Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
From 12 February 2024 new mandatory planning requirements were introduced that will affect new applications for major developments, from 2 April 2024 these also apply to most other development in England. These requirements, under the Environment Act 2021 will require qualifying developments to deliver a minimum of 10% BNG.
What is Biodiversity Net Gain?
Biodiversity is defined as the variety of life on earth.
BNG is a new process in the planning system which will ensure that development will leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than it was before, enhancing the biodiversity value of sites, and creating a net positive impact on the natural environment
Interim Policy Position Statement
In advance of a Local Plan policy on BNG, the council have produced an Interim policy position statement. This sets out the councils expectations in relation to BNG and has been adopted as a material consideration until the new Local Plan is adopted.
Register land on the Kent BNG Site Register
Kent County Council, on behalf of the Kent Local Planning Authorities, commissioned Kent Wildlife Trust to develop a Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Site Register for Kent and Medway. The Kent BNG Site Register has been developed to:
- Provide evidence of the potential supply of ‘off-site’ biodiversity units.
- Provide evidence to support the implementation of BNG policy requirements.
- Allow users to register ‘off-site’ BNG sites which have not yet been surveyed (prospective sites).
- Allow users to register ‘off-site’ sites which have been surveyed and have a completed BNG metric (surveyed sites).
- Allow the identification of ‘off-site’ BNG delivery sites and facilitate contact between the landowner and a consultant/developer.
The Kent BNG Site Register is distinct from DEFRA’s ‘Register land for off-site biodiversity gain’ which records BNG sites once a legal agreement is in place.
If you wish to promote land for BNG purposes, please consider registering the land on the Kent BNG Site Register