New biodiversity net gain (BNG) regulations have come into force today covering small developments across England.
As a result, more than a million SME builders must now invest in measures that increase local biodiversity by 10% to secure planning permission for developments.
Oliver Lewis CBE, founder of Joe’s Blooms, which has just launched a digital tool to help SME housebuilders comply with BNG regulations, described the new rules as a “significant milestone for the housebuilding sector and for the country’s natural environment”.
He added: “With small sites now a part of biodiversity net gain, nature recovery will be at the heart of development in local communities and around the country. It’s important that developers of all sizes are supported to deliver on this ambitious plan to create more green spaces and enhance biodiversity, and at Joe’s Blooms, we want to make it as quick, affordable, and hassle-free as possible. If the sector as a whole gets this right, BNG is an opportunity for the country to lead the world in how to enhance nature through the planning system.”
Drew Davy, senior sustainability insights manager at Grosvenor Property UK, said: “The expansion of biodiversity net gain requirements to small sites from 2 April is welcome news. While not perfect, the regulations are among the world’s most ambitious and signal an important step forward in how we value nature in real estate.
“It’s crucial that all developments and construction projects – regardless of their size – place biodiversity at their heart. Be it to help reduce urban heat island effects or mitigate flood risk, increasing biodiversity is a core component of climate resilience. It’s why we, at Grosvenor Property UK, have been voluntarily applying BNG since 2022.
“Where possible, we must also aim for greater uplift than the minimum 10% mandated by government and prioritise on-site interventions as much as possible – rather than near- or off-site, especially in urban areas. We’re already seeing repercussions of the climate crisis across the UK’s built environment. The real estate industry must now embrace regulatory change to improve wildlife corridors between assets, decelerate biodiversity loss and improve our climate resilience as a result.”
