Planning a development in Sandwell? Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) can influence how your site is assessed, how the proposed layout is designed and how habitat improvements are delivered. Understanding the existing biodiversity value of a site early can help you identify ecological considerations and prepare the information needed for planning.
ProHort provides BNG Assessments and Biodiversity Gain Plan support in Sandwell for developers, landowners, architects and planning professionals. We can help you understand the habitats present, assess how a proposed development may affect them and plan how the applicable biodiversity gain requirements could be met.
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Sandwell Council has published a Biodiversity Net Gain Strategy and adopted the Black Country Local Nature Recovery Map and Strategy for planning purposes, including the strategic delivery of biodiversity gain in the borough.
The local approach recognises that habitat improvements should contribute to a wider ecological network, rather than being considered only as isolated features within individual developments. Sandwell’s planning policy material also identifies on-site habitat provision and enhancement as a priority where practicable, followed by suitable opportunities within the local area.
This context can be particularly relevant in a borough with a dense urban environment and limited space on some development sites. Considering existing habitats and possible opportunities for enhancement early can help establish what may be achievable on-site and whether eligible off-site provision should also be explored.
Sandwell Council has also approved plans to establish council-owned land as biodiversity gain habitat banks. The availability and suitability of any particular off-site units must be checked for the individual project rather than assumed.
The relevant requirements depend on the proposed development, the site baseline and the statutory rules that apply. Local planning policy and national BNG requirements should be considered together when preparing the strategy.
We support projects across all Sandwell neighbourhoods, including West Bromwich, Oldbury, Smethwick, Tipton, Rowley Regis, Great Bridge, and the wider borough.
A Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment establishes the biodiversity value of a site before development and considers how the proposed scheme may change that value. It uses habitat information and the applicable statutory biodiversity metric to calculate biodiversity units and compare the baseline with the proposed habitat outcomes.
A BNG Assessment can help you understand:
Which habitats are present within the development boundary and their condition.
The site’s baseline biodiversity value.
How the proposed development could affect existing habitats.
Opportunities to retain, enhance or create suitable habitats on-site.
Whether additional off-site biodiversity provision may need to be considered.
Sandwell includes a mixture of built-up areas, previously developed land, parks, green corridors and established nature-conservation sites. The ecological considerations for a site in an urban centre may therefore differ considerably from those for a site close to a wider green corridor or an existing nature reserve.
A site-specific assessment is important because the previous use of land, the amount of hardstanding or the presence of nearby green space does not, by itself, establish its biodiversity value. The assessment must reflect the habitats actually present and the proposed changes.
Starting the work early can help identify opportunities to retain existing habitats and incorporate appropriate biodiversity measures before the development layout is finalised. A BNG Assessment does not replace other ecological surveys, such as protected species surveys, which may also be needed depending on the site and proposal.
Where statutory BNG applies, a Biodiversity Gain Plan explains how the development will deliver the required biodiversity gain. It is a separate stage from the initial assessment and must be approved by the relevant planning authority before development begins.
The plan brings together the relevant information about the development, the biodiversity baseline and the proposed approach to delivering the required gain. It is supported by the applicable metric calculations and explains how the proposed habitat measures will contribute to the intended outcome.
Depending on the project, the strategy may involve:
Retaining suitable existing habitats within the development.
Enhancing existing habitats or creating new habitats on-site.
Securing eligible off-site biodiversity units where required.
Using statutory biodiversity credits as a last resort, where permitted.
The approach should follow the biodiversity gain hierarchy and reflect what is practical for the individual site. Significant on-site habitat gains and off-site provision may also need appropriate legal security, management and monitoring arrangements.
ProHort can help you understand how your Biodiversity Gain Plan relates to the BNG Assessment and what information may be needed as the project progresses through planning.
Sandwell’s landscape includes the Sandwell Valley, the Rowley Hills, urban parks, waterways, railway corridors and other green spaces. These features form part of the borough’s wider natural environment and can help inform how habitat retention and enhancement are considered in development proposals.
Sandwell Valley is a significant local landscape and is covered by technical material within the Black Country Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Its habitats and green spaces illustrate the importance of protecting existing ecological value and considering connections between sites.
For development proposals near the valley or other established green spaces, it may be appropriate to investigate the habitats present, any relevant nature-conservation designations and the potential for ecological connections with the wider landscape.
However, being near Sandwell Valley does not automatically establish the biodiversity value of a development site or determine whether a particular restriction applies. The site’s location, habitats and potential impacts must be assessed individually.
The Rowley Hills are identified as a core landscape in the Black Country nature-recovery material. The area provides a useful local context for considering how habitats can be protected, restored and connected across the wider landscape.
Where a development is located in or near this landscape, relevant ecological information may help inform the site’s assessment and the consideration of appropriate habitat measures. The specific contribution of a proposed habitat improvement depends on its location, design and compliance with the applicable metric rules.
This wider landscape perspective can be useful when considering whether on-site habitat measures could support ecological connections beyond the development boundary.
Sandwell’s canal network and linear green corridors are important features of its urban landscape. The Black Country nature-recovery evidence recognises the role of canals, rivers and former railway lines in connecting habitats across built-up areas.
Where a development site includes canal-side vegetation, established trees, scrub, grassland or other connected habitats, the baseline assessment should consider their type and condition. The proposed layout can then be reviewed to identify opportunities to avoid habitat loss or incorporate suitable enhancements.
A canal or railway corridor should not automatically be counted as a biodiversity gain simply because it is present nearby. The assessment must establish which habitats occur within the relevant site and how any proposed measures meet the applicable metric requirements.
Development proposals in Sandwell may involve industrial land, commercial premises, regeneration sites and other previously developed areas. Some sites contain extensive hardstanding, while others may support established vegetation or habitats that have developed over time.
Scrub, grassland, trees and other habitat features can contribute to a site’s baseline biodiversity value. Previous industrial or commercial use alone does not establish that a site has low biodiversity value.
Assessing the site before the design is fixed can help identify habitat constraints, opportunities for retention and potential locations for suitable habitat creation. It can also help determine whether further ecological information is required to support the planning process.
A suitable biodiversity gain strategy needs to reflect the site’s existing habitats, the proposed development and the opportunities available for delivering measurable improvements.
The biodiversity gain hierarchy should guide the process. Impacts on habitats should first be avoided, then minimised, before appropriate compensation and other delivery options are considered.
On-site measures may include retaining suitable existing habitats, enhancing their condition or creating new habitats where the site allows. General landscaping or ornamental planting does not automatically generate statutory biodiversity units. Proposed habitats must be suitable under the applicable metric and supported by appropriate information.
Where the required gain cannot be delivered entirely on-site, eligible off-site biodiversity units may need to be considered. Sandwell’s local nature-recovery priorities and available off-site options can be relevant when evaluating a suitable strategy, but availability and eligibility should be checked for each project.
The final approach should be realistic, supported by evidence and capable of being secured and managed in accordance with the requirements that apply.
Provide the site address, red-line boundary, proposed development layout and any existing ecological reports. This helps establish the scope of the assessment and identify information that may be missing.
The habitats present are assessed and their biodiversity value calculated using the applicable statutory biodiversity metric and supporting ecological information.
The proposed development is compared with the baseline to understand potential habitat losses and identify opportunities for retention, enhancement and creation.
The strategy considers the biodiversity gain hierarchy, suitable on-site measures and whether eligible off-site provision may be needed. Relevant local nature-recovery information can help inform this process.
Where statutory BNG applies, the Biodiversity Gain Plan explains how the required gain will be delivered. It must be approved by the relevant planning authority before development begins.
Contact us, and we’ll confirm exactly what your Sandwell site requires. We provide a planning-ready, proportionate route forward.
Sandwell Council’s published planning guidance identifies information such as the completed biodiversity metric, a BNG statement explaining how the gain will be delivered, and a scaled plan showing the habitats used in the calculations. Applicants should check the latest validation requirements and national rules for their specific application, including any applicable exemptions.
The Black Country Local Nature Recovery Strategy identifies existing ecological value and opportunities to improve habitat networks across the area. Sandwell Council has adopted the strategy and map for planning purposes, including the strategic delivery of BNG. Its relevance to an individual project depends on the site’s location, habitats and the applicable metric guidance.
Potentially. Sandwell Valley is an important local landscape, and relevant ecological designations or habitat connections may need to be considered depending on the site’s location and proposed works. Proximity alone does not determine a site’s biodiversity value or establish that a particular restriction applies. Further ecological assessment may be needed where there is a potential impact on protected species or designated sites.
The Rowley Hills are identified in the Black Country nature-recovery material as a core landscape. Where relevant to a development’s location, local ecological information may help inform opportunities for habitat retention, enhancement or improved connectivity. Any proposed habitat measure must still be assessed against the site’s circumstances and the applicable metric rules.
Potentially. Such sites may contain grassland, scrub, trees or other habitats that contribute to the baseline biodiversity value. Suitable habitat retention or enhancement may form part of the strategy, but the habitats must be assessed and the proposed measures must meet the applicable metric requirements. Being close to a canal or railway corridor does not automatically create biodiversity units.
Sandwell Council has approved plans to establish council-owned land for biodiversity gain habitat banks. However, the availability, registration status and suitability of specific units should be verified before they are relied on for a development. Any off-site provision must meet the applicable statutory requirements and be properly secured.
Not necessarily. The biodiversity gain hierarchy prioritises avoiding and minimising impacts and then considers suitable ways to deliver the required gain. On-site habitat retention, enhancement and creation should be explored where practicable. If sufficient gain cannot be achieved on-site, eligible off-site provision may be considered in accordance with the applicable rules.
It is advisable to consider BNG during site selection and early design, before the layout is finalised. Early assessment can establish the biodiversity baseline, highlight habitat constraints and identify opportunities for on-site delivery. It can also help you understand what information may be needed for the planning application and the later Biodiversity Gain Plan, where required.
