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At Ecological Surveys, we specialise in carrying out Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) surveys to support planning applications and ensure developments comply with the Environment Act 2021. Since February 2024, BNG has been a legal requirement for most developments in England.
If you’re applying for planning permission, you must demonstrate how your project will achieve a minimum of 10% net gain in biodiversity. Without a compliant BNG survey and biodiversity gain plan, your planning application will not succeed.
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Our team of experienced ecologists delivers everything you need: baseline habitat surveys, biodiversity gain plans, habitat creation strategies, and long-term monitoring. We combine scientific expertise with practical solutions so your project runs smoothly, legally, and on schedule.
BNG is designed to ensure that development projects do more than just replace lost habitats, they must actively enhance them. Key principles of BNG include:
This is a nationally applied system that ensures planning and ecology work hand-in-hand. For developers, it means an extra planning requirement that must be managed correctly from the start.
The Environment Act 2021 introduced legally binding Biodiversity Net Gain requirements, which became mandatory in February 2024. From this point forward, almost all planning applications must include a Biodiversity Gain Plan that demonstrates how the development will achieve at least 10% biodiversity net gain, calculated using the Defra Metric 4.0.
In addition, any habitat improvements must be secured and maintained for a minimum of 30 years, and local planning authorities are legally required to refuse applications that do not meet these standards.
There are a few exemptions, but they are limited. Very small householder applications, certain urgent infrastructure projects, and some brownfield sites with little or no ecological value may not be subject to the BNG requirement. However, the majority of developments will need to comply. If you are unsure whether your project falls within the exemptions, our ecologists can quickly assess your situation and confirm whether a BNG survey is necessary.
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We make the BNG process straightforward:
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Every BNG survey report we produce is designed to give planning officers exactly what they need, avoiding unnecessary delays or requests for additional information. Each report sets out a full baseline biodiversity assessment, recording habitats and their condition, supported by detailed maps and habitat classifications.
Using the latest Defra Metric 4.0, we calculate biodiversity units and provide a clear assessment of the potential impacts of your development.
The report then outlines a practical strategy for achieving the required 10% net gain, along with recommendations for long-term habitat management. Finally, we prepare a fully compliant Biodiversity Gain Plan that can be submitted directly to your local planning authority as part of your application.
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We make BNG compliance simple. Our expert ecologists carry out professional surveys, prepare biodiversity gain plans, and provide the guidance you need to secure planning approval.
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Our BNG surveys keep your project compliant and nature thriving.
