If you are planning a development in Stockport, understanding the biodiversity value of your site can help you make informed decisions about its design and planning requirements.
ProHort provides Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Assessments in Stockport, helping developers, architects and planning consultants establish a site’s habitat baseline and understand how proposed works could affect biodiversity.
We also support the preparation of a Biodiversity Gain Plan in Stockport, helping you use the assessment findings to plan how applicable BNG requirements will be met.
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Stockport has a varied landscape, where established urban areas meet river valleys, wooded spaces and wildlife-rich green corridors. The River Mersey, River Goyt and Etherow Valley form part of this local ecological setting, while places such as Etherow Country Park, Mersey Vale Nature Park and Happy Valley illustrate the range of habitats found across the borough.
These landscapes provide important local context for biodiversity planning. However, the ecological value of a development site depends on its own habitats, condition and characteristics, rather than its location alone.
A Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment in Stockport helps establish the site’s existing biodiversity value and assess how development may change it. This information can inform decisions about retaining habitats, creating new habitats and identifying appropriate ways to deliver biodiversity improvements.
Stockport Council also publishes local BNG submission guidance, so developers should consider both the national framework and the council’s current validation requirements when preparing a planning application.
We support projects across the borough of Stockport, working in areas such as the town centre, Heaton Moor, Heaton Chapel, Reddish, Bramhall, Cheadle, Hazel Grove, Marple and the wider neighbourhoods within the Stockport local authority boundary.
A Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment evaluates the biodiversity value of a site before development and considers the changes expected as a result of the proposed works.
The assessment uses the applicable statutory biodiversity metric to calculate the biodiversity value of habitats. Where statutory BNG applies, these calculations help establish the baseline and inform how the development may achieve the required biodiversity outcome.
A biodiversity survey in Stockport may consider habitats such as:
Grassland and landscaped open spaces
Trees, woodland and scrub
Hedgerows and other linear habitats
Ponds, streams and river-related habitats
Brownfield habitats with ecological value
The habitats present will depend on the individual site. A site-specific assessment helps establish an appropriate habitat baseline rather than relying on assumptions based on the surrounding area.
A BNG Assessment can help you:
The assessment findings can contribute to a Biodiversity Net Gain report for Stockport, helping you understand your site’s ecological baseline and the implications for your proposed development.
A Biodiversity Gain Plan sets out how a development proposes to meet the applicable statutory BNG requirements. It brings together the relevant biodiversity information and explains how the proposed biodiversity outcome will be achieved.
ProHort can support the preparation of a Biodiversity Gain Plan in Stockport, using the findings of your BNG Assessment to inform the proposed approach.
Depending on your project, the plan and supporting information may cover:
Stockport has specific local submission requirements in addition to the national framework. For example, the council’s published validation guidance identifies a draft Biodiversity Gain Plan, a Stockport BNG statement, a completed statutory metric and mapping information showing baseline habitats. The precise documents required should be checked against the latest guidance for your application.
Our team can help you understand the information needed for your Biodiversity Gain Plan report in Stockport and how it relates to your wider planning process.
BNG can influence site layout, landscaping and decisions about which habitats can be retained or enhanced. Considering biodiversity early in the development process can help you identify potential constraints before proposals are finalised.
ProHort works with developers, architects and planning consultants to provide ecological assessment and BNG planning support. We can help you understand your habitat baseline, interpret the findings of the biodiversity assessment and consider suitable options for delivering biodiversity improvements.
Our support can include:
Biodiversity Net Gain Assessments
Habitat baseline assessments
BNG metric calculations
Biodiversity Gain Plan preparation
Advice on habitat retention and enhancement
Consideration of offsite biodiversity units where appropriate
Stockport’s mix of urban development and connected river-valley habitats means that ecological considerations can vary significantly between sites. Our approach is tailored to the characteristics of your project and the requirements that apply to it.
ProHort can help you navigate the key stages of Biodiversity Net Gain.
We assess the site’s existing habitats and biodiversity value.
We use the applicable metric to assess changes in biodiversity value.
We consider onsite habitat improvements and potential offsite provision.
We help prepare the Biodiversity Gain Plan and relevant supporting information.
We help you understand the information needed for the applicable planning process.
Contact us and we’ll confirm exactly what your site requires and support a planning-ready, proportionate route forward.
A BNG Assessment considers the habitats present on a site and establishes their biodiversity value using the applicable statutory biodiversity metric. The findings help identify potential impacts, inform habitat enhancement options and establish the baseline for planning the required biodiversity outcome.
Stockport Council publishes local validation requirements for BNG alongside the national framework. Depending on the application, these can include a draft Biodiversity Gain Plan, a Stockport BNG statement, a completed statutory metric and mapping of baseline habitats. Applicants should check the latest council guidance to confirm the requirements for their specific development.
Yes. Developed and urban sites can contain valuable habitats, including trees, grassland, scrub, ponds and other ecological features. Brownfield land can also support habitats of ecological interest. A site-specific assessment is needed to establish which habitats are present and their biodiversity value.
The habitat baseline records the biodiversity value of the site’s habitats before development. This information is used in the applicable statutory biodiversity metric and compared with the proposed post-development value to help establish whether the required biodiversity outcome can be achieved.
Where permitted under the applicable requirements, registered offsite biodiversity gains may contribute towards meeting a development’s BNG requirements. The biodiversity gain hierarchy must be considered, and the suitability of offsite provision depends on the development, the metric results and the relevant rules.
BNG should be considered early so that habitat constraints and enhancement opportunities can inform the development design. For developments subject to the statutory biodiversity gain condition, the Biodiversity Gain Plan must be submitted to and approved by the planning authority before development begins. The exact timing and requirements should be checked against the project’s planning permission and current guidance.
