Irreplaceable habitatshabitat
How biodiversity net gain (BNG) applies to irreplaceable habitats. habitat.
Applies to England
Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is mandatory from 12 February 2024.
What irreplaceable habitatshabitat areis
Irreplaceable habitatshabitat areis habitats which are very difficult (or taketakes a very significantlong time) to restore, recreatecreate or replace once destroyed,it has been destroyed. This may be due to their:its:
ageage
uniquenessuniqueness
-
species
diversitydiversity rarityrarity
TheyIrreplaceable includehabitat includes some of England’s most ecologically valuable terrestrial and intertidal habitats.
Thehabitat. For definition and list of irreplaceable habitats for BNG are set out in the Biodiversity Gain Requirements (Irreplaceable Habitat) Regulations 2024. The list includes:example:
-
ancient
woodlandwoodland -
ancient and veteran
treestrees -
blanket
bogbog -
limestone
pavementspavements -
coastal sand
dunesdunes -
spartina saltmarsh
swardsswards -
mediterranean saltmarsh
scrubscrub -
lowland
fensfens
How
See the definition and full list of irreplaceable habitat for BNG appliesin tothe Biodiversity developmentGain Requirements (Irreplaceable Habitat) Regulations 2024.
Development on irreplaceable habitatshabitat
DevelopersYou shouldwill recordonly allget on-siteplanning irreplaceablepermission habitatfor development that results in theloss metricof calculationirreplaceable tool.habitat in exceptional circumstances.
However,The the 10% 10% BNG requirement requirement does not apply when irreplaceablethere habitatsis areloss lost.of Thisirreplaceable ishabitat because theyit arewould sobe difficultimpossible to recreateachieve.
Instead, andyou haveneed suchto aminimise highadverse biodiversityimpacts valueand thatagree ita wouldcompensation bestrategy impossiblewith tothe achieveplanning theauthority.
Read requirementthe national toplanning increasepolicy biodiversityframework on topirreplaceable ofhabitat.
Compensation norules netfor loss. irreplaceable habitat
BNGSpecial doescompensation notrules changeapply theto existingirreplaceable protectionshabitat.
If andplanning compensationpermission requirementsis forgiven irreplaceableyou habitatwill inneed planningto policy.agree Thea nationalcompensation planningstrategy policywith frameworkthe onLPA.
Compensation for irreplaceable habitat applies.needs Thisto meansbe thatrelative planningto permissionthe forbaseline developmenthabitat resultingtype. inThe LPA the will lossagree orcompensation deteriorationas part of irreplaceablethe habitatdetermination willof onlythe beplanning grantedapplication, inon whollya exceptionalcase-by-case circumstancesbasis.
Read andmore wherein athe suitablebiodiversity compensationnet strategygain exists.planning practice guidance.
What developers need to dodo
1. Consider irreplaceable habitatshabitat atfrom the design and planning application stagestart
DevelopmentThink affectingabout irreplaceable habitatshabitat requires special consideration at the design and planning applicationstage, stage.and Developerslook shouldat makehow sureto that:
theyavoidminimiseanyimpactsadverseonimpacts.At
irreplaceablethehabitatstheyplanningagreeapplicationsuitablestage,compensationyouforwilllossneedortodeteriorationofirreplaceablehabitats
Provide BNG information
Developers must satisfy the BNG minimum information requirements.
You at the planning application stage. They will need to provide a:provide:
-
a description of any irreplaceable habitat on site at the date of the planning
applicationapplication -
a plan of existing irreplaceable habitat on site at the date of the planning
applicationapplication
TheYour local planning authority (LPA)may willask notyou acceptfor themore applicationinformation withoutrelated this information.
Follow compensation rules
Special compensation rules apply to thesebiodiversity habitats.
Compensationnet forgain irreplaceableand habitatwider needsplanning topolicies bedesigned relative to theprotect baseline habitat type. The LPA will agree compensation with developers as part of the determination of the planning application, on a case by case basis.environment.
MoreFind informationout ismore available in the biodiversity net gain planning practice guidance.
2. CalculateRecord BNGirreplaceable whenhabitat therein areyour irreplaceableBNG habitatscalculation
You must record all irreplaceable habitatshabitat on your site in the metric calculation tool, regardless of whether or not they will be impactedaffected by the proposed development.development.
When there are adverse impacts to irreplaceable habitatshabitat
Impacts to irreplaceable habitatshabitat cannot be measured by the biodiversity metric and they are automatically removed from the baseline calculation whenin you use the biodiversity metric. tool.
YouDo must not record any bespoke compensation action for these losses of irreplaceable habitat within the enhancement or creation sheets of the biodiversity metric.metric.
ThereFind isout more information in the the statutory biodiversity metric user guide..
When makingirreplaceable enhancementshabitat tois irreplaceable habitatsenhanced
Where there are no losses or deterioration of irreplaceable habitat, theiryou enhancements must berecord recordedenhancements in the metric calculation tool and willinclude bethem included in the baseline calculations.calculations.
Enhancement works may contribute towards the calculation of post-development biodiversity units.units.
Enhancement works must be ecologically appropriate and not have any adverse impacts on irreplaceable habitats.habitat.
When the development sitessite containincludes irreplaceable and non-irreplaceable habitathabitat
You willmust need to achieve at least 10% BNG on on any non-irreplaceable habitat present on your development site. This can include through enhancing irreplaceable habitat.
This is in addition to agreeing bespoke compensation for impacts on irreplaceable habitat, which cannot count towards your BNG requirement. requirement.
3. Record irreplaceable habitatshabitat in the biodiversity gain planplan
If planning permission has been granted for development on a site whichthat includes irreplaceable habitats,habitat, developersyou will need to provide details of the irreplaceable habitats in the the biodiversity gain plan for for the development.
This should include:include:
thetype, extent and condition of any irreplaceable habitat there is before
developmentdevelopment-
any expected changes in irreplaceable habitat type, extent and condition as a result of
developmentdevelopment aactions taken to minimise adverse impacts to irreplaceable habitat
-
compensation
planplan
Special arrangements apply for the treatment of irreplaceable habitat for phased development and permissions granted under section 73.73.
Find Thereout is more information in thethe biodiversity net gain planning practice guidance.
You can Givegive feedback on this guidance by completing a short survey.
Updates to this page
Last updated 4 September 2024 + show all updates
-
Updated to make it clearer how irreplaceable habitat is dealt with under biodiversity net gain, and to explain what information is needed at planning application stage. The policy around irreplaceable habitat and biodiversity net gain remains unchanged.
-
First published.
Update history
2024-09-04 16:39
Updated to make it clearer how irreplaceable habitat is dealt with under biodiversity net gain, and to explain what information is needed at planning application stage. The policy around irreplaceable habitat and biodiversity net gain remains unchanged.
2024-02-22 09:52
First published.