Biodiversity net gain specific pre-application advice

Biodiversity net gain was introduced to the planning process through the Environment Act 2021. This requires all eligible developments to deliver a minimum of 10% net gain over pre-development levels through either on-site and, or off-site locations.

Considerations at site selection and pre-development design can be critical to delivering successful on-site plans. Full consideration of local strategic significance for off-site provision will be needed for sites where full on-site delivery may not be met.

A bespoke biodiversity net gain pre-application advice service is available to provide advice and guidance across all stages of the process.

This is a new chargeable service.

Rates for advice are set out in the fees and charges schedule, depending on the scale of development.

Advice will be given by the city’s ecologists.

Pre-planning biodiversity net gain advice cannot guarantee that a planning application or subsequent biodiversity net gain plan will be approved. This is because the ecologists may not be aware of all issues at this stage. They will also not be able to consider any comments or responses that are made once an application has been made.

Page last updated: 8 February 2024