The Landscape Institute stands with organisations and experts across the built and natural environment in support of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements for small sites.
We acknowledge that Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and the associated metric present certain challenges, and we have continued to work constructively with our members, Natural England and Defra to address these issues.
Every site has the potential to contribute to BNG and improve the UK’s already depleted natural and ecological systems. We believe the principles of protecting and restoring nature is essential and BNG for small sites should be retained, evaluated and improved as a means of achieving this.
If wide-ranging exemptions are introduced, addressing the nature crisis would be made a significantly lower priority in the built development process, with substantial cumulative impacts on habitat linkage and green infrastructure (GI) networks.
To see our position in full, please see our consultation response to BNG updates here. We also encourage our network, and the government, to look at this Eftec analysis on the implications of BNG exemptions.
Letter from businesses and experts backing BNG for small sites
The Landscape Institute has co-signed a letter from a broad coalition expressing its serious concerns about proposed government action to remove Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements for small sites (see below for further details).
Coordinated by the Green Construction Board – Biodiversity and Environmental Net Gain Group, businesses and experts from across the construction and built environment sector have published an open letter asking the Government to retain Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements for small sites and adopt a more proportionate approach to reform.
The letter is supported by over 140 signatories from around 120 organisations, representing developers, contractors, consultants, ecologists, engineers, financiers, planners, academics, land managers, membership and professional bodies.
Signatories include Professor Sir John Lawton CBE FRS, author of Making Space for Nature, and Sir Partha Dasgupta, author of The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review, businesses and professional bodies from cross different sectors including Association for Consultancy and Engineering and Environmental Industries Commission, Aldersgate Group, Wates Group, Knepp Estate and Triodos Bank.
The letter stresses the recent findings of the Environmental Audit Committee, showing that nature is not a blocker to housing growth. Instead, it highlights that well-designed nature policy can instead support delivery, strengthen improve quality of life, and enhance long-term property asset value.
It recommends alternatives to the proposed blanket exemption for small sites, such as a 0.1-hectare area-based exemption threshold, rather than the proposed 1-hectare threshold and could offer a workable solution. The LI supports finding solutions to simplifying requirements that continue to support nature recovery and the benefits that access to green space provides for communities. An evidence led approach to any changes is vital.
The signatories warn that a blanket exemption for small sites would risk undermining nature recovery at scale, penalise businesses that have already invested in delivering BNG, and weaken the UK’s international leadership in nature markets, habitat restoration and recovery.
Image credit: Robin Waddell
