Biodiversity Net Gain – What you need to know

With Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) coming into legislation in 2023, Meadfleet are on hand to provide developers with information and support relating to the long-term management of the new regulations.

With some local authorities already adopting the principles of Biodiversity Net Gain, it’s important to appoint an open space management company who can fulfil the 30-year requirements.

What is Biodiversity Net Gain?

Biodiversity Net Gain regulations mean a new development must leave the environment in a demonstrably better condition than before.  A metric is utilised to score a development and ensure a minimum 10% biodiversity improvement. Biodiversity Net Gain plans are subject to a 30-year covenant of ongoing maintenance, monitoring and evaluation to ensure the delivery of targeted habitat conditions.

What action do you need to take?

Research from Property Week’s RESi 360 Conference 2022 showed that 41% of its audience were unaware of the new responsibilities, and only 11% felt they were prepared for the new regulations*.  Elsewhere, it’s been noted in research by HBF and others that two of the biggest areas developers are concerned with are delivering the 30-year requirements and the availability of appropriate management bodies. It’s important to understand the regulations and what impact they will have.  Housebuilders should ensure they are working with an established management company that can demonstrate the necessary expertise and experience to fulfil the long-term, mandatory requirements.

What about the long-term?

Once a development is complete developers will need to handover the open spaces to an organisation who can fulfil the ongoing obligations on their behalf.  It’s important to choose an established open space management company with the in-house expertise to deliver the monitoring and reporting requirements of BNG for the 30-year covenant.

What do Meadfleet offer?

  • A perpetuity, adoption model exceeding the 30-year requirement either funded by annual customer contributions or a commuted sum option
  • In-house ecologists trained in Biodiversity Net Gain calculation metric and delivery
  • Feedback on proposed layout and management plans
  • Long-term, adaptive management for Biodiversity Net Gain both on and off-site
  • Experience in enhancing, monitoring, and managing open spaces to increase, protect and promote wildlife habitats
  • Award-winning biodiversity campaign
  • Customer and community engagement to educate and positively promote biodiversity.

 

* Adam Branson, 2022, Developers are urged to act now in order to hit new biodiversity targets (online), Property Week https://www.propertyweek.com/analysis-resi-and-data/developers-are-urged-to-act-now-in-order-to-hit-new-biodiversity-targets/5122142.article (Accessed 12/10/2023)