Understanding Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is an approach to development, and/or land management, that aims to leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than it was beforehand.
Our Biodiversity Net Gain webpage can help you understand what this means and how it affects land managers, developers, and local planning authorities.
The guidance will continue to be updated.
Great crested newt district licensing scheme
Great crested newts are dependent upon ponds to breed although they actually spend most of their life on land in places such as woodland, hedgerows, rough grassland and scrub. They are generally found within 500m of ponds, although they can travel much further than this – up to 1.6km.
Great crested newts and their habitats are legally protected in the UK and planning authorities must consider the species as part of the planning process while developers must be careful not to break the law.
Where impacts may arise, developers should obtain a licence to make the activities lawful which is usually additional to the planning process.
Where the planning authority hold a District Licence the two can be brought together in a quicker and simpler process.
Natural England have produced a guidance document for all planning authorities using the NatureSpace District Licensing Scheme – the most recent version of this guidance document can be found in the resources section of the NatureSpace website. This guidance explains that local planning authorities can rely on the “Impact Risk Zone” maps to identify where great crested newts are likely to be. In the higher risk areas (red and amber zones), planning applicants must now set out how risks to great crested newts will be dealt with.
The “Impact Risk Zone” map is available on the NatureSpace Partnership website.
Unless it can be demonstrated that there is no risk of impacts on great crested newts or their habitats, you may need a licence to carry out development work where the species is present. You can get a licence by:
- Applying directly to Natural England
- Joining the District Licence Scheme authorised by Wealden District Council
- By working with a registered ecologist under the low impact class licence
Offsite land being used by the District Level Licencing Scheme can also be used to provide BNG units, known as ‘additionality’.
This may be used to provide BNG units up to no net loss, with 10% or more BNG units beyond this being required to be sought from BNG-only compensation.
Further information can be provided by the District Level Licence Administrator.