TEXTILES.ORG
Those in the UK construction industry will have heard and read about “biodiversity net gain” or BNG, and the implications that it will have as a part of government policy for future land development and to help meet carbon net zero sustainability targets. It is an approach that those overseeing sustainable drainage (SuDS) and new construction projects ought to be well-versed in, particularly given that the government’s service for recording BNG is set to go online in November 2023.
So what is biodiversity net gain, and who needs to be aware of it?
BNG has been described by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as “a strategy to develop land and contribute to the recovery of nature. It is a way of making sure that the habitat for wildlife is in a better state than it was before development.”
However, in 2023, BNG is more than merely a concept or a “nice to have” for our planet; it is, in effect, a set of regulations, which will form part of the provisions of the Environment Act 2021, with all housing and nationally significant infrastructure projects in England subject to BNG as a mandatory requirement, with aims to leave the natural environment in a better state by requiring an improvement of at least 10%.
The requirements of the new BNG regulations will need to be familiar to land managers, developers, and local planning authorities alike, and complements the implementation of Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 that mandates SuDS in new developments in England, following the earlier example set by legislation in Scotland and Wales.
More than a government policy, BNG could help us realize a greener world
BNG provides an important mechanism for building a more sustainable future, with the likely advantages extending well beyond biodiversity and the creation and enhancement of habitats.
The implementation of BNG across England could be instrumental in delivering better air quality, soil stability, and flood management, while helping to make us all feel that bit closer to nature, thanks to an abundance of green space being easily accessible – even for those of us living and working in highly built-up urban environments.
What else do you need to know as the introduction of the BNG regulations looms?
If you’re a land manager, developer, or local planning authority, and you are not yet fully familiar with the BNG requirements, now is the time to plan how SuDS measures, including how ABG Geosynthetics’ green roofs, blue roofs, permeable paving systems and attenuation basin design solutions can help achieve BNG targets on your upcoming projects. Visit abg-geosynthetics.com for more information.