Future Homes Hub and PAS have launched ‘BNG Online,’ a free digital guide providing practical guidance on Biodiversity Net Gain compliance for LPAs and planning applicants
BNG Online has been developed to help LPAs and the development sector prepare for Biodiversity Net Gain. PAS provides guidance for LPAs and Future Homes Hub for SME developers.
In addition to providing advice, the website directs users to a range of digital tools that can help local planners and builders meet BNG requirements.
The launch of BNG Online comes as BNG becomes mandatory today (April 2) for small site developments in England.
This means that over 29,000 planning applications a month are now subject to the laws.
BNG requires developers to increase the amount of wildlife in the local area by 10%
Research by Joe’s Blooms shows BNG will create over 23,500 football pitches worth of natural habitat each year, and this green space will absorb up to 650,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
Martin Hutchings, principal adviser for Local Plans at Planning Advisory Service, said: “BNG is not just a post-permission matter; it is essential that applicants and LPAs work together early and throughout the planning application process.
“We have created BNG Online to help both applicants and LPAs factor BNG considerations in as early as possible. We will update and improve the resource as we learn more about what works best when processing planning applications that include the delivery of the mandatory 10% BNG.”
Ed Lockhart, chief executive officer of Future Homes Hub, added: “Biodiversity Net Gain is a brilliant concept meaning that every new home we build also improves nature but we need to make sure that it works in practice.
“That’s why the Future Homes Hub is working with Planning Advisory Service on BNG online to provide the tools and support homebuilders and Local Authorities need to incorporate biodiversity seamlessly into the development process.”
