Biodiversity Net Gain Consultation

On 11^th January 2022, plans to ensure wildlife can be better protected and enhanced in developments were set out in the Government’s Biodiversity Net Gain consultation

 

I am pleased that proposals set out in the Biodiversity Net Gain consultation will help communities, planners, developers and Local Planning Authorities ensure that new developments are “nature positive.” Biodiversity Net Gain will ensure that biodiversity is at the heart of all decision making, protecting existing habitats and ensuring that any impacts on biodiversity are compensated for with natural habitat above what is affected.

 

Developments will need to be delivered in a way which helps to reduce and restore any biodiversity loss during the building phase, whilst delivering a ten per cent boost to the areas biodiversity.

 

The Government has also announced funding of over £4 million to help Local Planning Authorities and other local authorities with planning oversight, to prepare for Biodiversity Net Gain. The funding will support Local Planning Authorities in expanding ecologist resource and upskill ecologist teams.

 

The Biodiversity Net Gain requirement will help to achieve better outcomes for nature and people by making sure developers play their part in reducing habitat loss. The consultation is asking developers, planning authorities, environmental professionals, landowners and other interested parties for their views on the details of how biodiversity net gain should be delivered when building new housing or commercial development.

 

The Environment Minister said: “The pandemic has reinforced how much our homes, communities and outdoor spaces mean to us. Our commitment to protecting and enhancing our natural world can and must go hand in hand with our ambition to build more high quality homes. Our plans to make sure new developments better protect and enhance wildlife and nature will create better places for people to live and work, and it will ensure we leave our environment in a better state for future generations.”

 

The Biodiversity Net Gain consultation closes on 5^th April 2022.

 

I am confident that focusing on biodiversity in planning and development will help improve the environment for future generations, whilst allowing for the homes to be built that people need, which are some of my key local priorities for constituents in Norwich North.