Research by Biodiversity Units UK has shown that 65% of developers feel that Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is making environmental planning easier and clearer
The survey found that BNG is improving clarity, predictability, and confidence around environmental planning requirements.
However, this still leaves 35% of developers on the other side, with comments describing increased process, cost, and need for specialist support.
Most developers welcome BNG
73% of the survey’s respondents say they are gaining confidence in Biodiversity Net Gain once adopted into their processes. 27% described it as ‘very straightforward and easy to complete’ and 46% agreed it was ‘somewhat confusing at first, but manageable once understood.’
65% also agreed that BNG helps to remove ambiguity in environmental concerns and makes considerations much clearer and more objective, or improves certainty even where some discussion was still required. Furthermore, 64% said that BNG makes the environmental element of planning easier to deal with, and 37% said that it did not make it easier but makes outcomes more predictable.
BNG becoming more popular
All of this follows the trend of BNG becoming more accepted and effective within the planning system.
Reflecting this continued trend, 70% of survey respondents believe that BNG will improve the overall planning process, and 22% believe it will make planning easier as familiarity increases. 48% describe it as a manageable additional step.
Opinions are also positive regarding the environmental objectives of BNG, with 58% expressing a positive view of the nature restoration aspect of BNG, 34% were proud to have contributed towards restoring UK nature, and 24% were glad they had done so even though it was not a primary project consideration.
All in all, only 15% see BNG as a burden rather than a benefit.
Ian Hambleton, founder of Biodiversity Units UK, said: “The BNG Experience Survey reinforces a clear message: BNG is broadly achieving what it was designed to do. The findings show that the industry believes BNG brings more clarity and predictability to environmental planning, and seven in ten expect it to become easier or remain manageable as familiarity grows.
“While the findings show that the industry welcomes BNG-led nature recovery outcomes, there’s still a gap between compliance perceptions and the opportunity to promote positive action. We’re already seeing market-leading developers using BNG to communicate environmental improvements, the sustainability of buildings, and to lead public consultations, and while this is the minority, we’re confident it’s the direction the industry is heading towards as the process becomes easier to understand, more predictable and more straightforward to deliver.”
This positivity is a drastic improvement from last year, where research showed that the vast majority of projects were simply side-stepping BNG requirements.
Read the full research by Biodiversity Units UK here.
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