Southern Construction Framework (SCF) has launched a biodiversity net gain guide (BNG) to help estate managers, public sector consultants, contractors and supply chain partners prepare for new planning regulations due to be enforced in November 2023.
The guide, which has been developed in conjunction with ISG, BAM, Willmott Dixon, Mace, Kier, Morgan Sindall, Wates, Galliford Try and Sir Robert McAlpine, applies to new build and retrofit projects.
Emma Bull, senior framework manager at SCF, said: “Our goal with the BNG guide was to make it an open resource for anyone to use as a practical tool to meet the legislation deadline. It’s about raising the bar across the industry in making the changes we need to future proof public sector projects.
“But meeting the legislation is just one part of the whole picture. Ultimately, delivering on BNG is about ensuring a diverse eco environment in our project communities to support nature, in particular insects, who are critical to the circle of life.”
Cathy Myatt, head of environmental policy and improvement at Willmott Dixon, added: “We are committed to helping our project communities maximise improvements in environmental benefits and having this new guidance tool will help all project stakeholders to enhance biodiversity and prepare for the upcoming planning changes for biodiversity net gain.
“The guidance will support users to understand what is needed and engage the right resources at the right time. Ultimately this will help us all to build nature into our projects from the beginning and deliver improvements over the long-term.”
In November next year, all public sector building projects will need to ensure a minimum mandatory gain of 10% BNG value for developments.
