While planning reform is currently grabbing the headlines, one of the biggest practical hurdles for small site delivery may be about to change.
Early evidence suggests that Biodioversity Net Gain (BNG) is working well for larger developments – but on smaller developments BNG is more challenging, slower and proportionately more expensive to deliver. In December, the Government announced a proposal to simplify BNG requirements for small sites and brownfield development, including:
- An area-based exemption from mandatory BNG will apply to smaller sites up to 0.2 hectares. This exemption is scaled-back from the expected exemption of all sites less than 1 hectare. The justification for this is to ease the burden on SME developers and streamline the planning process
- Confirmation that the Government will consult on an additional exemption for brownfield residential sites, potentially up to 2.5 hectares
- Measures to make it easier, quicker, and cheaper to deliver BNG offsite
For small sites in particular, this could help remove costs and delays for small-scale projects. The exemption should apply to sites with an area smaller than 0.2 hectares, based on the red line boundary.
There’s no indication of timescales yet, but a full consultation response and implementation timeline has been suggested to be expected early this year. Until any changes are officially implemented, BNG continues to apply in its current form.
If you’re assessing a small or brownfield site and want to understand the BNG implications, please contact our planning team.
- Alison Lugsden, Associate Planner, Nash Partnership