A co-signed letter has been sent to the government calling for more focus on biodiversity net gain in construction.
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Over 40 housebuilders, investment firms, and environmental groups have sent a co-signed letter to champion the initiative
Signatories of the biodiversity net gain (BNG) letter include Barratt Redrow, Bellway, and RSPB England.
The letter highlights the importance of BNG for meeting environmental requirements in its housebuilding scheme.
BNG has allowed the UK to become a leader in green initiatives
12 February saw the first anniversary of the implementation of BNG, and has since begun to ensure that nature in and around the built environment can not only recover, but grow.
The letter reads: “We, the undersigned, write to you as a coalition of innovative businesses and organisations to celebrate the first anniversary of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and its role in supporting nature, promoting growth and driving a sustainable housebuilding revolution in the UK.
“Since its implementation on 12th February 2024, this first-of-its-kind policy has positioned England as a global leader in biodiversity restoration, demonstrating how nature recovery, growth, and sustainable investment can thrive together. It has brought together sectors which have historically been at odds with each other – with environmental campaigners championing BNG’s role in halting biodiversity loss and housebuilders recognising the benefits it can bring in securing local support for development.
“As a group dedicated to promoting nature restoration through investments in novel technology and habitat restoration, we have seen first hand how innovative policies, like BNG, can help the UK channel inward investment to meet binding nature restoration obligations – at no cost to the taxpayer.
“Put simply, BNG has enabled the UK to become an international leader in shaping a greener future while at the same time boosting investment into a range of sectors and industries. UK nature businesses are winning international contracts and attracting venture investment based on this world-leading policy position.
“BNG is a true success story. Over the past year, it has unlocked unprecedented investment in local habitats, while also driving green growth. Implementing BNG has prompted businesses and organisations like ours to invest in new, highly skilled jobs across England. From AI to ecology, and from automation to analysis, we – along with many other businesses and partners – have innovated to develop ways to make the implementation of BNG as simple as possible for housebuilders and planning authorities, whilst simultaneously streamlining the planning process and creating new opportunities for nature restoration. In doing so, we have been able to create new opportunities and roles.
“This policy proves that government leadership can stimulate investment and sustainability in tandem, and should serve as an outstanding model for green investment in the future. Indeed, BNG is expected to create a £1 billion privately financed fund for nature by 2030.
“As we mark this milestone, it’s important to reflect on the strides made so far, and look forward to what can be done to continue this policy’s successful implementation, including the application of BNG to major infrastructure projects. As businesses and organisations, we are committed to championing the policy as a driver of environmental recovery, a catalyst for sustainable housebuilding, and to continuing to innovate, ensuring that BNG remains an integral pillar of the green economy.”
BNG still has some flaws
Recent research from TerraQuest has shown that many construction applications have been sidestepping biodiversity net gain requirements, which call for a 10% increase in biodiversity after development has finished. More than 75% of applications through the planning portal claim that BNG does not apply to their development.
The company recommended that the planning portal and application system are addressed, including reviews and redefinitions of what allows for exemptions of BNG.
At the time, Nicholas White, principal adviser for net gain at Natural England, said: “Small-to-medium sites which are making a BNG application for the first time can learn from larger developers that are already familiar with the regulations. Information sharing and collaboration will be key in navigating BNG at this early stage and, by providing clarification on what these exemptions mean, Planning Portal has already positioned itself as one of the many helpful resources for SMEs getting to grips with this new regulation.
“I think overall the policy is working, but inevitably there will be opportunities to fine tune the legislation both now and in the future. There will, of course, be instances where applicants get it wrong, but there will also be plenty of success stories first time around and having this early data out in the world will be a vital part of the tweaking process moving forward.”
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