Businesses have met in Manchester to hear how a new law to protect and enhance nature will impact property development.
The Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) regulations took effect in February and require all building developers to not only replace lost biodiversity at the site, but also deliver a minimum 10% uplift in nature.
Businesspeople, developers, local authority representatives, architects, environmental consultants and planners discussed how this could be achieved at the event put on by Environment Bank – a nature restoration company which has created project with a local famer near Bolton to help developers meet their BNG obligations.
Known as a ‘Habitat Bank’, the 50-hectare restoration project is manged by Environment Bank’s ecologists for 30 years. The ecologists measure the uplift in biodiversity using scientific methods and then sell that uplift to developers in the form of ‘Biodiversity Units’ so that they meet the new law and gain planning permission.
Catherine Spitzer, Chief Executive Officer of Environment Bank said:
“It’s great to be able to offer advice to businesses and developers in the Manchester area. The new BNG rules can be tricky to understand. Developers want to meet their obligations and protect nature while also being able to get planning permission to build their housing estates, commercial buildings, and vital infrastructure. Our Horwich Habitat Bank near Bolton is supporting North West businesses and enhancing nature in this part of the country.”
Richard Pendlebury, the farmer who owns the land on which Environment Bank has created the Habitat Bank, said:
“The partnership with Environment Bank is enabling us to see a clear picture of how the farm can stay within the family for generations to come. We’re still farming and grazing the land and thereby preserving its agricultural status.”
“Diversification is the way to go for small businesses like ours.”
More than 70 people attended the event which gave North West businesses in-depth insights and guidance on BNG policy, including its impact, opportunities, legal and planning requirements, and the most effective strategies for delivering BNG across the region.
Environment Bank now manages five sites across the North West, ranging from 20-50 hectares, offering local off-site Biodiversity Units to developers and planners in the region.
What is BNG policy?
Developers are required by law under the Environment Act 2021 to ensure that all significant developments deliver a minimum 10% increase in biodiversity, and they can do so by purchasing Biodiversity Units from Habitat Banks created off-site.
Environment Bank enables the delivery of this legislation by providing developers with Biodiversity Units from their dedicated BNG Habitat Banks, which are funded by them in advance for the full 30 years.
BNG not only contributes to national biodiversity objectives but also offers landowners a way to diversify their income streams, enhance their natural landscapes, and build business resilience for their farms.
https://environmentbank.com/