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<p>The Government intends to implement mandatory biodiversity net gain for most new
major development under the Town and Country Planning Act (1990) from November this
year, for minor development from April 2024 and for Nationally Significant Infrastructure
Projects (NSIPs) from 2025.</p><p> </p><p>The temporary transition for small sites
until April 2024 is intended to lessen the short-term administrative burdens and to
allow local planning authorities and smaller developers a longer period to prepare
for biodiversity net gain.</p><p> </p><p>The relative regulatory burden of BNG for
small developers can be higher, so this transition is important to ensure time for
small developers to familiarise themselves with the new requirement, associated guidance,
and the small sites metric. We are developing tools that will help small, medium,
and large developers alike. We are also providing training and guidance that will
support developers in the necessary assessments and processes.</p><p> </p><p>In addition,
we are aware a number of digital tools are being developed in the private sector to
support small and medium sized developers.</p><p> </p><p>Given that this is a temporary
transition until April 2024, and that small development only makes up a small proportion
of overall land use change from non-developed to urban land cover[1], we expect this
transition period will a limited impact on biodiversity.</p><p> </p><p>We also know
that some developers are already voluntarily delivering biodiversity net gain ahead
of it becoming mandatory. The transition period for small sites does not prohibit
developers from delivering voluntary BNG ahead of April 2024.</p><p> </p><p>Defra
intends to lay the small sites metric alongside the statutory metric ahead of implementation
in November.</p><p> </p><p>[1] <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/839610/net-gain-ia.pdf"
target="_blank">Net gain impact assessment (publishing.service.gov.uk)</a> Section
2.2.2</p><p> </p>
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