Biodiversity Gain Plan in Shropshire
Do you need a Biodiversity Gain Plan in Shropshire before you can start work?
Where Biodiversity Net Gain applies, a Biodiversity Gain Plan becomes the legal document that allows work to begin. We put that plan together clearly, correctly and in a format councils approve, so your project moves ahead.
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Do You Need a Biodiversity Gain Plan in Shropshire?
You’ll need a Biodiversity Gain Plan in Shropshire if your planning permission includes a condition linked to Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). The Biodiversity Gain Plan is the document that shows how the required biodiversity improvement will actually be delivered, how it will be maintained, and who is responsible for it.
Without an approved Biodiversity Gain Plan in place, many developments cannot legally begin, even where planning permission has already been granted.
Planning officers in Shropshire frequently require formal Biodiversity Gain Plan evidence where development affects:
- Rural housing and village-edge growth across Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth, Ludlow and Oswestry, where greenfield release is tightly controlledÂ
- Agricultural land and pasture conversion across North Shropshire and the Clun–Corve catchmentsÂ
- Infrastructure and transport-linked development along the A5, A49 and rail corridors connecting Shrewsbury, Telford and the West MidlandsÂ
- River valleys, floodplains and wetland margins associated with the River Severn, Teme, Clun and VyrnwyÂ
If this evidence isn’t provided in the correct format, many planning applications aren’t validated at all, or they are delayed by conditions later in the process.
We provide Biodiversity Gain Plan services across: Shrewsbury, Telford, Oswestry, Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Market Drayton, Wem, Ellesmere, Much Wenlock, Church Stretton and all surrounding towns, villages and rural areas across the county.Â
Why Planning Authorities in Shropshire Request a Biodiversity Gain Plan
Planning Authorities across Shropshire require a Biodiversity Gain Plan because Biodiversity Net Gain is now a statutory requirement under the Environment Act 2021. The Plan provides the legally enforceable route for delivering biodiversity improvements tied to a specific planning permission. Without an approved Plan, the BNG condition cannot be lawfully discharged, and development cannot commence on site.Â
Local Case Insight
How the Biodiversity Gain Plan Process Works
We produce planning-ready BNG Assessments aligned to Shropshire‘s policy expectations.
Key BNG Deliverables for Shropshire Projects
Your Biodiversity Gain Plan is structured to meet Shropshire’s planning requirements and typically includes:
Habitat delivery strategy — how and where biodiversity uplift will be achieved
Mapped habitat parcels — legally reliable plans linking habitats to the approved metric
Optional integration with a Habitat Management & Monitoring Plan (HMMP) where 30-year management is required
Submission-ready planning document — formatted for Local Planning Authority approval
This ensures your BNG condition in Shropshire can be discharged cleanly and lawfully.
Step 1
Initial Review
We assess your existing BNG assessment, site layout and planning condition.
Step 2
Plan Preparation
Habitat delivery proposals, mapping and management requirements are drafted.
Step 3
Coordination Stage
The plan is aligned with your build programme and any wider ecological or planning documents.
Step 4
Submission and Support
 We respond to any LPA queries or amendments required.
Next Steps
Ready to secure approval and start on site? We’ll confirm what your Shropshire site needs and help you move forward without unnecessary delay.Â
FAQ - BGP in Shropshire
Why does a development in Shropshire need a Biodiversity Gain Plan?
Most qualifying developments in Shropshire must demonstrate compliance with mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain legislation. A Biodiversity Gain Plan confirms how at least 10 percent measurable biodiversity uplift will be achieved compared to the site’s baseline habitat value.
Does rural development in Shropshire still trigger Biodiversity Net Gain?
Yes. Agricultural land, farm diversification schemes and rural housing sites are not automatically excluded. Where development falls within the statutory scope, a Biodiversity Gain Plan is required regardless of rural location.
How are phased developments treated under a Biodiversity Gain Plan?
For larger or phased schemes, the Biodiversity Gain Plan must explain how biodiversity uplift will be delivered across phases. The Local Planning Authority will expect clarity on timing, sequencing and legal securing of habitat units.
Can agricultural land in Shropshire be used to generate off site biodiversity units?
Yes. Landowners may allocate agricultural land for habitat creation to generate off site biodiversity units. Where those units are used to support a development, the Biodiversity Gain Plan must clearly reference their registration and legal securing mechanism.
How are developments within the Shropshire Hills area approached?
Where development occurs within or near the Shropshire Hills National Landscape, biodiversity proposals must be ecologically robust and landscape sensitive. The Biodiversity Gain Plan must demonstrate that habitat creation measures respect local character and avoid ecological degradation.
What documentation must support a Biodiversity Gain Plan submission?
A compliant submission typically includes statutory Biodiversity Metric calculations, baseline habitat survey data, post development habitat proposals, mapping plans and confirmation of how habitat units will be legally secured and managed.
Is the Biodiversity Gain Plan assessed by Shropshire Council alone?
Yes. As a unitary authority, Shropshire Council acts as the Local Planning Authority for most sites within the county. It reviews and approves the Biodiversity Gain Plan prior to development commencing.
Developers can review planning information via Shropshire Council’s planning portal at:
https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/planning/
Can Biodiversity Net Gain be achieved entirely off site in Shropshire?
Where on site delivery is constrained, developers may rely partly or wholly on off site biodiversity units. The Biodiversity Gain Plan must demonstrate that these units are secured and meet statutory requirements.
What risks arise if the Biodiversity Gain Plan is poorly prepared?
If the plan contains inconsistent metric calculations, unclear habitat proposals or missing legal securing information, approval may be delayed. Development cannot lawfully commence until the Biodiversity Gain Plan has been formally approved.
How can ProHort assist with Biodiversity Gain Plans in Shropshire?
ProHort supports developers and landowners in preparing compliant Biodiversity Gain Plans aligned with Shropshire Council requirements. We ensure metric accuracy, clear habitat delivery strategy and robust documentation to reduce approval risk.
