Is BNG Needed For Planning?
Biodiversity Net Gain is now a mandatory requirement for both major and minor planning applications nationally.
Most applications will need to be accompanied by:
a statement outlining whether the site would be subject to a biodiversity gain condition if planning permission is granted;
the pre-development biodiversity value of the onsite habitat on the site including:
the completed metric calculation tool used showing the calculations
the publication date and
version of the biodiversity metric used to calculate that value
a plan, drawn to an identified scale which must show the direction of North. Showing onsite as well as existing habitat and proposed planting or areas where new biodiversity will be created.
There are some exceptions to the requirement for BNG. These include:
retrospective planning applications
section 73 applications (date dependent)
Planning permissions which have been granted through other routes to permission, including:
Local Development Orders
Simplified Planning Zones
Neighbourhood Development Orders
Successful enforcement appeals
Deemed planning permission
Permission in Principle applications
Householder development
Development subject to the de minimis exemption
Self-build and custom build development. A self-build or custom build housing proforma will need to be completed for all applications for custom and self-build housing.
Urgent Crown development granted permission under section 293A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
Development of a biodiversity net gain site
Development related to the high speed railway transport network.
For more information in relation to BNG and planning, get in touch: