Responding to the Budget announcement that residential developments on brownfield sites of up to 1.5 hectares will be exempt from Biodiversity Net Gain requirements, Simon Rix, planning expert at Planix and guest speaker at the Homebuilding & Renovating Show, said:
The proposed exemption for smaller brownfield housing developments could be a welcome change for small developers and self-builders, particularly where the cost of meeting Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements has made otherwise viable schemes more difficult to deliver.
“Exempting smaller brownfield housing developments from Biodiversity Net Gain requirements could remove a significant layer of cost, complexity and uncertainty from small-scale housebuilding.
“BNG has meant that developers may need to commission ecological assessments, calculate the biodiversity value of a site, explore how to achieve the required 10% net gain and, where this cannot be delivered on site, potentially purchase biodiversity units elsewhere. There can also be additional work involved in preparing the necessary documentation and securing approval before development can begin.
“For a small development, these costs can have a disproportionate impact on viability. Removing the requirement could save developers thousands of pounds in some cases, as well as weeks or months of work, although the actual saving will depend on the site and the ecological work that would otherwise have been necessary. It could be particularly helpful for smaller builders bringing forward infill housing, the redevelopment of previously developed land and schemes involving just a handful of homes.
“The important caveat is that an exemption from BNG is not an exemption from the planning system or environmental protection more generally. Developers will still need to consider protected species, trees, habitats and other relevant planning policies. Nor does removing BNG automatically make a site suitable for housing or guarantee planning permission.
“The Government needs to ensure that the exemption is clearly defined and straightforward to apply. The benefit will be greatest if it genuinely removes unnecessary cost and administration, rather than replacing one complicated process with another. Ultimately, if it helps more small brownfield sites to come forward for housing, that would be a positive step towards increasing housing supply.”
For more advice from Simon Rix, claim free tickets to attend the next Homebuilding & Renovating Show near you: https://www.homebuildingshow.co.uk/pr-general-outlets
