Protect nature in your neighbourhood

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a planning rule that requires new developments to leave nature in a better state than before.

In England, most developments are meant to deliver at least a 10% improvement in biodiversity - either on-site or by funding habitat creation elsewhere.

The aim is simple: as places grow, they should become greener, healthier, and better for people and wildlife.

BNG has the potential to bring more nature into communities across the country - especially where it’s needed most.cotland's nature

The UK Government is proposing new exemptions that would mean fewer developments have to take part in BNG.

Following last year’s consultation, the Government has confirmed a 0.2 hectare area-based exemption threshold, which means that all housing developments smaller than this are exempt from funding BNG. By the Government’s own statistics 51% of developments are anticipated to become exempt.

Now, they are proposing further exemptions for new housing developments on brownfield land (sites which have previously been used for development), which risks increasing the amount of exempt sites by a further 15%

Together, these changes could mean the vast majority of housing developments no longer need to deliver for nature.

At the same time, existing loopholes would remain in place - risking a system that applies to only a small minority of developments.

This all mean more developers are exempt from bringing nature back into our communities.

The de minimis exemption is meant to relieve applicants from needing to deliver BNG where the impacts of their proposals on nature are only small or negligible.

In most cases, this is done through self-declaration, without needing detailed evidence.

Evidence from BNG’s first year shows that around 86% of planning applications have already claimed exemptions, even when in many cases the proposals would be far more impactful than de minimis provision allows for.

This shows the system is already being heavily limited in practice.

Without stronger checks, the de minimis rule creates a major loophole - allowing many developments to avoid contributing to nature at all even though they should.

The UK Government has said it will consider the de minimis loophole alongside this consultation - but has not yet taken action.

BNG is one of the few policies designed to ensure people benefit from more nature where they live.

Weakening it risks:
•    Less green space in communities
•    Fewer opportunities to experience nature close to home
•    The greatest impact falling on urban areas, where access to nature is already limited

Everyone deserves access to nature - and BNG is meant to help deliver that.