H&H Land and Estates has welcomed changes to biodiversity net gain (BNG) regulations that will remove certain mandatory requirements for developments up to 0.2 hectares, including buildings such as livestock sheds and slurry lagoons.
The rule change, which takes effect from August 6, applies to planning applications submitted after that date—a move the firm says is expected to reduce both cost and complexity by removing the need for ecological surveys and BNG assessments on qualifying schemes.
Andrew Boles, environment and conservation advisor at H&H Land and Estates, said: “For many farmers this is a welcome and sensible change.
“Biodiversity net gain has undoubtedly delivered environmental benefits, but it has also added considerable cost, complexity and delay to relatively straightforward agricultural developments.
“Many farm businesses have previously had to commission ecological surveys and provide biodiversity mitigation for projects that are essential to the day-to-day running of the farm.
“In some cases, this has meant taking productive land out of agricultural use and committing to management obligations that can last for 30 years.
“These new exemptions remove one of the barriers within the planning system for many smaller developments, helping to reduce both costs and timescales while allowing businesses to invest with greater confidence.
“However, it is important for landowners not to assume all developments will be exempt.”
Projects that affect priority habitats or cover more than 0.2 hectares will still need to comply with BNG requirements, meaning ecological input remains necessary for larger schemes.
The Government is also introducing a temporary exemption for developments where land will be fully reinstated within five years, provided no priority habitat is involved.
Other changes include updates to the biodiversity gain hierarchy for minor developments, allowing qualifying schemes to proceed directly to off-site biodiversity provision where appropriate.
The self-build and custom-build exemption will be removed under these reforms.
Mr Boles said: “Although these changes represent a significant step forward for many farming businesses, every planning application should still be considered on its own merits.
“Landowners should continue to seek professional advice at an early stage to establish whether biodiversity net gain applies and to identify the most practical and cost-effective route through the planning process.”
The Government has confirmed that further reforms to biodiversity net gain will follow.
These include proposed exemptions for schemes aimed at conserving or enhancing biodiversity, targeted exemptions for improvements to parks, playing fields and public gardens, as well as revisions to the statutory biodiversity metric.
H&H Land and Estates’ environmental team advises landowners, farmers and rural businesses on BNG, environmental schemes, habitat creation, natural capital opportunities and planning matters across the North of England.
