What is a Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment?
Biodiversity Net Gain Assessments in Norfolk have been put into place to aid the recovery of nature. This was brought about following the release of the State of Nature report which stated that there has been a decline of 13% in the average wildlife throughout the UK, since the 70s. Therefore Biodiversity Net Gain Assessments in Norfolk and throughout the are now in place to ensure that the habitat for wildlife is left in a better state than it was before development.
Why are Biodiversity Net Gain Assessments in Norfolk Required?
The term Biological Diversity refers to the various living organisms that can be found in a specific area of land. This can includes everything from animals, plants, insects to bacteria and fungi. Biodiversity Net Gain Assessments are now the standardised method to ensure overall biodiversity enhancements during new developments. Therefore if you’re applying for planning permission you will need a Biodiversity net gain assessment in Hampshire. This achieves the enhancement of existing biodiversity on-site by creating new habitat that aims to surpass pre-development biodiversity levels demonstrating a 10% ‘net gain’.
Therefore anyone looking to develop now needs to ensure that they are being asked to provide a biodiversity net gain assessment as part of their planning application. All applicants must try and avoid any loss of habitat on land that they plan to develop. If this is not possible, developers must attempt to create new habitat either on the site they are developing or in an alternative location off site. If a property developer cannot create a new habitat, they will have the option to buy statutory credits from the government. However, they must provide evidence in order to use this option and it must be a last resort.
Does it matter what size my development is?
On the 2nd of April 2024 BNGs became mandatory for both major & small developments.
Major developments include:
– Residential developments that include 10 or more dwellings.
– Developments where the site area is greater than 0.5 hectares.
Small site developments have been identified as:
– Residential developments consisting of 1 to 9 dwellings.
– Residential developments where the site area if less than 0.5 hectares.
– Commercial developments where the floor space that is being created is less than 1000 square metres.
– Commercial developments where the total site area is less than 1 hectare.
Biodiversity Net Gain assessments in Norfolk will be required for nearly all new applications for planning permission, although some exclusions apply.
Book your Biodiversity Net Gain Assessments in Norfolk with us:
ProHort Ltd would love to assist you with your Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment in Norfolk. Call us today on 01782 479 479 or complete our online contact form.
Exclusions for Biodiversity Net Gain Assessments in Norfolk:
Exclusions include:
– Requests for retrospective planning permission.
– Planning applications submitted before the 12/02/24.
– Any applications to vary a planning condition on planning permission granted before 12/02/24.
– Development works that do not impact a priority habitat & impacts less than 25 square metres of non-priority habitat. Alternatively, the development works should not impact more than 5 metres of non-priority linear habitat.
– The development of an existing property, except to change its use or change the number of dwellings within the property.
– Small scale self-build projects that consist of no more than 9 dwellings, are carried out on a site which is no larger than 0.5 hectares and consist exclusively of dwellings that are self-built.
– Development upon biodiversity gain sites, which are designed solely to enhance the biodiversity on behalf of other development sites, or provide access to the public for educational or recreational purposes without charging a fee.
– Development which is part of or ancillary to the High-Speed Transport Network.
