Consultation outcome

Biodiversity net gain: updating planning requirements

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 2 December 2018
• Last updated: 15 October 2019 — See all updates

This consultation has concluded

Download the full outcome

Net gain: summary of responses and government response

PDF, 3.3MB, 96 pages

Biodiversity net gain and local nature recovery strategies: impact assessment

PDF, 652KB, 82 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Detail of outcome

23 July 2019: We have now published the summary of responses and government response. At Spring Statement this year, government announced it would mandate net gains for biodiversity in the Environment Bill. The government response sets out how we will work to bring this into force.

Read the updated policy statement on the progress of the Environment Bill.

Detail of feedback received

25 April 2019: We received 470 responses to this consultation. We are finalising our analysis and expect to publish a government response to the consultation alongside the Environment Bill later this year.

---

Original consultation

Summary

Seeking views on how we can improve the planning system in England to protect the environment (biodiversity net gain) and build places to live and work.

This consultation was held on another website.

This consultation ran from
2 December 2018 to 11:45pm on 10 February 2019

Consultation description

We want to know what you think about our proposals to make biodiversity net gain necessary for developments when granting planning permission. Biodiversity net gain is an approach which aims to leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than beforehand. In particular, we’re interested in hearing views on:

• standardising the approach so that it’s simpler and clearer for developers
• whether we should add this requirement
• how we could implement the net gain approach
• how we should measure and monitor the net gain approach

We’re also seeking evidence on how we could also include other environmental improvements.

This applies to England only.

Published 2 December 2018
Last updated 15 October 2019 + show all updates

1. 15 October 2019

   Added the impact assessment.

2. 23 July 2019

   Added the summary of responses and government response.

3. 25 April 2019

   Added a note on the number of responses received and when we will be publishing the government response.

4. 2 December 2018

   First published.