Need a BNG survey in the borough of Elmbridge?

Biodiversity Net Gain

The Environment Act 2021 brought in biodiversity net gain (bng), which has changed how planning permission is granted by requiring developers to prove to local planning authorities that development sites will improve the state of biodiversity there for the long term.

Following the passing of the Act, a two-year transition period was allowed to give local authorities and developers time to adjust to the new policy.

Biodiversity net gain seeks to ensure that wildlife habitat on a development site is left in a better state than before development. The UK is one of the world’s most depleted countries in terms of biodiversity: over one in seven wildlife species has become extinct or faces the threat of extinction in the last 40 years. Reasons for this include development, climate change, loss of natural habitats, air and watercourse pollution.

Biodiversity net gain marks a shift to restoring the natural environment rather than just stopping losses. The policy has been integral to assessing planning applications in the UK since its introduction into the National Planning Policy Framework. Creating biodiversity net gain Elmbridge is a priority for the local council.

Biodiversity value

Applications for planning permission on all development sites (unless exempt, and there are few exemptions) are required to deliver a biodiversity net gain of 10%. A project must prove this via a biodiversity net gain survey from an ecological consultant using the latest version of the Defra biodiversity metric. A mitigation hierarchy approach must be taken with priorities being to avoid biodiversity loss, mitigate for it, or compensate.

To ensure long-term benefits to the natural environment, applications for planning consent must also provide local authorities with evidence of how development sites’ improvements will be maintained for at least 30 years. Refusal to comply with biodiversity net gain legislation can result in financial penalties and delays to a planning application.

When the two-year transition period ended, biodiversity net gain became mandatory from 12 February 2024 for major developments and from 2 April 2024 for smaller development sites.

Elmbridge Borough Council

The borough of Elmbridge is a local government district in Surrey: its council is based in Esher, and many of its urban areas form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. Elmbridge Borough Council requires all developments to enhance biodiversity by conserving existing wildlife habitats, creating new habitats and providing links to the surrounding green infrastructure network.

Biodiversity net gain policy has been incorporated into the Local Plan, and Elmbridge Borough Council requires a description of existing habitat and evidence of the completed metric calculation tool as part of a bng assessment when considering a planning application. A bng plan will be required for all applications for planning permission on development sites.

Local habitats

Elmbridge hosts important habitats including lowland heath and areas of international and national habitat importance. A central area of forest and heath includes part of Wisley and Ockham Commons reserve. While the Surrey countryside contains extensive woodlands that provide air quality, health benefits, and combat climate change, the county has experienced high levels of habitat decline loss due to agriculture and soil eutrophication.

Elmbridge Borough Council’s Biodiversity Net Gain Main Modification Supporting Note (2023) stated:

The State of Surrey’s Nature Report, produced by the Surrey Nature Partnership, published in 2017 was compared with the national State of Nature Report in 2016, found that a likely that around 1 in 9 species native to Surrey are likely to be extinct, and a further 4.4% are threatened with local extinction.

The Supporting Note added that the county’s rate of species loss is around six times above the national level. These findings prompted the Surrey Nature Partnership to recommend adopting a 20% biodiversity net gain requirement across the Surrey planning areas, which was supported by Surrey Wildlife Trust, however, a 10% requirement was set.

BNG Assessment

Ecological consultants will conduct a site visit to investigate all ecological features and allocate a biodiversity value to each. A predicted biodiversity value for the completed development site will then be made.

The two biodiversity metric readings will be compared to eliminate any deficit between them before an additional 10% increase in biodiversity value is added. The mitigation hierarchy will be referred to, to calculate the optimal approach for the planning project. In some cases, further surveys will be needed, such as protected species surveys before local authorities will grant consent to a planning application.

 If it proves impossible to add biodiversity value to a planning project, it is possible to deliver off-site net gain, or a last resort option is to buy biodiversity credits. Only when on-site delivery is impossible will off-setting or other off-site mitigation be considered by local authorities when determining planning applications.

Need a BNG plan Elmbridge?

Engaging a reputable ecological consultancy to carry out a bng plan will ensure that local planning authorities are satisfied that a scheme will deliver the required gains. Relying on the expert advice offered by fully qualified ecological consultants will enable you to secure planning permission and progress your planning project.