Management of the Natural Environment/Landscape

Question 1

What is biodiversity net gain (BNG)?

Answer 1

Biodiversity net gain is an approach to development that aims to leave the natural environment in a better state than it was beforehand

Question 2

What are the key points of MSC’s Management System for Ecology and Biodiversity? How are these implemented on site or depot?

Answer 2

• Definitions
• Compliance obligations - £5,000 fine for disturbing protected animals like bats
• Find information to review at planning level
• Discussing early with the client
• BNG surveys
• Resources/sites to find more information
• Ecological method statement – needed when work could disturb sensitive species or habitats

Question 3

What are the complexities of the DEFRA metric?

Answer 3

• Needs to be completed by a competent individual (ecologist)
• Location
• Distinctiveness (has become strategic significance)
• Condition
• Size
• It measures habitat, hedgerow and watercourse and provides unit and net change % for each

Question 4

What LPAs have increased beyond the 10% BNG minimum?

Answer 4

Carter Jonas reported that 20 councils have plans to exceed 10%. Councils do this for many reasons, e.g. all brownfield site

Question 5

What is the Statutory Biodiversity Metric?

Answer 5

This has been created by DEFRA to measure BNG from a baseline and a proposed perspective. It provides a standardised approach. It calculates biodiversity units and a % of net gain. The formula targets four key topics:

1. Size
2. Location
3. Condition
4. Strategic significance

DEFRA metric is based on the UK Habitat Classification Definitions

Question 6

What did you include in BNG upskilling in October 2023?

Answer 6

• Definition and timescales
• Background on the DEFRA metric
• What this means for our projects e.g. landscape package
• Differences for England, Scotland and Wales

Feedback included the addition of examples and a supporting guidance note which became the process map (easy to follow and can be shown to their clients)

Question 7

What is the BNG checklist? What are the roles of pre-con and on site?

Answer 7

• This has evolved to become a process map, as requested by project teams.
• Teams begin at planning and follow it through to having a survey
• Guidance is then whether BNG can be achieved onsite or offsite then guidance which flows down separately for each e.g. Environment Bank or Own Land if offsite
• Then appointing a ‘Biodiversity Champion’ onsite to oversee and also working closely with the landscape architect

Question 8

How does BNG differ across the UK?

Answer 8

• Current legislation only relevant to England
• Wales has done many policy updates but no metric yet
• Scotland has a Biodiversity Policy which published NPF4 in Feb 2023. Their LPAs are set to follow with their own policies. Scotland are working on building a metric similar to DEFRAs but there is no timeframe like the 30 year maintenance clause England has