The requirement for developers to deliver a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain on most new developments is set to become mandatory in January 2024, with the government describing the policy as a way of making sure that wildlife habitats are in a better state than they were before development.
The issue of how hundreds of thousands of new homes can be built without further undermining crucial natural ecosystems has already become a political hot potato, as seen in recent nutrient neutrality rows, and the pressure is high on biodiversity net gain policy to work.
However, it has already faced obstacles. Recent delays to the BNG implementation date proved a heart in the mouth moment for many impacted by the mechanism, and concerns remain across the environmental sector over what some see as a flimsy enforcement mechanism which they say poses a significant risk of greenwashing and ‘phantom habitats’. There are fears, too, that local planning authorities lack the capacity to manage the anticipated increase in workload.
With just weeks to the duty becoming law, this ENDS Report webinar will delve into the questions that remain just weeks out from the expected implementation date, what environmental professionals need to be prepared for, and what impact BNG will have on natural capital markets. We will hear from a range of informed speakers, including Lucy Cheeseman, DEFRA deputy head of land use and head of net gain, Nick White, Natural England’s principal advisor for biodiversity net gain, and Jessica Lewis, group head of sustainable places at the Berkeley Group.
When? Wednesday 13th December, 3 - 4pm
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We will discuss…
The latest BNG guidance issued from government
How ‘going beyond’ 10% BNG works in practice
Issues to be ready for in the first 6 months of BNG becoming law
The extent of engagement from private natural capital markets
SPEAKERS
Confirmed
Tess Colley, ENDS Report features editor (host)
Lucy Cheeseman, deputy head of land use and head of biodiversity net gain, DEFRA
Nick White, principal advisor for biodiversity net gain, Natural England
Jessica Lewis, group head of sustainable places, Berkeley Group