A lack of ambition on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) has left the scheme failing to deliver, according to new research.
Introduced last February, the policy requires companies to create or enhance habitat to compensate for harm caused by new developments, and to deliver at least 10% BNG, which is measured by the quality, extent, significance and type of habitats created.
Developers can undertake nature recovery work onsite or purchase credits for off-site habitat enhancements, and the Government estimated that 5,428 hectares of habitat would be generated through the scheme each year.
But Freedom of Information requests by Wildlife and Countryside Link have revealed that just 609 hectares of offsite land have been set aside for nature recovery, and only 93 hectares onsite – less than 13% of the Government’s forecast.
Wildlife and Countryside Link said BNG was failing to deliver because of broad exemptions, limited resourcing for councils, and ‘lacklustre’ monitoring and enforcement that mean developers can avoid requirements entirely.
And while councils can set requirements for BNG above 10%, guidance from the last Government said they should only do so in narrowly defined conditions.
The charity’s chief executive, Richard Benwell, said: ‘Nature recovery and development can go hand in hand, but only if rules to protect wildlife are effective.
‘Ecosystems are critical nature infrastructure and it’s vital that the planning system plays its part by dedicating enough space for nature to thrive.’
