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Environmental net gain
Workshop
December 2019 www.local.gov.uk/pas
Purpose of the day
• The NPPF makes explicit reference to "biodiversity net
gain" but what does this mean in practise ? How should
planners prepare policies or take decisions that
incorporate these principles ?
• We will bring together local government planners with
supporters of sustainable development, including
DEFRA, Natural England, CIEEM, leading Councils,
Developers and Consultants
• This workshop is for planners who need to understand
and implement the biodiversity agenda.
Biodiversity Net Gain WorkshopLGA – CIEEM – PAS
London 14th December 2018
• About CIEEM
• Raising standards
• Why Biodiversity Net Gain
About CIEEM
‘Typical’ professional body
Royal Charter in 2013
Approx. 6000 members
Professional development
Professional standards
Guidance
Policy and practice
Biodiversity Net Gain | 14.12.18
Working together
Biodiversity Net Gain|14.12.2018
How can we help?
Biodiversity Net Gain| 14.12.2018
Training
Guidance
Webinars
Advice notes
Ecological reports / BS42020
NPPF
Biodiversity in Local Plans
Protected Species and
Planning
The Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan…
• Aims to deliver clearer air and water in our cities and rural landscapes, &
• Protect threatened species and provide richer wildlife habitats.
• It calls for an approach to agriculture, forestry, land use and fishing that puts the environment first.
• Sets out the government’s ambitions for environmental net gain 7
More land in the right places
Improving delivery Ensuring quality
Environmental protections & benefits
Environmental protection & net gains
Net gains –through plans &
biodiversity…
And where Green Belt is
released
Increased protection for
ancient woodland & heritage coast
Consider risks from overheating
Stronger policy on air
quality
Agent of change principle
strengthened
Where in the NPPF?
Paragraphs 8 & 32 in relation to the environmental objective of sustainable development.
170. Planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by:d) minimising impacts on and providing net gains for biodiversity, including by establishing coherent ecological networks that are more resilient to current and future pressures;
174. To protect and enhance biodiversity and geodiversity, plans should:b) promote the conservation, restoration and enhancement of priority habitats, ecological networks and the protection and recovery of priority species; and identify and pursue opportunities for securing measurable net gains for biodiversity.
Net gain consultation proposals 2018
• Habitats measured and left in a better state after development
• Design aims to avoid impacts
• Off-site habitat improvement where on-site is not possible
• Tariff option where local compensation not currently available
12
Scope
• Permitted development and national infrastructure out of scope
• Should biodiversity net gain be mandated for all other development?
• Should there be any exemptions? And why?
• Should we seek other environmental net gains?
13
Measuring biodiversity
• Should we mandate use of a standard metric?
• Is a 10% gain in ‘biodiversity units’ the right level?
• Should there be a preference for on-site and local habitat improvement?
• How can we make assessments robust but not burdensome?
14
Delivering biodiversity outcomes
• Should habitat opportunity maps be produced nationally or locally?
• How can we support a habitat improvement market?
• How long should habitats be managed or protected for?
15
Tariff
• Should a tariff cover all related costs?
• Should a tariff provide an incentive to deliver net gain on-site or locally first?
• Should a tariff be collected locally or nationally?
• Should a tariff be spent locally or nationally or both?
16
Delivery, Monitoring and Enforcement
• How can we limit burdens on local authorities and developers?
• Should we look at any other evidence about viability and other impacts?
• How should we monitor delivery?
• Should local authorities report information about habitat losses and gains?
17
Next steps
• We want to hear your views today and through the consultation (this is not a finalised policy)
• What should government be aware of to ensure we can deliver new homes and improvements to the environment?
• Please get in touch with any questions on how to respond to the consultation:
18
www.gov.uk/natural-england
Net Gain: The Evolution of
Biodiversity Net Gain in Practice
Dr Nick White
Senior Advisor – Net Gain and Green Infrastructure
What is Net Gain?
Why Biodiversity Net Gain?
Background to Biodiversity Net Gain
Biodiversity Net Gain Today + Key Drivers
Net Gain Business Case
Defra Metric 2.0
Net gain is an approach to
development, and/or land
management, that aims to leave the
natural environment in a measurably
better state than beforehand.
Types of Net Gain
Biodiversity Net Gain
Natural Capital Net
Gain
Environmental Net
Gains
Habitat Loss
Bad for Nature & Bad for People
Net Gain Where?
On-Site/Local Strategic
Net DBiodiversity Loss/GainA
Lego ExampleNet Loss
No NetLoss
Net Gain
Net Biodiversity Net Gain -
Development & Land Management
Lego ExampleDevelopment
Land/Estate Management
Defra Biodiversity Metric
Does Not Replace….Mitigation Hierarchy
Millwood – Lavender
Fields, Isfield, E Sussex
Redrow – Moulton, Nr
Northampton
Barratt Developments –
Kingsbrook, Aylesbury
Taylor Wimpey –
Chudleigh, Devon
Net Gain and Housing Examples
Net Gain and Infrastructure
Net Gain Best Practice Principles
• Principle 1. Apply the Mitigation Hierarchy
• Principle 2. Avoid losing biodiversity that cannot be offset by
gains elsewhere
• Principle 3. Be inclusive and equitable
• Principle 4. Address risks
• Principle 5. Make a measurable Net Gain contribution
• Principle 6. Achieve the best outcomes for biodiversity
• Principle 7. Be additional
• Principle 8. Create a Net Gain legacy
• Principle 9. Optimise sustainability
• Principle 10. Be transparent
Defra Biodiversity Metric In Use
?
Industry + Professional Drivers
Net Gain and NPPF (2018) 118 - Planning policies and decisions should:
a) encourage multiple benefits from both urban and rural land, including
through mixed use schemes and taking opportunities to achieve net
environmental gains – such as developments that would enable new
habitat creation or improve public access to the countryside…
170 - Planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the
natural and local environment by:…..
d) minimising impacts on and providing net gains for biodiversity, including by establishing coherent ecological networks that are more resilient to current and future pressures
171 - Plans should:…. take a strategic approach to maintaining and enhancing networks of habitats and green infrastructure; and plan for the enhancement of natural capital at a catchment or landscape scale across local authority boundaries.
174 - To protect and enhance biodiversity and geodiversity, plans should:
b) promote the conservation, restoration and enhancement of priority habitats, ecological networks and the protection and recovery of priority species; and identify and pursue opportunities for securing measurablenet gains for biodiversity.
The Net Gain Business Case
• De-Risking Planning
• Place-Making
• Resilience
• Reputation
• Cost Control + Potential
Income
Defra Metric 2.0
Summary published with Defra consultation
Full Updated Defra Metric 2.0 – Published Spring ’19
- Updated to include:
- Green Infrastructure (SUDs, Green Roofs + Walls,
Gardens and Street Trees)
- Rivers
- Inter-tidal habitats
- Includes a new connectivity multiplier
-Will be FREELY available + come with detailed
guidance and a free user TOOL
Thanks
Would mandating biodiversity net gain make it easier or harder to grant planning permission?
Would net gain overall help overcome hurdles to delivery or slow it down?
What role would local authorities want in measuring and delivering habitat improvements?
41
Levering net-gain using existing initiatives
a Green Infrastructure led approach
Ancient Countryside
A.S.N.W
BAP grasslands
>35% connectivity Traditional Orchard
Source: UK Biodiversity Indicators 2018, DEFRA (available at www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/ukbi)
https://metro.co.uk/2016/03/11/watch-just-how-useful-is-a-chocolate-teapot-5746932/
“England’s collection of wildlife areas (both legally protected areas and others) does not currently represent a coherent and resilient ecological network capable of responding to the challenges of climate change and other pressures”
www.swdevelopmentplan.org
www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/localplanreview
www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/localplanreview
www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/localplanreview
www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/localplanreview
www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/localplanreview
www.stoford.com/2016/05/plans-lodged-for-first-units-at-worcester-six/www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/business_daily/10952451.worcester-technology-park-plans-move-forward
• 40% GI apportionment (16.57 hectares)
• + 38m new watercourse
• 100% retention: woodland, wet grassland, rough grassland and species rich hedgerows
• 527m species poor hedgerow needed to be removed, to be replaced with new (species rich) hedgerow planting
• + 3000m of new hedgerow planting
• + 250 new standard trees
• + 3 hectares of new woodland and shrub planting
• + 1.4 hectare marshy grassland created alongside stream and flood alleviation pond
• 5000m2 of wildflower seeding and native bulb planting
www.solar-eye.com/products/bat-hat/
www.lighting.philips.com/main/products/urban-lighting-inspiration/lighting-for-both-nature-and-people
River Rea, Austin Rover Longbridge. The River Rea is, at last, exposed as it passes through the old Austin Rover Works. Copyright Roy Hughes and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.
The River Rea now exposed as it is about to pass under the Bristol Road South A38. Copyright Roy Hughes and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.
Final thoughts1. Early engagement: fundamental to success
2. Benefits for biodiversity: needed at every scale
3. Our landscapes need to be permeable: wildlife for all
‘Biodiversity Net Gain’ encompasses more than biodiversity benefits alone
4. Policies come with resource implications
Effective interventions require evaluation, negotiation, management and
monitoring
Biodiversity Net Gain Workshop 14 Dec 2018
Delivering Biodiversity Net Gain through the Planning process
Karen Colebourn FCIEEM
Ecological Planning & Research Ltd
December 2018
Recognise need to enforce onsite measures to avoid
• No effective enforcement of on-site measures
• Why not Environmental equivalent of Building Regulations?
Recognise significant cumulative adverse impacts of Local Plan policies
• Fragmentation of networks;
• Lighting of dark corridors;
• ‘Urban effects’, including disturbance, trampling and eutrophication of important sites and priority habitats;
• Loss of habitat for farmland species
• Air pollution;
• Increased predation by pets.
Identify suitable measures to avoid, mitigate and compensate for cumulative adverse effects as well as restoration and enhancement
• Consult Stakeholder Panel
• Find opportunities in the public and voluntary sector first
• Private sector unwilling to commit for long periods eg Waverley, Surrey
• Direct funds at bodies that need support to continue with existing good work
Costing
• Measures themselves
• Monitoring
• Review
• Servicing of process
Collecting funds
• Members unwilling to burden developers – - compulsory net gain would be good
• Legality of pooling S106?
• Utility of CIL
• Need clarity and examples of good practice
Funding stream
• Funds dependent on housing delivery
• Funding projects difficult when income stream is unpredictable
• Few LPAs in a position to provide upfront payments to ensure mitigation in place prior to adverse effects
Finding the right people to implement measures
• Where possible, use local expert bodies
• a) care about outcome
• b) most likely to maximise biodiversity benefit
• c) have reputation to lose
Identifying suitable indicators for measuring mitigation, compensation, restoration and net gain
• Can extent of suitable habitat be used as a proxy for status of a population?
• Can delivery be linked to milestones within the Local Plan –
• eg ‘x’ amount of housing should trigger ‘y’ amount of mitigation, compensation and net gain?
Monitoring
• Appropriate costs included in the funding
• Use local experts with longevity – eg Local Records Centre
Review and report
• Stakeholder panel review effectiveness of measures in light of outcome of monitoring
• Report – transparency essential
• Agree new measures
Panel Q&A
• Using existing initiatives to lever biodiversity net gain –
Cody Levine, Worcestershire
• Evidence for measurable net gains from local plan
policies – Karen Coleburn, EPR
Good Practice for Biodiversity Net GainJulia Baker, Biodiversity Technical Specialist
91
Defra’s biodiversity
metric
Pilot on biodiversity offsetting
2014 Offset pilot
evaluation report
Major players talking
about BNG
UK’s first Good
Practice Principles on
BNG
25 Year Environment
Plan
Consultation on
mandatory BNG
2012 2014 2014 /15
2016 2018
Leave biodiversity in a better state than before
An approach whereby developers work with stakeholders to support their priorities for biodiversity conservation
Avoid
Minimise
Compensate
Make a contribution
100
• Engaging stakeholders in defining Biodiversity Net Gain
101
Their offset ideas…
In Local Plans?
Small-scale developments with limited impacts?
Habitat banks
Measuring biodiversity
Transparency on limitationsNumbers used appropriately
Tell the story of each habitat
Design & demonstrate Biodiversity Net Gain
Check if achieving Biodiversity Net Gain but losing green space
108
When claim Biodiversity Net Gain?
Design: predictionConstruction:
actual & prediction
Bio Net Gain implementation:
actual & prediction
Maintenance: actual, prediction,
final
How much more biodiversity is Net Gain?
Proportionate
Depends on accuracy of the metric
Careful if setting targets
How much more?
Avoid penalising projects that make important contributions:
A project increases an extremely rare habitat by 5% to make a substantial contribution towards local biodiversity plans
Another project increases a commonly occurring habitat by 20% that only makes a limited contribution
Biodiversity Net Gain
Air QualityRecreational
Benefits
Water Regulation
Climate Regulation
£1.4m Recreational
benefits
£0.001m
Climate regulation
£0.005m
Air quality
Evidence of applying the mitigation hierarchy
Making a contribution
Using numbers, appropriately
Being transparent: how much more is Net Gain?
Optimising sustainability
District Licensing for great crested newts
in the South MidlandsAlastair Chapman Forest of Dean DC
Tom Tew NatureSpace Partnership
The LPA perspective
Why did we sign up for the District Licence?
Existing survey and licensing system creates significant delays in the determination of planning applications and
not joined up from a customer perspective,
Costs and delays are often not proportionate to the risks to GCN which brings unwelcome publicity,
The long term outcome for newts is not based on strategic approach sometimes with uncertain long term
benefits.
The benefits of the District Licence:
The District Licence could deliver better conservation of newts and other biodiversity benefits
The District Licence can reduce delays in determining applications, enabling development
Provides opportunity for some resource / upskilling for the LPA
‘One-stop shop’ – Authorisation under GCN DL issued at the same time as planning permission, avoiding
confusion and uncertainty
Gloucestershir
e County
Council
Cheltenham
Borough
Council
Gloucester
City Council
Forest of
Dean District
Council
Stroud
District
council
Cotswolds
District
Council
Tewkesbury
Borough
Council
West
Oxfordshire
District
Council
Introduction
District licensing is a new and additional licensing option
EPS – licence provides protection from offences - the legal protection for newts has not changed
Developers pay into the DL scheme to compensate for their development impacts
Monies paid by developers pays for habitat creation off site
How the NatureSpace
model works The district licence is held by the council
Council authorise activities affecting newts through planning functions
Developers pay into scheme
Habitat creation delivered off site
Specific development impacts compensated
Based on the ‘impact risk zone’ map
The process
Second-stage fee paid to NatureSpace, developer gets a
NatureSpace Certificate
NatureSpace Certificate
Confirms the proposal can be authorised under the DL and
there is no further fee
NatureSpace Report
Details assessment outcome, second-stage fee and any required
planning conditions. If PP is granted...
Development authorised under the District Licence
If planning permission is granted development can be
authorised under the Council’s District Licence
Developer submits application and makes first stage payment to NatureSpace
Impact Assessment
GIS and metric-based assessment
Implements the mitigation hierarchy, protecting important habitats and populations
Variable 2nd stage costs according to specific net impacts
Determines mitigation requirements in red zone sites
High impact schemes will trigger 6 month pre-payment condition
Habitat compensation delivery
High quality habitat creation and restoration
Both aquatic and terrestrial conservation
Long-term and guaranteed through 25 year contracts with Natural England
No delivery responsibility for developers
Landscape-scale, population connectivity focus
Net gain - Landscape-scale focus
Maintaining and extending current range
Increasing numbers of high quality and occupied ponds
Increasing extent of suitable habitat
Improving landscape connectivity
Net gain - 4:1 ratio for gain:loss of occupied ponds
Wider biodiversity benefits – not only newts!
Compensating for impacts across NCAs and LPAs
Strategic spatial conservation through habitat creation
Target areas account for:
NCAs
Planning boundaries
Land allocation
Red zone clusters
Positive eDNA clusters
Existing conservation priorities
Conservation targets
Long-term Management
25-year legal agreement with NE which requires the management of all created habitats under the scheme
Management is delivered through long-term rolling contracts with landowners & managers
A proportion of development monies set aside into an endowment fund
Site-specific management plans written by SMNCP
Remedial action requirements if not met
Long-term Monitoring
Site-based and landscape-scale surveys monitoring effectiveness in delivering an overall net gain in conservation status of GCN
Comparing development losses to habitat gains from habitat creation;
Identifying background trends in GCN conservation status across the region;
Identifying how our habitat creation is contributing to FRV targets and towards FCS across the region.
Data will contribute to the national assessment of GCN status
Monitoring data will also be collected to allow re-evaluation of models
For three-yearly updating of the Impact Risk and Conservation Priority Maps
District licensing Conventional licensing
SurveysSurvey & modelling completed – process licensed by
NE
Surveys required on and around development site-pre-
planning
Impact
assessment
Site and population level/wider landscape
considerations – e.g. impacts to range, connectivity
etc.
Site-based assessment
Compensatory
habitat
More habitat created, strategically delivered for
greatest gains and increased habitat connectivity
Usually piecemeal & fragmented, often isolated with
considerable post-development pressure on retained
habitats.
Management &
monitoring
Long-term (min 25 years) secured through legal
agreement, data shared and used to further
conservation research and action
Often short-term, poor implementation common. Poor
enforcement and tracking of data by NE
Long-term
obligations
Not-for profit responsible, overseen by the leading
NGOs in amphibian and freshwater conservation
Individual developers responsible.
Compensation
sites
Scheme coverage 2018/19
District Licence benefits
For LPAs For Developers For newts
Control over licensing One-stop shopHuge increase in funding for
a conservation strategy
Extra resources to implement No newt surveys required 4:1 pond gain:loss ratio
Transparent and auditable
demonstration of sustainable
development
Certainty at application stage
Pond & terrestrial habitat
creation scheme – at a
landscape scale
Long-term local delivery
partners
More flexible mitigation,
greater net developable area
Long-term programme of
habitat management and
monitoring
Supported by the NGOs No long-term responsibilities Endowment fund for legacy
Panel Q&A
• Good practice principles for biodiversity net gain – Dr
Julia Baker, Balfour Beatty
• Delivering species net gain at a landscape scale –
Alastair Chapman, Forest of Dean and Dr Tom Tew,
Naturespace
NATURE FORPEOPLE
Navigating our way to achieving gains for nature
Nicola JohansenGroup Sustainability Manager
Commitment to achieving verified increases in biodiversity across our
developments (by 2022)
Our Business Strategy
Three initial retrospective pilots• Current land purchasing and design approach is beneficial to us
• Good focus on quality green space for people, needs enhancing to encompass quality for nature
• Loss of distinctive habitats make net gain difficult! Training required and better use of ECOPS will be valuable
• Early involvement of ecologist & landscape designer; new specs
Further pilots underway• With Greater Manchester Project
• Across divisions with local ecology consultants
BNG Pilot Projects
A new Redrow Biodiversity Strategy
Year-long partnership with The Wildlife Trusts
• Developing the new strategy
• Technical input
• Robust approach and scrutiny
• Endorsement
Three Key Themes
Gains for Nature
• Biodiversity net gain
• Beautiful, biodiverse and natural
• Locally appropriate & connected
People at the heart of place
• Good for nature, good for people
• Inspiring & loved
A Flourishing Legacy
• Managed for wildlife & people
• Providing positive outcomes
Key issues
While BNG isn’t mandatory• Potential disadvantage in land bids?
Preparing our teams• Biodiversity and net gain knowledge
• Consultants
Offsetting• More clarity on arrangements
More pilots• Don’t yet have clear picture of impact across majority of projects
Key benefits
Better outcomes for nature & people
Potential to simplify planning process?
New Defra metric allows more holistic approach
Help alleviate community concerns over development?
Government tool = reassurance
Potential to further increase health & wellbeing benefits & social value
Potential to expand to include natural capital and gains for people
Helps us achieve our business aim of creating thriving communities and a better way for our customers to live
Making Manchester Wild – Biodiversity Net Gain for a City Region
Friday 14 December
Tom Butterworth – Technical Director, Biodiversity WSP
Greater Manchester is committed to becoming a Green City Region
A Road Map to Net Gain
Bringing together a task group
Developing a road map
Understanding how the good practise principles apply within GM
Agreeing the approach
A shared understanding of the implications
Contributing to other strategies
— GM 5 Year Environment Plan
— GM Spatial Framework
— Natural Capital Investment Plan
— Climate Change action plan
— Trees and Woodland Strategy
Piloting the approach
Defra metric 2012 and 2018
Eco metric
Ecosystem Service Opportunity Mapping
Lessons learned
City scale is the right scale
Collaboration works
A road map helps us all know where we are going
Clear consistent policy from the Combined Authority is vital
BNG will bring in funding but it needs kick starting
There is a resource demand to review assessments and oversee delviery
Managing compensation across LPA boundaries is one of the most difficult things to sort out
Panel Q&A
• Navigating our way to achieving gains for nature – Nicola
Johansen, Redrow
• Going wild in Greater Manchester – Tom Butterworth
Purpose of the day – success ?
• The NPPF makes explicit reference to "biodiversity net
gain" but what does this mean in practise ? How should
planners prepare policies or take decisions that
incorporate these principles ?
• We will bring together local government planners with
supporters of sustainable development, including
DEFRA, Natural England, CIEEM, leading Councils,
Developers and Consultants
• This workshop is for planners who need to understand
and implement the biodiversity agenda.