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Working together for Nature Recovery in Greater Manchester  

On-site at the Green Earth Allwood Farm Biodiversity Habitat Bank, from left, Northstone Development Director Jon England; Mayor Andy Burnham; Natural England Chief Executive Marian Spain; Natural England Chair Tony Juniper; and Green Earth Developments Co-chair Simon Towers

The launch of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) has been a major achievement this year – this world-leading initiative means that for the first time, development must leave nature measurably improved. I was lucky enough to visit Greater Manchester to speak …

COP 16 reflections: Making the connection between global and local

Tony Juniper looks out over a balcony at the green tree canopy and wildlife beyond through his binoculars

Blog by Tony Juniper CBE, Chair of Natural England The extreme urgency of the climate and Nature emergency was brought home to us last week by the devastating flooding that struck Valencia, which provided a stark backdrop to the discussions …

Biodiversity Net Gain: delivering benefits for health

A pond that has been installed at the Yorkshire Ambulance Service site in York. (Image courtesy of Alexis Percival)

This Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) guest blog explores the essential role of nature in promoting overall health. Experts highlight its benefits for mental and physical well-being. They also discuss the broader benefits of integrating BNG into project planning from the …

Industry experts share experiences of Biodiversity Net Gain on small sites

A scrubland site where the new garages will be built, which will also provide the necessary on-site BNG. (Credit: KADS Design Services Ltd) 

In this Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) guest blog industry experts sharing examples of BNG on small sites. They are:  Our guests discuss how they use the Small Sites Metric (SSM) calculation tool. It applies only to ‘small sites’ as defined …

Reflecting on the first six months of BNG

A development at Woodhurst Park, Bracknell, Berkshire, that has incorporated BNG on-site. (Image courtesy of Berkeley Group)

By Chris Kaighin – Deputy Director, Biodiversity Net Gain Services It has been six months since the world-leading initiative Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) became mandatory for most planning applications under the Town and Country Planning Act. BNG makes sure development …

BNG lessons learned with Local Planning Authorities

Image shows a few newly built houses at a development site in Thakeham. A pond is at the forefront of the image with green grassy land around it and lots of vegetation, allowing for nature to thrive. A beautiful clear blue sky hangs overhead.

By Ruth Andreyeva, Director of Land, Water and Seas strategy Biodiversity net gain (BNG) became mandatory in England earlier in 2024, after many years of collaboration across industry and the public sector. We celebrate this milestone wholeheartedly, but we’re not …

Land managers discuss opportunities created with biodiversity net gain

A stream with grass and trees on the Alscot estate

How are land managers embracing biodiversity net gain (BNG) while working towards their green strategies? In this guest blog, Digby Sowerby, Operations Officer at Environmental Farmers Group (EFG), Chris Avent, Green Estate Manager at Plymouth City Council, and Emma Holman-West, …

Developers share experiences of successfully delivering biodiversity net gain

View of pond at Bolton Housing Scheme

How are homebuilders delivering biodiversity net gain while also delivering the homes people need? In this blog, Helen Nyul, Group Head of Biodiversity at Barratt Developments, Neil Beamsley, Group Head of Biodiversity at Bellway Homes and Louise Clarke, Group Head …

Measuring biodiversity net gain - Publication of Biodiversity Metric 4.0

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity
A river at sunset with plants in the foreground, trees lining the river banks and a metal bridge in the distance

By Mike Burke, Programme Director – Sustainable Development Hot on the heels of the recent policy updates and associated guidance from Defra last week, we're pleased to share the publication of the biodiversity metric 4.0, another important milestone for biodiversity net …