
What is Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) for?
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is reshaping the way we think about development. It’s a principle that ensures any new project—whether a housing estate, a retail park, or a road expansion—leaves the natural environment in a better state than before. But at its core, biodiversity net gain isn’t just about hedgerows and wildflowers. It’s about reshaping our relationship with nature in a world where green space is shrinking and wildlife is struggling to keep up.
How BNG is Changing Development
For decades, the idea of progress has come at the expense of nature. Fields paved over, wetlands drained, forests carved into plots for homes and businesses. Biodiversity loss has often been the cost of growth. BNG, introduced in the UK through the Environment Act 2021, flips that equation. Developers must not only mitigate their impact but also enhance habitats by at least 10%—a mandatory improvement.
This isn’t just an abstract regulation. It’s a mechanism for real change. The extra 10% could mean new wildflower meadows in urban spaces, woodlands expanding at the edge of towns, or rivers restored from lifeless channels into thriving ecosystems. It forces planners to think beyond bricks and mortar and consider the long-term health of an area’s biodiversity.
BNG in Cities
The need for biodiversity net gain is most evident in cities. Urban environments are where people live, work, and play—but they’re also where wildlife struggles the most. Concrete and tarmac dominate, fragmenting habitats and making it harder for species to survive. Yet, biodiversity net gain is beginning to change that by embedding biodiversity into the design of our towns and cities.
In practice, this might look like green roofs absorbing rainwater and creating micro-habitats for insects, tree-lined streets cooling the air in summer, or pocket parks that offer sanctuary to both people and pollinators. These aren’t just aesthetic improvements; they’re essential buffers against climate change, biodiversity loss, and even public health challenges.
A Lifeline for Species at Risk
Biodiversity net gain isn’t just about nature—it’s about the species that rely on it. Take the hedgehog, once a common sight in British gardens, now in rapid decline. Or bees, whose pollination services underpin vast parts of our food system. By protecting and enhancing habitat, biodiversity net gain gives these species a fighting chance. It transforms small actions—like maintaining a corridor of hedgerows—into large-scale environmental benefits.
For developers, this also means taking responsibility for the future. If a housing project removes a section of woodland, it must be replaced elsewhere, ideally creating a better, more biodiverse environment in the process. This approach encourages a new way of thinking: nature isn’t an obstacle to development—it’s part of it.
The Future of Biodiversity Net Gain
Ultimately, BNG is about reversing a trajectory. We’ve long seen biodiversity loss as an unfortunate side effect of human expansion. But what if development could heal rather than harm?
This idea isn’t without its critics. Some argue that BNG allows destruction in one place to be excused by enhancement elsewhere. Others worry about how long these biodiversity gains will be maintained. Yet, in a time of climate and ecological crisis, biodiversity net gain represents a rare win-win: a tool that acknowledges the need for growth while ensuring the natural world isn’t an afterthought.
In the coming years, as BNG becomes standard practice, its impact will be measured not just in hectares of restored habitat, but in the return of birdsong to urban centres, the resurgence of wildflowers along roadsides, and the resilience of landscapes to flooding and heatwaves. It’s a reminder that nature and development aren’t at odds—they can thrive together. The question now is, will we embrace it?
What’s Next? Let’s Work Together on Biodiversity Net Gain
If you’re a developer, landowner, or community planner looking to integrate Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) into your projects, we can help. At Locorum, we specialise in designing sustainable landscapes that not only meet regulatory requirements but also enhance nature in meaningful ways.
👉 Contact us today to learn how BNG can be incorporated into your next development.