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:

• Fiona.Siequien@communities.gsi.gov.uk

• Lindsay.Roome@defra.gov.uk

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

Nick.white@naturalengland.org.uk

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

Questions?

Please contact:

karencolebourn@epr.uk.com

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.