Joe’s Blooms has launched a digital tool to help SME developers comply with new biodiversity net gain (BNG) laws, which become mandatory for small sites on 2 April 2024.
The tech start-up said its Biodiversity Net Gain Tool “streamlines the BNG process, producing all the site-specific data and legal documents developers of small sites need to secure planning permission under the scheme in minutes”.
The tool, which was developed in partnership with Planning Portal, UKGBC and UKHAB, produces a biodiversity gain plan and all the supplementary documents needed to submit a planning application to a local planning authority, including a completed biodiversity metric.
Oliver Lewis, CEO and founder of Joe’s Blooms, said: “As an industry leading solution, the BNG Tool is designed to help developers boost biodiversity and secure planning permission at a fraction of the cost – with no need to delay things or spend thousands on expensive external consultants. With the support of our partners including Planning Portal, we’ve built an innovative, hassle free toolkit that will guide applications through the full BNG process, ensuring they meet all the legal requirements to submit their planning application and enhance their local environment.”
Scott Alford, head of business development at Planning Portal, added: “We are very pleased to see the release of Joe’s Blooms’ comprehensive Biodiversity Net Gain tool. Over the last three years, Planning Portal has worked in partnership with Joe’s Blooms to help ensure all applicants have a trusted tool that will allow them to understand and meet their BNG responsibilities, for every project up and down the country.”
Rico Wojtulewicz, head of policy and market insight at the National Federation of Builders, added: “We wholeheartedly welcome this simple and affordable solution that allows small sites to complete BNG quickly and get back to building the homes and infrastructure we need.”
