Nature recovery in planning and development and Biodiversity Net Gain

Shrawley Wood

Nature recovery in planning and development and Biodiversity Net Gain

Working in partnership to deliver the Worcestershire LNRS.

The LNRS and the accompanying Local Habitat Map are a tool to support decision-making about land management activity.  One of the delivery mechanisms for LNRS set out in law is Biodiversity Net Gain.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is mandatory under the Environment Act 2021 for most development requiring planning permission. It seeks to ensure that wildlife habitats are left in a measurably better state than they were prior to the development commencing. Development that falls within scope of the legislation must deliver a minimum of 10% uplift in biodiversity value, measured against the habitats that were present before development commences.

More information can be found on Worcestershire County Council’s Biodiversity Net Gain webpage. 

Local Nature Recovery Strategies have a statutory role to spatially guide the delivery of BNG. Once published, a relevant LNRS must be the only document which is used to assign High Strategic Significance in BNG Statutory Metric calculations. To receive the Strategic Significance uplift, the BNG habitat creation or enhancement must be consistent with the Potential Measure suggested for that location. Applying the High Strategic Significance multiplier provides an uplift of 15% when calculating the value of Biodiversity Units.

The LNRS suggests mapped and non-mapped Potential Measures.

  • Mapped Potential Measures are targeted to specific locations where the biggest gains for nature could be achieved
  • Non-mapped Potential Measures are equally valuable but could be delivered anywhere to benefit nature

To view all the Potential Measures listed together in one document: Worcestershire LNRS Priorities and Potential Measures (PDF)

To view the mapped Potential Measures visit the Local Habitat Map.

I am a developer, or an agent acting for a developer

You should use the Local Habitat Map to decide what BNG habitat creation or enhancement to carry out in a particular location. This could be for on-site or off-site BNG. Look to see what Potential Measures are suggested for the land where BNG is required OR use the Local Habitat Map to make decisions about where offsetting is located. UKHab codes have been assigned to all mapped habitat Potential Measures within the Worcestershire LNRS. The intention is to make clear what BNG habitats are considered to be consistent with the delivery of each mapped Potential Measure.

Specific guidance is provided by the Worcestershire LNRS on delivering scrub habitat creation or enhancement for BNG. The relevant Potential Measure is PM23: Create and enhance a habitat mosaic. The guidance can be found in Section 3.1 of the LNRS.

For specific guidance on delivering biodiversity gains within the built environment see PM38: Increase the extent, connectedness and quality of wildlife habitats within the built environment. 

I am a landowner or a Habitat Bank operator

You should use the Local Habitat Map to either plan or create/enhance in advance the habitats that you want to offer as marketable Biodiversity Units via a Habitat Bank. If the habitats you create or enhance are consistent with what the LNRS Potential Measure is suggesting in that location, you will be able to market your Biodiversity Units as eligible for the High Strategic Significance 15% uplift.

Specific guidance is provided by the Worcestershire LNRS on delivering scrub habitat creation or enhancement for BNG. The relevant Potential Measure is PM23: Create and enhance a habitat mosaic. The guidance can be found in Section 3.1 of the LNRS.

For specific guidance on delivering biodiversity gains within the built environment see PM38: Increase the extent, connectedness and quality of wildlife habitats within the built environment. 

I am a local authority planning officer or planning ecologist

UKHab codes have been assigned to all mapped habitat Potential Measures within the Worcestershire LNRS. The intention is to make clear what BNG habitats are considered to be consistent with the delivery of each mapped Potential Measure. 

If the Strategic Significance multiplier has been applied:

  • use the Local Habitat Map to verify the mapped Potential Measures present at the location where BNG is being delivered
  • check the UKHab codes in the submitted Statutory Metric to verify that the habitats being created or enhanced for BNG are consistent with the mapped Potential Measures

Specific guidance is provided by the Worcestershire LNRS on delivering scrub habitat creation or enhancement for BNG. The relevant Potential Measure is PM23: Create and enhance a habitat mosaic. The guidance can be found in Section 3.1 of the LNRS.

For specific guidance on delivering biodiversity gains within the built environment see PM38: Increase the extent, connectedness and quality of wildlife habitats within the built environment. 

Get in touch

Sign up to our planning consultation database to receive direct communications on LNRS preparation and review. 

Visit: Get Involved In Planning and register on the database to receive ‘Environmental Policy’ topics.

Contact us directly:

Government policy on preparation and review of LNRS can be found here: Local nature recovery strategies - GOV.UK
 

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