Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is a way of creating and improving natural habitats alongside new development. Delivery of 10% BNG became a mandatory requirement for new development in February 2024 for development that require planning permission under Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as inserted by Schedule 14 of the Environment Act 2021) (unless exemptions apply). BNG aims to ensure that development has a measurably positive impact (‘net gain’) on biodiversity, compared to what was there before.
Delivery of BNG is calculated using the Statutory Biodiversity Metric; and must be supported by robust baseline habitat surveys to confirm the type and condition of habitats prior to development commencing; and quantifying how an uplift in biodiversity units will be achieved post-intervention. BNG may be delivered on / within a development site or off-site (e.g. through a Habitat Bank / Biodiversity Gain site provider) and will need to be subject to Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP) over a minimum 30 year period. CSA Environmental works with both developers and landowners to design on-site and off-site BNG solutions.
See below for further information on our BNG services, and our habitat survey and condition assessment pages for more information about baseline surveys
For more information contact our experienced ecologists in Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, and Sussex.
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) for Planning Applications
Navigating Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements can be challenging, particularly when balancing development objectives with ecological obligations. Our experienced ecologists work closely with clients, planners, architects, landscape architects and masterplanning teams to develop practical, cost-effective BNG solutions that support successful planning outcomes.
From early-stage site appraisals and baseline habitat surveys through to Biodiversity Metric calculations, scheme optimisation and detailed planning support, we can guide you through every stage of the process. Whether your objective is to achieve BNG entirely on-site, explore off-site biodiversity units, or develop a blended approach, we will help identify the most appropriate strategy for your scheme.
Our team also prepares Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans (HMMPs) and can support discussions with habitat bank providers, helping to ensure your BNG proposals are deliverable, compliant and aligned with wider project goals.
We have created a series of mini guides to support understanding of Biodiversity Net Gain, you can access them here.
Discharging the Biodiversity Gain Condition
Securing planning permission is only part of the BNG journey. Before development can proceed, the Biodiversity Gain Condition must be discharged through the submission and approval of a Biodiversity Gain Plan.
Our specialists have extensive experience supporting developers, promoters and landowners through this process. We prepare robust Biodiversity Gain Plans, Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans (HMMPs), and supporting documentation, working proactively with local planning authorities to help secure timely approvals and minimise delays to project delivery.
Whether you are progressing a newly approved scheme or have acquired a site with an existing consent, we can provide the technical expertise needed to move your development forward with confidence
Learn more about our BNG projects including Popes Lane, Sturry which was granted planning permission for a Gladman application with 54% on-site Biodiversity Net Gain.
Landowners & Habitat Banking
Biodiversity Net Gain presents significant opportunities for landowners looking to diversify income streams and unlock the ecological value of their land.
Our team supports landowners, estates and agents in assessing the suitability of land for habitat creation and enhancement, identifying opportunities to generate biodiversity units and establish successful habitat bank projects. We provide end-to-end support, from feasibility assessments and baseline habitat surveys through to habitat design, stakeholder engagement, legal agreements and registration.
We can guide you through the entire habitat banking process, including engagement with local planning authorities, preparation of management and monitoring strategies, support with Section 106 Agreements and Conservation Covenants, registration on the Biodiversity Gain Site Register, and the long-term implementation and monitoring of habitats.
By combining ecological expertise with commercial awareness, we help landowners maximise opportunities while delivering meaningful and lasting biodiversity gains.
Our habitat bank projects represent what BNG can do when it’s genuinely planned from the ground up, identifying what a site can become, translating that into registered units, and creating long-term biodiversity commitments.
