28 May 2025
The Government has announced a consultation proposing reduced Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements for all small site housebuilding projects (up to 9 dwellings) and for larger developments (up to 49 dwellings).
These new exemptions, if agreed, would mean the vast majority (over 70%) of housing developments would no longer need to compensate for nature loss, while potentially allowing developers to break up large projects into smaller ones to avoid the rules. Wildlife and Countryside Link, a coalition of 89 nature organisations, says the proposal could scupper the policy and put nature at risk.
Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: “Exempting small sites would mean almost three quarters of developments face no requirement to compensate for nature loss – let alone enhance it. These changes could leave the Biodiversity Net Gain system dead in the water and, with it, the Government's main guarantee of nature-positive planning.
“Biodiversity Net Gain is there to ensure that local communities aren't robbed of the green spaces that make places better to live in, and that developers can't take from nature without giving something back. This should be the rule, not the exception. Government shouldn't turn back the clock to the days of damaging development, but ensure a level playing field for all developers to contribute to growth and nature restoration"
ENDS
More background on Biodiversity Net Gain and how the policy could be made to work well for nature can be found in this briefing: Biodiversity Net Gain and how to deliver nature positive growth
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