The Government has confirmed changes to Biodiversity Net Gain requirements
After months of speculation following the first indications of potential changes late last year, the Government has now confirmed amendments to the Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements.
The changes are intended to provide greater clarity and remove some of the uncertainty surrounding the application of BNG to smaller and shorter-term development proposals.
So what are the changes?
The amendments will take effect from 6 August 2026, provided that the development site does not contain priority habitat.
From this date:
Developments of 0.2 hectares or less will be exempt
Small development sites measuring 0.2 hectares or less will be exempt from the mandatory BNG requirements.
Short-term developments will be exempt
Short-term developments will also be exempt, provided that the planning permission relates to the whole site and the permission is granted for a period of less than five years.
Self-build and custom-build developments will no longer have a specific exemption
Self-build and custom-build developments will no longer benefit from a specific exemption from BNG.
However, the Government’s position is that these developments will typically fall within the new 0.2-hectare exemption, meaning that many smaller self-build and custom-build schemes may still not be subject to the mandatory BNG requirement.
What does this mean for developers and landowners?
While the amendments may appear relatively limited, they provide welcome clarity for those bringing forward smaller or short-term development proposals.
Greater certainty around when BNG requirements apply should help reduce uncertainty during the planning application process, support more consistent decision-making by Local Planning Authorities and, importantly, potentially help unlock more suitable development opportunities.
Get in touch!
If you are considering a development proposal and would like to understand how the changes to BNG may affect your site, please get in touch with Warner Planning to explore how we can assist.
How to get in touch…
Having a consultant involved in your project, is a great way to reduce the risk of errors and it can drastically speed up the timeline for achieving planning permission.
If you think you need support with your project, we’d be happy to help.
You can contact us directly via the details below, or if you would prefer, you can fill in the form below and one of the team will be in touch.
T: 01908 592580 E: info@warnerplanning.co.uk
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