BNG Baseline & Net Gain Reports:  The new requirements mean that applicants are required to submit reports that assess the baseline position, which sets out the biodiversity value of a site before any development work starts, and then calculate what the development will need to include to enhance biodiversity standards and achieve a net gain. 

This will be set out in a BNG Baseline Assessment and Net Gain Report, submitted as part of the planning application. Where on-site enhancement is limited or not possible, or sites are exempt, off-site provision can be considered.

This is a mandatory requirement and will usually require the appointment of an ecologist who we will work alongside when developing your site plans. The ecologist will carry out the surveys and prepare the report that will form part of your planning application. The requirements for BNG can be complex and in some cases difficult to achieve, and therefore the planning requirements should always be properly scoped before appointing an ecologist or finalising any site designs, and prior to submitting your application.

Our team can help guide this process by providing practical advice and by appointing the necessary consultants on your behalf to ensure your application meets BNG requirements.