Purpose

The requirement to provide Biodiversity Net
Gain is a national requirement set out within the National Planning
Policy Framework and further established within the planning
consent received for the development (ref. 24/01911/FUL). The
consent includes the following condition:
4 CONDITION: The development may not be begun unless (a) a
biodiversity gain plan has been submitted to the planning authority
(see note), and (b) the planning authority has approved the plan
(see note).
REASON: In order to accord with Schedule 7A of the Town and Country
Planning Act 1990 (as inserted by Schedule 14 of the Environment
Act 2021) and amended by The Biodiversity Gain (Town and Country
Planning) Modifications and Amendments (England) Regulations
2024
The planning consultants have submitted an application to discharge
the condition, which this decision will support (ref.
25/01202/DISCON)
It was explored as to whether the necessary BNG could be provided
on site as part of the development however this was found not to be
possible. Therefore the only option for discharging this
requirement is to purchase BNG credits off site. A specialist
ecologist was procured and appointed as part of the planning
process who prepared the necessary calculations to inform the BNG
credits purchased.
The planning consultant appointed for the development provided
support in procuring quotations from suitable organisations to
satisfy this requirement.

Content

To enter into a contract with HAROLD’S
PARK WILDLAND LIMITED (company registration number 15566075) to
purchase 0.03 Biodiversity Net Gain Units for the Victoria Street
project which is being delivered as part of the wider Homes for
Dovercourt Capital Regeneration Projects scheme. The services have
a total cost of £840.00 plus VAT.

Alternative options considered

1 – Not to purchase the credits: The
Council has a statutory duty as the developer to provide BNG as
part of the development. As it has been established by the
appointed consultant team that it is not possible to accommodate
sufficient BNG on site, purchasing credits is the only available
option to discharge this duty.
2 – Purchase from an alternative company: a minimum of 3
quotations were sought from suitable organisations. The selected
organisation provided the best value as part of the Request for
Quotation process.
3 – Not to purchase credits: This option was not progressed
as it would be in contravention of the planning consent received
for the scheme.
4 – Not to progress the scheme: This would forfeit
substantial government funding and could risk securing funding in
the future.