CIVITY NGE Blog

As one of the leaders in the field of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), we at Civity have been at the forefront of this transformative approach to development and conservation. With our roots deeply embedded in ecology and our extensive experience in both built environments and rural wildlife ecology, we’ve been preparing for and shaping the implementation of mandatory biodiversity net gain. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore when biodiversity net gain became mandatory and delve into the intricacies of how it’s measured. The Journey to Mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain Understanding Biodiversity Net Gain Before we dive into the timeline of BNG becoming mandatory, it’s crucial to understand what Biodiversity Net Gain actually means. At its core, BNG is an approach to development that aims to leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than it was before. This concept has been gaining traction for years, but its recent transition to a legal requirement marks a significant shift in how we approach development and conservation in the planning system. The Road to Mandatory BNG The path to mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain has been a long one, with several key milestones along the way: The Landmark Date: February 12, 2024 The pivotal moment in the BNG journey came on February 12, 2024, when the Environment Act officially became law. This date marks the beginning of a new era in development and conservation in England. From this point forward, developers are required to demonstrate a Biodiversity Net Gain of at least 10% for most new developments, including major development projects. At Civity, we’ve been preparing for this moment for years. Our team of expert ecologists and consultants has been working tirelessly to ensure that we’re ready to support developers, land managers, and local planning authorities in navigating this new landscape. What Does Mandatory BNG Mean in Practice? With BNG now mandatory, developers need to show that their projects will result in an increase in biodiversity value of at least 10% compared to the pre-development biodiversity value. This requirement applies to most developments under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, including residential development and waste development. Key points to remember about mandatory BNG: As a company authorised to sell biodiversity units, we at Civity are uniquely positioned to help developers meet these requirements, especially when on-site options are limited. Measuring Biodiversity Net Gain Understanding how Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is measured is crucial for developers and landowners. The process involves careful assessment and quantification of biodiversity value, typically carried out by consultant ecologists. The Biodiversity Metric: The Foundation of BNG Measurement The primary tool for measuring Biodiversity Net Gain is the Biodiversity Metric, developed by DEFRA with input from Natural England. This standardised tool, known as the statutory biodiversity metric, allows for consistent quantification of biodiversity losses and gains resulting from development or changes in land management. Key Components of the Biodiversity Metric The biodiversity metric takes into account several factors: Consultant ecologists apply this metric to assess biodiversity value accurately. They understand the nuances of each component and how they interact to produce the final biodiversity unit score. This expertise is essential for developers and landowners looking to meet BNG requirements and contribute to environmental conservation efforts. The Measurement Process Measuring Biodiversity Net Gain involves several steps: Biodiversity Units: The Currency of BNG The biodiversity metric converts habitat data into ‘biodiversity units’. These units are the currency of Biodiversity Net Gain, allowing for standardised comparison and trading. Types of Biodiversity Units There are three types of biodiversity units: As experts in BNG, we at Civity can help you understand and navigate these different unit types, ensuring your development achieves the required gains across all relevant categories. Challenges in Measuring BNG While the statutory biodiversity metric provides a standardised approach to measuring biodiversity gains and losses, there are challenges in its application: At Civity, we have the expertise to navigate these challenges. Our team of experienced ecologists and BNG specialists can ensure accurate measurements and help you find the most efficient path to achieving your required biodiversity gains. The Role of Civity in Mandatory BNG As a leading company in Biodiversity Net Gain, Civity is uniquely positioned to support all stakeholders in navigating this new mandatory requirement. For Developers We understand the challenges developers face in meeting BNG requirements while maintaining project viability. Our specialised service focuses on providing off-site solutions when on-site measures are insufficient. Here’s how we support developers: This approach allows developers to efficiently meet their BNG obligations while we handle the complexities of off-site habitat creation and management. For Landowners and Land Managers Mandatory BNG presents exciting opportunities for landowners and land managers. At Civity, we help capitalise on these opportunities: For Local Planning Authorities We recognise the additional responsibilities that mandatory BNG places on local planning authorities. Civity supports LPAs by: The Future of Biodiversity Net Gain As we move forward in this new era of mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain, several trends and developments are worth noting: Integration with Other Environmental Policies We anticipate increasing integration between BNG and other environmental policies, such as those related to air quality, protected species, and sites of special scientific interest. At Civity, we’re staying ahead of these trends to provide comprehensive environmental solutions. Technological Advancements The use of technology in measuring and monitoring BNG is likely to increase. We’re investing in cutting-edge tools and techniques to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of our BNG assessments. Market Development As the BNG market matures, we expect to see more sophisticated trading platforms and financial products related to biodiversity units. Civity is at the forefront of these market developments, ensuring we can offer our clients the most innovative and effective BNG solutions. Policy Evolution As we gain more experience with mandatory BNG, policies and government guidance are likely to evolve. Our team at Civity stays up-to-date with all regulatory changes, ensuring our clients always receive the most current advice. Embracing the BNG Revolution The introduction of mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain on February 12, 2024, marks a significant milestone in our journey towards more sustainable development. At Civity, we see this not just as a regulatory requirement but as an opportunity to create a better, more biodiverse world. By understanding when biodiversity net gain became mandatory and how it’s measured, developers, landowners, and local authorities can better navigate this new landscape. With our deep roots in ecology, our growing landbank of BNG units, and our expertise in biodiversity metrics, Civity is your ideal partner in this journey. Whether you’re a developer seeking to meet BNG requirements, a landowner looking to capitalise on your own land’s biodiversity potential, or a local authority striving to implement effective BNG policies, we’re here to help. Our team of experts is ready to guide you through every step of the BNG process, from initial assessments to long-term management. As we look to the future, we at Civity are excited about the positive impact mandatory BNG will have on our natural world. We’re committed to continuing our role as leaders in this field, driving innovation, and helping to create a more biodiverse, sustainable future for all.If you’re ready to embrace the opportunities presented by mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain, or if you have any questions about how BNG applies to your specific situation, don’t hesitate to reach out. At Civity, we’re not just measuring biodiversity – we’re helping to create a measurably better world, one development at a time.

(Last Updated 25th October 2023)  The enactment of the Environment Act 2021 has been delayed until January 2024 nevertheless, there will be a legal obligation to ensure the destruction of biodiversity caused by development is minimised, and through construction, the site is left in a better state than before.  The law demands a Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) of 10%. If this cannot be found on site, it must be found offsite, preferably as near as possible.  Meanwhile, many landowners will have suitable land that developers will be looking for and, possibly, not aware how the new law values it. So, this is an opportunity to make an income from land that may previously have been thought to have little financial value.    The situation prompts questions from both developers and landowners:   How is a site’s biodiversity measured?   How is a site’s biodiversity value monetised? How do you value habitats? It starts with a valuation of the land in biodiversity terms, using a metric known as Defra Metric 4.0 and expressed as Biodiversity Net Gain Units. The valuation can only be made by experienced, qualified ecologists. The metric was created by the government for the benefit of developers, landowners, local planning authorities, professional advisors, contractors and others. The valuation depends on: The distinctiveness of the habitat: The location: Its quality: The richness and/or variety of the wildlife: The extent of the area.   The developer. The valuation of the development site will take into account the loss of habitats as well as mitigating factors that could reduce the biodiversity deficit, such as improvements to habitats remaining in the site before and after construction. The gross loss or gain of the value in biodiversity units, plus the net 10% gain, is the figure necessary for approval by the Local Planning Authority (or Responsible Body) before seeking planning permission. In order to meet BNG’s mandatory demands, developers will have to search for the necessary ‘biodiversity units’ and subsequently buy them. It is at this stage that the monetisation takes place. However, before the developer translates the deal in financial terms, he faces some more hurdles: The type of habitat affected by his development must be replaced like-for-like or better. This means the search for qualifying land has to be more focused and, therefore, possibly harder and longer to find depending on the type and quality of the habitats degraded by the development. Within the BNG law, the further the compensating land is from the development site, the greater the cost in biodiversity units. Put another way, the cost is proportional to the distance. It is called the “Spatial Risk Multiplier” (link to Glossary). The value of biodiversity units is subject to market forces so it might be hard to budget for. For hard and fast financial values of biodiversity units, the government offers ‘Biodiversity credits’ (Link to Glossary). Their financial value is fixed, expensive and only to be used as a last resort. When the developer finds the right type of land, he also needs to meet the cost of its maintenance to BNG standards for 30 years. Unless there is a shortcut …   The shortcut. Fortunately, there is a faster, easier way: land brokers, like Civity, have biodiversity units to sell; Civity also has the connections to find specific types of land if required. It’s more economic than ‘do-it-yourself’. The company is privately owned and headed up by an ecologist. Biodiversity units sold by Civity absolve the buyer/developer of any responsibility for the habitat’s future preservation, improvement and maintenance.   The landowner. The landowner, or long lease holder, looking over his estate may recognise woodlands or riverbanks as habitats to all kind of species that have prospered for centuries, nevertheless unaware of the financial benefit that lies therein. To be helpful, The Department of the Environment for Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Natural England have defined 35 habitat types across the coasts and landscapes of England. The habitats are divided into five grades of distinctiveness: Low, Medium, High, Linear and Watercourses. An overview of these divisions is shown below. Within each distinctiveness there are subdivisions: Broad and Specific. For example, within the Medium sector there is ‘sparsely vegetated land’ is said to be broad whilst ‘inland rock and scree’ is specific. 35 habitat types The ‘Tiers’ are indicators of value. So, A1 has the lowest value and A5 the highest. ‘Linear’ refers to hedgerows that can be rich in wildlife, likewise ‘Watercourses’. However, hedgerows usually have A1 values whilst rivers and streams are typically A2 to A5. Below, we list Defra’s types of habitats and their places in the hierarchy.   LOW –Scrub land of common biodiversity.   MEDIUM – Heath & scrub, grassland, individual trees, urban land, cropland, wood and forest, intertidal and sediment, lakes and ponds.   HIGH – Wetland, grassland, heath & scrub, urban, woodland/forest, intertidal, wetland mosaic sediment, ponds, coastal lagoons, rocky shore, littoral rock, saltmarsh/saline reedbed, littoral seagrass, coastal saltmarsh, coastal sand dunes, coastal vegetated shingle, maritime cliffs & slopes, inland rock outcrops, scree habitats, upland mixed ashwoods, native pine woodlands, lowland pine woodlands, lowland mixed deciduous woodland, upland oakwood, high alkalinity lakes, marl lakes, moderate alkalinity lakes, peat lakes, reservoirs, inland rock & scree.   LINEAR – Hedgerows.   WATERCOURSES – Rivers, streams.   Note: duplication is due the variations of quality, richness and location of the habitat, Statutory Credits The government deliberately wants the biodiversity unit marketplace to be privately led, however should a private agreement not be possible developers can, as a last resort apply to purchase Statutory Credits. These credits are deliberately expensive, but they give a good benchmark as a relative indicator of unit prices.    As a guide to the relative value of sterling, go to the Government’s website here but remember the prices quoted only apply in extremis.   Landowners may find the value of Statutory Credits quite interesting, not because of the quoted value but as confirmation that habitats are worth a lot more than previously thought. If you have land that might qualify, you have the option of selling it or leasing it for 30 years at a price related to market value. You will need a qualified ecologist to help you. Subject to an ecological survey, Civity will be happy to lease (or buy) the land from you and take over the stringent BNG obligations:   protecting and enhancing the habitats contained within it   paying you for its maintenance if you wish   AND allowing you access for the whole period of the lease   The minimum area for disposal must be 10 hectares but not necessarily in one plot. Help is on hand. It is a fact of life that the country needs more houses; there is also an imperative to preserve our shrinking environment for the future health and welfare of our people. Biodiversity Net gain is both a redemption and a guardian that sees fair play in this dichotomy. If you need help as a developer, or as a landowner, talk to Civity; we understand both sides of the equation and can be of great practical help. Civity Net Gain Exchange. Click here.