Monitoring BNG: Ensuring Biodiversity Gains Are Delivered and Maintained
Biodiversity net gain is judged on delivery, not intention. Since mandatory biodiversity net gain became a legal requirement under the Environment Act 2021, developers must show that biodiversity value will increase by at least 10%, measured in biodiversity units using the statutory biodiversity metric. What often receives less attention is the other half of the […]
What Local Planning Authorities Must Do to Deliver Biodiversity Net Gain
Biodiversity net gain is now a legal requirement in England, not an optional aspiration. Since mandatory biodiversity net gain came into force through the Environment Act 2021, local planning authorities have become the delivery engine of a statutory system designed to secure measurable biodiversity gains from development. For most planning permissions, biodiversity net gain is […]
What Is the Biodiversity Gain Plan (BGP)? A Simple Guide
Mandatory biodiversity net gain is now a central part of the planning process in England, and it affects most development projects. If you are bringing forward a development proposal, you will almost certainly need a Biodiversity Gain Plan. This blog explains what the Biodiversity Gain Plan is, why it matters, and how it fits into […]
How to Buy BNG Units: A Step-by-Step Guide
Under the UK’s Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) legislation, most developments are now legally required to deliver a measurable uplift in biodiversity. Where this uplift, known as the net gain, cannot be fully achieved on the development site, developers must buy BNG units from third-party habitat banks or, as a last resort, purchase statutory biodiversity credits […]
The UK’s BNG Legislation: Key Facts and 2025 Updates
The requirement for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) has become a statutory part of the UK planning system, with significant updates rolled out across 2024 and into 2025. Under the Environment Act, all major developments must now deliver a measurable uplift in biodiversity value, with smaller sites joining the scope from April 2024. This blog outlines […]
Is Your Site Eligible For A BNG Exemption? A Checklist Based On Latest Regulations
From February 2024, mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) became a legal requirement for most planning applications under the Environment Act 2021. While the general rule is that all major developments must deliver at least a 10% net gain in biodiversity, there are defined exemptions and carve-outs that may apply in certain cases. Understanding whether your […]
Biodiversity Net Gain Examples: How Developers Are Meeting the 10% Requirement
Under the Environment Act, developers must achieve biodiversity net gain (BNG) on all qualifying development projects. This means delivering a 10% net gain in biodiversity value compared to the site’s baseline, using the statutory biodiversity metric or small sites metric. This blog outlines practical biodiversity net gain examples: how developers are meeting the 10% requirement. […]
How to Register a Biodiversity Gain Site: Costs, Forms & Common Pitfalls
Registration of a gain site on the Biodiversity Gain Site Register is a critical step under the mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) framework. Whether you are a landowner seeking to create a site that can generate biodiversity units or a developer analysing the availability of off‑site biodiversity units, understanding the process, including costs, required forms […]
Biodiversity Gain Site Register: Key Facts for Landowners and Developers
The Biodiversity Gain Site Register is a statutory tool underpinning mandatory BNG (Biodiversity Net Gain) under the Environment Act 2021. It records sites legally committed to delivering off-site biodiversity units, forming a vital part of the biodiversity gain hierarchy. Whether you’re a landowner looking to generate income from your own land or a developer aiming […]
Restoring a 200-Year-Old Parkland: Where Heritage Meets Biodiversity Net Gain
At Civity, we’re proud to offer BNG units from one of Warwickshire’s most exceptional sites – Edstone Park. As leading specialists in Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), we’ve carefully developed this 200-year-old parkland into a model for how heritage and ecology can work in harmony. This remarkable transformation hasn’t happened overnight. Working with ecological surveys, heritage […]
