Developers must meet biodiversity net-gain requirements from this November, Defra confirms

The UK Government has confirmed developers must achieve 10% biodiversity net-gain at all large domestic, commercial and mixed-use sites from this November 2023, as reported in edie.

It has, however, delayed the implementation of this mandate for smaller sites.

Ensuring biodiversity net-gain at all developments was a key facet of the Environment Bill, which received Royal Assent in late 2021.

Recently the Department for Food, the Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed the mandate will come into effect for all large domestic, industrial, commercial and mixed-use sites from November 2023. It applies in England only.

The mandate will not come into effect for smaller sites until 2024.

Defra heard evidence that local authorities and very small developers, in particular, are not yet prepared for the mandate due to the fallout of the pandemic.

Regardless of site size, developers will need to deliver – and prove they have delivered – a minimum uplift of 10% in the amount of biodiversity at the site, relative to its biodiversity before their intervention.

Read this story in full here.

Find out more about bio-diversity net gain in the CIP Environmental Manual.