Purpose

This report seeks approval for the delegation of the decision to create and sell Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) units on Council owned land, working in conjunction with Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) who will offer the necessary ‘Responsible Body’ (RB) function to facilitate our BNG service.

Decision

RESOLVED

(i)                 Approval be given to the proposal to utilise the ‘Responsible Body’route offered by the GMCA for the purpose of creatingand selling Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) units on Councilowned land.

(ii)               Delegated authority be given to the Strategic Director of Housing,Environment & Estates,in consultation with theExecutive Member for Environmental Services andNeighbourhoods, to finalise the terms of the agreementwith the GMCA for the discharge of the Council’s dutyto develop and sell BNG units in the light of prevailingcircumstances.

(iii)            Approval be given to the selection and designation of the four sitesproposed sites outlined in Section 7 and Appendix 1 of this report for habitat bank creation,includingsupporting habitat assessments.

(iv)            Delegated authority be given to the Strategic Director of Housing,Environment & Estates,in consultation with theExecutive Member for Environmental Services andNeighbourhoods, to determine when it may be viable toproceed with creating BNG units on council owned land,following financial and legal appraisal. 

Alternative options considered

The Council could decide not to put forward any Council owned land as receptor sites. This would mean that suitable Council owned land will not benefit from additional investment into its management and biodiversity gains maybe delivered outside of the Borough. A lack of available locations capable of receiving off siteinvestment from developers via the process of procuring credits risks bothinvestment in the environment being lost to other GM districtsor elsewhere in the country, potentially erodinglocalenvironmental quality and biodiversity. Such an approach would also risk developments stalling within the borough as no credible or viable off-site solution exists for developers. Both of which are not considered to be within the best interests of the Council for accommodating growth and ensuring the sustainability of Council services.