Biodiversity net gain

Biodiversity is a term given to the variety of living things on our planet. This includes species, habitats and ecosystems.

Biodiversity net gain, also known as BNG, is an approach to planning and land management. It aims to improve biodiversity and leave it in a better state than before.

As part of our commitment to a greener North Somerset, BNG is at the forefront of our planning system. We want habitats across the area to be protected for years to come.

As of 12 February 2024 all planning permission granted in England, with a few exceptions, needs to deliver a minimum of 10% BNG. This is outlined in the Environment Act 2021. 

As of 2 April 2024 BNG also applies to small sites.

BNG uses a metric created by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). It measures biodiversity in units. This allows planners and developers to speak the same language and to create a mutual understanding in how development impacts the natural world.

BNG will apply to you if you’re a:

• land manager
• developer
• local planning authority (LPA).

If you’re a land manager

You can get paid by selling biodiversity units.

You must be a land manager with

• land in England
• consent to register land if you’re not the landowner
• a legal agreement for the land you’re registering.

If you’re a developer

You must try to avoid loss of habitat to a piece of land you plan to develop. If you cannot do this, you must create a replacement habitat either on-site or off-site. 

On-site means on the land your development work is on. Off-site is either land you own elsewhere, or land you have bought from a land manager.

You may be able to combine all three options to make up your BNG. You must discuss this with an ecologist, as you will need to prove why you cannot use one option. 

From 12 February 2024, you must get approval from your local planning authority before you start building, including having an approved Biodiversity Gain plan. You will need to submit the Biodiversity Net Gain statement as part of your planning application. 

Government updated advice on 21 February 2024 and provided further guidance for land managers and developers. 

North Somerset Council is looking to offer a credit service. More information will be made available on this page once details of the scheme has been finalised.

What we will need from developers

The Environment Act sets out some requirements for developers. You will need to explain the following in your Biodiversity Gain Plan:

• how you plan to minimise adverse impacts on habitats
• the biodiversity value of the onsite habitat before development
• the biodiversity value of the onsite habitat after development
• the biodiversity value of any replacement habitat created off-site
• any statutory biodiversity credits purchased
• any further requirements to be set out in legislation that may follow

You will also need to provide the following:

• shapefiles of all on-site and off-site BNG baseline and proposed habitats
• evidence that any offsite BNG units purchased are from sites that are registered with the Natural England BNG Register

For more information on our requirements from a Biodiversity Gain Plan, please see section 7.6 of our Biodiversity SPD.

Contact us

To register your interest for further information about our BNG scheme, please email us at biodiversity@n-somerset.gov.uk.

More information