Wildlife Trust Warns Against Weakening of Biodiversity Net Gain Rules
A local wildlife trust has criticised government proposals to weaken biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements, warning that such changes could “devastate local nature”.
The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) argues that relaxing BNG obligations for small and medium-sized housing developments would undermine community wellbeing across the three counties.
BNG was introduced to ensure that new developments enhance, rather than harm, the natural environment.
Chief Executive of BBOWT, Estelle Bailey said: “This is an alarming and short-sighted proposal from a Government that just months ago promised to put nature at the heart of development.”
However, under new government proposals currently out for consultation, smaller developments — which account for 70% of all housing projects in England — could be exempt from BNG requirements.
The trust said: “This would cause widespread damage to local wildlife, green spaces and community health.”
Ms Bailey of BBOWT noted that in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire, smaller developments are often built close to “treasured wild spaces” that support declining species such as hedgehogs, bats, and bees.
She said: “Removing BNG requirements would not only jeopardise the survival of these habitats, without any obligation to restore or replace them, but it would also see generations to come living in dwellings devoid of nature.”
At present, small sites typically refer to developments of nine homes or fewer, though the consultation is also considering changes for schemes of up to 49 dwellings.
BBOWT warns that removing small sites from BNG requirements could eliminate up to 80% of the overall demand for BNG units — a move they say would have serious consequences for local nature conservation efforts.
Director of External Affairs and Land Recovery at BBOWT, Matthew Stanton said: “It tells communities that nature doesn’t matter unless it’s big or easy to quantify, which is the opposite of what we need during a nature and climate crisis.”
“Stripping BNG from small developments is a clear backward step that we urge the Government to reconsider,” he added.
A Defra spokesperson said: “This Government inherited a failed planning system that blocks infrastructure and does little for nature’s recovery.
“We are fully committed to Biodiversity Net Gain and making it work even more effectively for developers and for nature.
“That is why our consultation explores easier, quicker, and cheaper routes for developers to deliver gains for nature.”
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At Natural World Fund, we are passionate about restoring habitats in the UK to halt the decline in our wildlife.
