Achieving Biodiversity Net Gain

UK policies on various forms of Biodiversity Net Gain are developing fast.

The consequence? Organizations across the UK involved in development must demonstrate that their projects will benefit biodiversity, in line with the requirements of the Environment Act.

Biodiversity is more than just a policy requirement, however, it is fundamental to industry and society, with benefits ranging from providing resources to build critical infrastructure, to improving asset resilience to climate change or creating attractive environments for people to live in. These benefits are not always obvious, and biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate because we fail to value it properly. This is having devastating consequences for economies, businesses, and society, but it doesn’t have to be this way. There are many opportunities to restore biodiversity and businesses and local authorities can play a leading role. One way is for development projects to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain.

What is Biodiversity Net Gain?

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) means that biodiversity is measurably better off as a result of a development project compared to the pre-development state.

BNG builds on existing policies and legislation to protect nature, and is underpinned by good practice principles, which set a benchmark of ‘what good looks like’. It requires a long-term commitment to maintenance and monitoring, especially because habitats take time to establish and develop to the point where they can support wildlife populations.

The UK’s Good Practice Principles for BNG

In 2016, leading professional environmental institutes published Good Practice Principles to support developments across the UK to achieve BNG in accordance with good practice. These principles require achieving and demonstrating measurable net gains in biodiversity that contribute towards local and regional conservation goals.

The principles are framed around the Mitigation Hierarchy which prioritises efforts to avoid, then minimise, biodiversity losses before considering the restoration of degraded biodiversity, and as a last resort, its creation in new locations (offsetting). The Mitigation Hierarchy has long been part of environmental assessments of developments; the difference now is that Biodiversity Net Gain is achieved as a result.

A standardised process for achieving BNG

The British Standard BS 42020 Biodiversity. Code of practice for planning and development is the foundation for good practice when planning and managing biodiversity as part of a development project.

BS 8683 Process for designing and implementing Biodiversity Net Gain builds on BS 42020 and sets out a process that anyone involved in infrastructure development can follow to achieve BNG. It is based on the BNG Good Practice Principles and contains guidance and advice so that anyone embarking on their journey to achieve BNG is supported at each stage.

BS 8683 is intended for all sizes of projects, for all types of development sectors and can be applied to any project, including developments not requiring planning permission, as well as land or estate management. It is a voluntary standard that is independent of legislation and policy, and developments that comply with requirements within BS 8683 can demonstrate that they followed a process to achieve BNG that is based on good practice.

Download the full version

The Little Book of Biodiversity Net Gain is now published. The little book provides those involved in infrastructure development with a digestible overview of Biodiversity Net Gain, along with the key actions needed to achieve BNG when developing a project.

In 2023, the BSI will be hosting a series of events on BNG and BS 8683 with the aim to help all those involved with developments to prepare for and achieve the various forms of BNG across the UK.

If you would like to know more and be kept up-to-date, please email Jasnam.Channe@bsigroup.com

Download the little book >

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