Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is mandatory from 12 February 2024.
This page is where you’ll find all GOV.UK guidance on BNG. If you’re new to BNG, read understanding biodiversity net gain, which gives an overview of key information.
You can also find:
- step by step guidance for land managers
- step by step guidance for developers
- LPA guidance
- detailed guidance on planning and BNG
Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is a way of creating and improving natural habitats. BNG makes sure development has a measurably positive impact (‘net gain’) on biodiversity, compared to what was there before development.
You will need to understand the requirements of BNG if you’re a:
- developer
- local planning authority
- land manager wanting to sell in the BNG market
In England, BNG is mandatory from 12 February 2024 under Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as inserted by Schedule 14 of the Environment Act 2021). Developers must deliver a BNG of 10%. This means a development will result in more or better quality natural habitat than there was before development.
What biodiversity net gain is
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Understanding biodiversity net gain
- Guidance
Land manager guidance
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Meet your BNG requirements: steps to take for land managers
- Guidance
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Sell biodiversity units as a land manager
- Guidance
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Combining environmental payments: biodiversity net gain (BNG) and nutrient mitigation
- Guidance
Developer guidance
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Meet biodiversity net gain requirements: steps for developers
- Guidance
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Make on-site biodiversity gains as a developer
- Guidance
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Make off-site biodiversity gains as a developer
- Guidance
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What you can count towards a development’s biodiversity net gain
- Guidance
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Statutory biodiversity credits
- Guidance
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Statutory biodiversity credit prices
- Guidance
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Submit a biodiversity gain plan
- Guidance
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Biodiversity gain plan
- Form
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Biodiversity net gain: exempt developments
- Guidance
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Irreplaceable habitats
- Guidance
Local planning authority guidance
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Biodiversity net gain: what local planning authorities should do
- Guidance
Calculate biodiversity value
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Calculate biodiversity value with the statutory biodiversity metric
- Guidance
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Statutory biodiversity metric tools and guides
- Guidance
Legal agreements
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Enter a legal agreement for biodiversity net gain
- Guidance
Habitat management and monitoring plans
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Creating a habitat management and monitoring plan for BNG
- Guidance
Planning practice guidance
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Biodiversity net gain
- Guidance
Manage biodiversity gains
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Register a biodiversity gain site
- Guidance
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Record allocation of off-site biodiversity gains to a development
- Guidance
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Register a biodiversity site and allocate to a development
- Guidance
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Estimate the cost of statutory biodiversity credits
- Guidance
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Buy statutory biodiversity credits
- Guidance
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Search the biodiversity gain sites register
- Guidance
Published 21 February 2023
Last updated 15 March 2024 +show all updates
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Updated call to action box with a link to BNG planning guidance.
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Updated call to action box with links to understanding BNG, LPA guidance and steps for land managers/developers.
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Added new guidance on irreplaceable habitats to the 'developers' section.
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Added new link to planning practice guidance.
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'Manage biodiversity gains' section has been added. This gives information on how to register a biodiversity gain site, record allocation of off-site biodiversity gains to a development, estimate the cost of statutory biodiversity credits, buy statutory biodiversity credits, and search the biodiversity gain sites register. Updated that BNG is mandatory from 12 February 2024.
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Added draft biodiversity net gain planning practice guidance.
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Updated ahead of biodiversity net gain (BNG) becoming mandatory. Clarified the introductory wording on BNG. Added new guidance on exemptions, making on-site and off-site gains, statutory credits, legal agreements, biodiversity gain plans, and habitat management and monitoring plans. Added new step by step guidance for land managers and developers and detailed guidance for local planning authorities. Updated guidance on understanding BNG, using the biodiversity metric, selling biodiversity units, and statutory credit prices.
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Updated that to record BNG, the service will be available when BNG becomes mandatory (removed the date of November 2023).
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Added 'Statutory biodiversity credit prices' to the guidance for developers.
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Added a section for developer guidance and 'What you can count towards a development’s biodiversity net gain (BNG)'.
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First published.
