Legal & Regulatory News

​UK Government launches consultation on mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain regulations implementation

11 January 2022

On 11 January 2022, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) published a consultation regarding the implementation of regulations surrounding mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain, an approach to development that leaves biodiversity in a better state than it was beforehand.

The consultation sets out plans to ensure wildlife can be better protected and enhanced in developments, and is intended to help communities, planners, developers and Local Planning Authorities ensure new developments are 'nature positive'. Under the proposals, developments will have to be delivered in a way which helps to reduce and restore any biodiversity loss during the building phase, and crucially also deliver a 10% boost to the area’s biodiversity.

The consultation seeks feedback from developers, planning authorities, environmental professionals, landowners and other interested parties on the details of how Biodiversity Net Gain should be implemented when building new housing or commercial development.

The consultation closes on 5 April 2022.

Click here to access the press release.

Click here to access the consultation.