Biodiversity Net Gain Bristol

Glade Ecology undertake Biodiversity Net Gain assessments throughout Bristol and the surrounding area.

Our team of expert ecologists can help guide your project through the planning process. By working closely with our clients, we ensure that their developments progress smoothly and in full compliance with the law, orchestrating the best possible outcome for them and the natural world.

Considering ecological issues early on in the planning process can help ensure that potentially costly and time-consuming delays are avoided.

What is Biodiversity Net Gain?

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) involves a metric, which allocates quantifiable numerical values ('biodiversity units') to the relative biodiversity value of baseline (pre-development) on-site habitats, and compares them to those anticipated post-development. The biodiversity net gain or loss is then calculated, based on the difference between the pre-development and post-development habitat data. It is used to inform the emerging scheme design, enabling significant ecological effects within the zone of influence to be avoided, mitigated, or compensated for, where necessary, ensuring compliance with nature conservation legislation and planning policy. 

BNG is a mandatory element of the planning system, and a general approach to development and land management that aims to leave the natural world in a measurably better state than it was beforehand, and create opportunities for important ecological features associated to the proposed works.

The assessment entails an initial field survey, to collect baseline habitat data. Post-development habitat data is derived from landscaping plans. Both sets of data are then converted into biodiversity units using a metric. The resultant calculation is presented as a percentage of net gain or loss. 

BNG relies on the application of the traditional mitigation hierarchy (to avoid, mitigate, compensate for biodiversity losses), though it expands on this by compelling developers to demonstrate a 10% net gain for most new developments. Where such a score cannot be achieved on site, off-site compensation may be incorporated into the metric - 'biodiversity offsetting'.

The off-site biodiversity units (or credits) must be allocated or purchased in advance of the commencement of works. Each biodiversity net gain assessment is accompanied by a thirty year management plan, specifying management compartments, objectives, and prescriptions, and detailing resourcing (including financial budgeting) and monitoring, thereby ensuring that the stipulated measures are implemented effectively.

The earlier BNG is incorporated into the design scheme, the greater the scope to influence proposals, and the easier it is to deliver efficiently, without abating other project requirements or ambitions. This makes it prudent to plan ahead and consider ecological issues early on in the planning process. A BNG assessment at an early stage in project planning and design can therefore deliver significant benefits, avoiding potentially costly and time-consuming delays.​​

Though the presence of ecological constraints very rarely prevents a development from proceeding, avoidance, mitigation, or compensation measures may need to be implemented, to adequately negate adverse impacts to the site's ecological value. For more information about ecology surveys, click below.

Biodiversity Net Gain

How Glade Ecology can help you

With over fifteen years' experience in undertaking ecological surveys, mitigation design, licensing, site supervision, and monitoring, our friendly team of expert ecologists can help guide your project through the planning process. By working closely with our clients and considering ecological issues early on, we can help ensure that potentially costly and time-consuming delays are avoided.

We pride ourselves on providing pragmatic, practical solutions for our clients, that not only ensure full compliance with wildlife legislation, but that achieve the best possible outcome, for both them and the natural world.

We undertake BNG assessments throughout the Bristol and surrounding areas of Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. For more information about the services that we provide, or to request a free quotation, please contact us below.

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