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Ratification of countywide Memorandum of Understanding –
Co-operation on Biodiversity Net Gain through the Gloucestershire
Nature and Climate Fund.
 

Reasons for the decision

The government has announced
that developers in England will be required to deliver 10%
biodiversity net gain (BNG) when building housing industrial or
commercial developments from November 2023.
 
In circumstances where
biodiversity improvements are not possible, developers will be able
to pay for improvements on other sites by purchasing
‘units’ via a private, off-site market.
 
Gloucestershire local
authorities have been working in association with the
Gloucestershire Local Nature partnership (GLNP) to establish a
local mechanism to provide options for developers locally, which
will reduce the risk of BNG payments being used for biodiversity
enhancement outside the county.
 
BNG was introduced by the
Environment Act 2021 and forms part of the government’s plans
to halt species decline by 2030. 

Alternative options considered

There are no direct policy
implications, but for the sake of transparency, a Cabinet decision
is sought to ratify the principle of supporting a local scheme for
biodiversity enhancement, which will not be the only option
available to developers unable to deliver BNG on their application
site.