The government has confirmed that the introduction of new biodiversity net gain (BNG) regulations have been delayed until January next year.
Initially, the regulations, which require new developments in England to demonstrate a 10% increase in biodiversity on or near development sites, were due to be introduced in November, but the BBC reported yesterday that government sources had told it the regulations would be delayed.
This led senior industry figures from across the built environment to call on the government to provide clarity on the timeframe for the delivery of the regulations.
The government has now confirmed that legislation to bring in the rules will be set out in November with a view to them coming into force in January 2024. BNG for small sites will be applicable from April 2024, and implementation for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects is planned for 2025.
By the end of November the government said it would publish all guidance and the regulations, including: the statutory biodiversity metric, critical for calculating the correct biodiversity gain; the draft biodiversity gain plan template, which will help developers prepare for what they will need to complete during the planning application stages; the habitat management and monitoring plan template, which will set out how the improved significant on-site and off-site habitats will be managed for the long term; and a package of BNG guidance that sets out further advice for landowners, developers, and local planning authorities around their role and responsibilities in delivering mandatory BNG.
It said publication of these materials would ensure developers and planning authorities have access to the necessary tools and information to effectively implement BNG in January 2024.
Trudy Harrison, biodiversity minister, said: “Biodiversity net gain will ensure new developments work for both wildlife and people. We will create nature-rich places whilst ensuring communities get the new homes and infrastructure they need. The updated timetable and guidance we are setting out today will help smooth the transition ahead of the biodiversity net gain going fully live in January 2024.”
