Small sites no longer exempt from Biodiversity Net Gain regulations 

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) regulations, which came into force in February of this year, mean that planning applicants must prove their proposals will enhance biodiversity, rather than merely mitigating any negative impacts associated with their projects. 

As of 2 April, the exemption that had previously allowed ‘small site’ applications to bypass BNG requirements has been lifted.  

For residential developments, small sites are defined as those with: 

• Between 1 and 9 dwellings on a site area of less than one hectare
• Where the number of dwellings is unknown, a site area of less than 0.5 hectares. 

Small development sites are now held to the same BNG standards as larger projects, meaning developers across the board must demonstrate their commitment to enhancing biodiversity. 

Some exemptions remain, allowing developments to avoid BNG stipulations, a full list is available on the government website.

Increased responsibility for Local Planning Authorities 

As a result of this change, local planning authorities are likely to notice a substantial surge in the number of applications containing biodiversity net gain information and supporting documents.  

Further BNG guidance 

If you’re looking for more information about biodiversity net gain legislation, its implications, or its relevance to your specific development, our sustainability hub offers comprehensive guidance. 

Our official BNG partner, Joe’s Blooms, also provide a wealth of valuable assistance, tools and online resources to help any applicants understand and fulfil their BNG obligations. 

Fostering biodiversity in the built environment is not just a legal requirement—it’s an essential step toward creating sustainable and ecologically responsible developments. 

And remember, to fulfil the new requirements, BNG should be integrated into the project development process from the very beginning, starting with site selection. By considering biodiversity implications early on, developers can make informed decisions that benefit both the environment and their projects.  

TerraQuest’s Site Identification and Assessment services can help you make better, more informed decisions when choosing land for your project. Contact TerraQuest Senior Consultant Jack Johnson for further information.