Planning-ready BNG Assessments and Biodiversity Gain Plans in Lichfield, providing accurate biodiversity calculations, practical habitat advice and ecological support from initial assessment through to the planning process.
Calls answered in 2 rings, emails replied to within the hour.
Clear guidance before you commit.
Working in partnership with clients to ensure planning approval first time
Industry Leading Standard
We stay with you from first call through to submission.Â
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is an important consideration for development projects across Lichfield and the wider district. Where the statutory BNG requirements apply, development must demonstrate how the required biodiversity gain will be achieved and secured.Â
Lichfield District contains a varied mix of urban development, agricultural land, grassland, woodland, hedgerows, trees and watercourses. These habitats can contribute to the biodiversity value of a development site and may influence the opportunities available for achieving biodiversity gain.
Lichfield District Council advises that BNG should be considered from the earliest stages of a project, ideally before site design, as this can help minimise habitat losses and identify opportunities for delivering biodiversity gain within the development itself.Â
We support developments across the Lichfield area, including the city centre, Stowe, Leomansley, Boley Park, Chadsmead, Streethay, Fradley and surrounding parishes within the local authority boundary.
A BNG Assessment establishes the existing biodiversity value of a development site and assesses how the proposed scheme is expected to change that value.
Our ecologists assess the habitats present and use the statutory biodiversity metric to calculate biodiversity units associated with the existing and proposed habitats. The metric considers factors including habitat type, size, condition and strategic significance, alongside factors relating to habitat creation and enhancement.
A Lichfield BNG Assessment can include:
The assessment establishes the biodiversity baseline against which the proposed development can be assessed and helps the project team understand the measures that may be needed to achieve the appropriate biodiversity gain.
A BNG Assessment can establish:
The statutory biodiversity metric can be used at different stages of the design process to compare potential BNG strategies. Early and repeated use can help developers understand how changes to the layout or habitat proposals could affect the biodiversity outcome.Â
This can help ensure biodiversity considerations are incorporated into the development rather than being addressed only once the layout has already been finalised.
A Biodiversity Gain Plan has a different purpose from the initial BNG Assessment.
Where statutory BNG applies, the Biodiversity Gain Plan sets out how the required biodiversity gain will be achieved. It is submitted to the relevant Local Planning Authority after planning permission has been granted and must be approved before development can commence.Â
The Gain Plan brings together the final biodiversity position, metric calculation and proposed habitat delivery measures, providing evidence for the planning authority to assess whether the biodiversity gain requirements have been met.
A Lichfield Biodiversity Gain Plan can include:
The precise strategy will depend on the characteristics of the development site, the habitats affected and the route being used to achieve the required gain.Â
The BNG Assessment provides the evidence and calculations that underpin the Biodiversity Gain Plan.
The assessment establishes the site’s pre-development biodiversity value and models the anticipated biodiversity position following the proposed development. This information can then be used to determine how the required biodiversity gain will be delivered.
The process can therefore move from:
Biodiversity baseline → Metric calculation → BNG strategy → Biodiversity Gain Plan
For example, an assessment may identify existing habitats that can be retained, areas that could be enhanced or locations where new habitats could be incorporated into the development. These opportunities can then inform the final biodiversity delivery strategy.
Where the required biodiversity gain cannot be appropriately achieved within the development site, other permitted routes may need to be considered in accordance with the statutory BNG framework.
Although the two services work together, a BNG Assessment and Biodiversity Gain Plan are not the same document.Â
Purpose: Establishes the biodiversity baseline and calculates the anticipated change.
Timing: Â Usually undertaken during the planning and design process.Â
Focus: Habitat assessment, biodiversity units and development impacts.Â
Relationship: Provides the evidence and calculations.Â
Purpose: Sets out how the required biodiversity gain will be delivered.Â
Timing: Prepared following planning permission where statutory BNG applies.Â
Focus: Final biodiversity position, habitat delivery and statutory requirements.Â
Relationship: Uses the assessment information to demonstrate how the gain will be achieved.Â
Â
The BNG Assessment establishes the biodiversity position; the Biodiversity Gain Plan uses this information to demonstrate how the required gain will be delivered.
ProHort's ecology team provides specialist ecological support for development projects, combining habitat assessment and biodiversity calculations with an understanding of the wider planning process.
BNG information needs to be accurate, clear and practical for the wider development team. Our reporting is designed to help developers, architects and other professionals understand the biodiversity position and the actions required.
No two development sites have the same ecological baseline. We assess the habitats present and consider realistic opportunities for retention, enhancement and habitat creation rather than relying on a standard BNG approach.
Early BNG advice can help identify biodiversity constraints and opportunities before development proposals become fixed. This can give the project team more scope to incorporate habitat measures into the design.
From BNG Assessment to Biodiversity Gain Plan, our ecology team can coordinate related requirements such as PEAs and protected species surveys.
We review the proposed development, available plans and existing ecological information to understand the project’s requirements.Â
Our ecologists assess and map the habitats within the site and collect the information required to establish the biodiversity baseline.Â
The relevant statutory biodiversity metric is used to calculate the site’s biodiversity value and model the anticipated change resulting from the proposed development.Â
We consider opportunities to retain existing habitats, enhance lower-value areas and create new habitats, while identifying the most appropriate route towards the required biodiversity gain.
The BNG information can be incorporated into the wider development and landscape proposals, helping the project team understand the biodiversity implications of design changes.Â
The BNG information can be used alongside the wider development and landscape proposals, helping the project team understand how design decisions may affect biodiversity outcomes.Â
Contact us, and we’ll confirm exactly what your Lichfield site requires. We provide a planning-ready, proportionate route forward.Â
Whether statutory BNG applies depends on the type and scale of the development and any applicable national exemptions or thresholds. ProHort can review your Lichfield project and advise on the ecological information required.
A BNG Assessment establishes the site’s existing biodiversity value, assesses the habitats present and uses the statutory biodiversity metric to calculate the change in biodiversity value resulting from the proposed development.Â
BNG is best considered early in the planning and design process. An early assessment can identify biodiversity constraints and opportunities before the development layout is finalised.
A Biodiversity Gain Plan sets out how the required biodiversity gain will be achieved, including proposed habitat retention, enhancement and creation measures and any relevant off-site biodiversity provision.
Yes. ProHort can support Lichfield developments from the initial BNG Assessment through to preparation of a Biodiversity Gain Plan where required.
This depends on the site’s existing habitats, proposed layout and opportunities for habitat creation or enhancement. Where the required gain cannot be achieved on site, other permitted routes may need to be considered.
Yes. The site’s biodiversity baseline and BNG requirements can influence habitat retention, landscaping and opportunities for habitat creation. Assessing BNG early can help integrate these considerations into the development design.
Timescales vary depending on the site’s size, habitats and project requirements. ProHort can review the development and advise on an appropriate programme before work begins.
