity Net Gain services
Our team can provide coordinated ecological and BNG support at every stage of a project, including:
early-stage BNG feasibility and site appraisal;
UK Habitat Classification surveys and habitat condition assessments;
pre-development and post-development biodiversity metric calculations;
advice on site layouts, habitat retention and ecological design;
assessment of on-site and off-site delivery options;
Biodiversity Gain Plans;
Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans;
planning condition discharge and implementation support;
advice on significant on-site habitat enhancements;
off-site BNG and biodiversity unit requirements;
habitat-bank feasibility and landowner advisory services; and
long-term habitat monitoring and reporting.
The precise requirements will depend on the type and scale of development, the habitats present and the planning stage reached. We can identify the appropriate scope at the outset and explain what information is likely to be needed.
More than a biodiversity metric
The statutory biodiversity metric is central to the BNG process, but achieving a successful outcome involves more than completing a calculation.
Habitat proposals must be appropriate for the site, compatible with the proposed development and realistic to establish and maintain. They must also be reflected consistently across the landscape design, planning documents, biodiversity metric and long-term management arrangements.
An apparently straightforward BNG solution can become difficult or expensive if it relies on habitats that cannot be delivered in practice, conflicts with the operational use of the site or places unrealistic obligations on future owners and management organisations.
We therefore consider BNG as part of the wider planning and design process. Our role is to help the project team develop a solution that is technically robust, practically deliverable and proportionate to the development.
BNG for development projects
We work with developers, planning consultants, architects and design teams to incorporate BNG into development proposals from an early stage. This may involve establishing the existing habitat baseline, identifying which habitats should be retained, testing emerging layouts and advising where habitat creation or enhancement can be incorporated successfully.
Where the required gain cannot be achieved entirely within the development site, we can assess the shortfall and advise on the appropriate use of registered off-site biodiversity units or, where applicable, statutory biodiversity credits. Early input usually provides more options. It can help avoid unnecessary habitat losses, reduce dependence on off-site units and ensure that ecological requirements are properly coordinated with drainage, landscaping, access, lighting and other design considerations.
Off-site BNG and habitat creation
BNG also creates opportunities for landowners to restore, create and manage habitats that can contribute towards the requirements of development elsewhere. Croft Ecology advises farmers, estates, landowners and property managers who are considering whether their land may be suitable for off-site BNG or a habitat bank.
Our work can include habitat baseline surveys, ecological feasibility, biodiversity metric modelling, habitat creation strategies and advice on long-term management and monitoring requirements.
Not every area of land will be suitable, and the potential number of biodiversity units is only one part of the assessment. Existing habitat value, planning constraints, legal commitments, management costs, timescales, local demand and the ability to deliver the proposed habitats all affect whether a scheme is likely to be viable.
Our advice is intended to help landowners understand these factors before committing substantial time or money to a habitat-bank proposal.
Our approach
Early
BNG is most effective when considered before a development layout or habitat proposal becomes fixed. Early advice gives the project team greater scope to avoid impacts and develop an efficient delivery strategy.
Practical
We recommend habitat proposals that reflect the character, conditions and future use of the site. Our advice considers how habitats will actually be created, funded, managed and monitored.
Collaborative
We work closely with planners, architects, landscape professionals, engineers and land managers so that ecological requirements are integrated into the wider project.
Clear
BNG can involve unfamiliar terminology, calculations and regulatory processes. We explain the results, risks and available options in straightforward language, enabling clients to make informed decisions.
Long-term
BNG commitments generally extend for at least 30 years. We consider long-term delivery from the outset rather than treating management and monitoring as matters to resolve after planning permission has been granted.
When should BNG be considered?
For development projects, BNG should ideally be considered during site appraisal and before the design is substantially developed.
This allows the ecological baseline to inform decisions about habitat retention, site access, drainage, landscaping and the amount of developable land. It also provides an early indication of whether the required gain is likely to be achieved on-site or whether an off-site solution may be needed.
Landowners considering a habitat bank should similarly obtain initial ecological and commercial advice before assuming that a particular area of land will generate a viable number of biodiversity units.
Where a scheme is already further advanced, we can review the available information, identify any remaining gaps and advise on the most appropriate route forward.
