England enacts legal Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirement in the Environment Act, targeting development projects to have a positive impact on biodiversity and habitats.

England has made biodiversity net gain (BNG) a legal requirement, becoming the first country to do so. The Environment Act aims to ensure development projects have a positive impact on biodiversity and natural habitats. Initially, the new laws apply to residential developments with 10 or more dwellings or a site area of half a hectare or more. From April 2024, it will apply to smaller housing sites, and BNG will be introduced for nationally significant infrastructure projects in late 2025. £10.6 million of funding has been committed to help local planning authorities and recruit ecologists to create new wildlife habitats alongside developments. Developers must now deliver at least a 10% improvement for nature in their projects.

February 12, 2024
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