The BNG Library

This page provides an overview of the recent government response to BNG for NSIPs and its upcoming implementation.

If you work for a local authority, check out our BNG practitioner network for LPAs. This page tells you more about what the network is for and how to join.

We have run a number of events for local authorities since May 2021 as part of our programme. When we run our events live, they are open to local authority officers and members only. We also have regular meetings on the PAS BNG network, which is open to LPA officers interested in BNG.

Information reviewed by the Environment Agency; it's not Government policy, and LPA officers can use the PAS BNG Forum for further questions.

This page is intended to help local authorities understand the skills and expertise they are likely to need to meet the requirements of mandatory BNG.

This page sets out overarching information and examples of applying BNG to development management decision making.

The webpage gives guidance on how Local Plans should incorporate BNG, while a 10% BNG is mandatory, councils can add supporting Local Plan policies, though the example policies shown are outdated.

We have worked with local planning authorities to produce a Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Readiness Checklist to help LPAs structure an approach to preparing for mandatory BNG.

An overview of statutory biodiversity credits, covering what these are, how they differ from biodiversity units, the mitigation hierarchy, and the appropriate circumstances for purchasing credits.

This page summarises how to apply the biodiversity net gain Strategic Significance multiplier within the Statutory Biodiversity Metric (SBM) in the transition to publication of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) with guidance from Defra.

An overview of responsible bodies and conservation covenants covering what these are, their purpose, key considerations for LPA’s, and insight and perspectives from both local government bodies and private organisations designated as responsible bodies.

An overview of local authority interactions with the off-site BNG marketplace, including key insights on potential supply and demand for biodiversity units, regulating off-site proposals for the purpose of selling and supplying biodiversity units and working with Natural England’s Gain Site Register.

An overview of the wider context of biodiversity net gain, including ecosystem services and BNG’s interaction with other environmental mitigation approaches.

An overview of the statutory biodiversity metric rules and introduces guidance on the appropriate use of Rule 4, which allows limited deviations from the standard metric in exceptional ecological circumstances.

A summary of the current exemptions to mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain, with specific reference to the de-minimis exemption, accompanied by a PAS advice note providing further detail on its application.