Mandatory 10% Biodiversity Net Gain
Mandatory 10% Biodiversity Net Gain
Biodiversity net gain is a way to contribute to the recovery of nature while developing land. Utilising the Secretary of State’s mandatory Biodiversity Metric (to be published), all developments which are not exempt, will need to demonstrate that they can achieve at least a 10% net gain for biodiversity.
This will apply from January 2024 for development applications in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, unless exempt. It will apply to small sites from April 2024.
Shropshire Council as the Local Planning Authority will require all development applications submitted on or after the commencement date in January (precise commencement date yet to be confirmed by the Government) to demonstrate this mandatory requirement in-line with published guidance.
For small sites the mandatory 10% net gain requirement will apply to development applications submitted on or after the commencement date in April 2024 (precise commencement date yet to be confirmed by the Government).
Small sites are anticipated to be categorised as:
- For residential: where the number of dwellings to be provided is between one and nine inclusive on a site having an area of less than one hectare, or where the number of dwellings to be provided is not known, a site area of less than 0.5 hectares.
- For non-residential: where the floor space to be created is less than 1,000 square metres OR where the site area is less than one hectare.
For more detailed information on this requirement from the government and the Planning Advisory Service please see the links in related information on this page.