GiGL will be playing an important role in Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), supporting the process with high quality data and expertise. As part of GiGL’s involvement, we have compiled a list of useful and important documents to help inform and exemplify BNG. These are described and linked below.
We have included documents for planners and boroughs, as well as key general information documents about how BNG will be implemented. There are also papers and reports detailing case studies and investigations into different facets of BNG, as well as documents specifically about the BNG Metric and habitats.
More information on GiGL’s habitat dataset can be found here. Survey data standards guidance is also available from GiGL here.
General Information
| Link | Description |
|---|---|
| BNG information collection (2023) | A collection of information and resources from the government on BNG |
| NE Guiding principles blog (2024) | Natural England (NE) blog on guiding principles for designing BNG, with expert insights. |
| Defra blog (2024) | The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)’s blog covering land use policies and framework |
| Biodiversity units as a land manager (2023) | DEFRA’s guidance for selling biodiversity units as a land manager |
| NE Challenges and Opportunities blog (2023) | NE blog on challenges and opportunities in implementing BNG |
| PAS BNG webpage | Planning Advisory Service (PAS) webpage with details on BNG, with links to additional resources |
| PAS BNG essentials presentation (2023) | PAS BNG essentials for local authorities slide pack and recording that can be used by local authority officers to provide an overview of BNG to colleagues, members and senior managers. |
| PAS FAQ webpage | Planning Advisory Service (PAS) frequently asked questions on BNG |
| PAS workshop for planners (2021) | Planning Advisory Service (PAS) workshop presentation for planners (slides) |
| PAS workshop for boroughs (2021) | Planning Advisory Service (PAS) workshop presentation for boroughs (slides) |
| UKGBC resource library | Explore a range of resources from the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), including in-depth guidance and technical studies. |
| UKGBC checklists | UKGBC checklists for anyone wanting to implement BNG |
| Environment Bank BNG project | BNG projects from leading provides of BNG units and credits |
| BNG for developers | Practical delivery 8-step guide from GroundControl |
| BNG consultation outcomes (2023) | Government response and summary of responses from the consultation on biodiversity net gain (BNG) regulations and implementation |
| IEMA principles for achieving BNG | Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA) webinar on the principles for achieving BNG outcomes from development |
| IEMA BNG Presentation (2016) | Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA) presentation on achieving BNG |
| CIEEM practical guide | The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) practical guide for achieving BNG PDF |
| CIEEM BNG templates | The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) BNG Report and Audit Templates |
| CIEEM good practice guide (2021) | The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) good practice requirements for delivering BNG gain (on and off site) PDF |
| BSI webinar (2021) | The British Standards Institution (BSI) webinar ‘Process for designing and implementing BNG’ |
| GMCA BNG in Greater Manchester | Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) webpage on delivering BNG in Greater Manchester |
| GLA BNG Design guide (2021) | Urban Greening for Biodiversity Net Gain: A Design Guide, produced by the Greater London Authority (GLA) PDF |
| Forest Trends resources | Webpage linking to BBOP tools and publications |
| BNG for landscape professionals FAQs (2022) | The Landscape Institutes frequently asked questions by landscape professionals regarding BNG (PDF) |
Legislation and Regulations
| Link | Description |
|---|---|
| Environment Act 2021 | The Environment Act 2021 |
| Site register regulations 2024 | Biodiversity net gain site register regulations |
| BNG Exemptions Regulations 2024 | Biodiversity gain site exemptions regulations |
| BNG Irreplaceable habitat regulations 2024 | Biodiversity gain requirements for irreplaceable habitats |
| BNG modification and amendment regulations 2024 | Biodiversity gain modification and amendment regulations |
Papers and reports
| Link | Description |
|---|---|
| Land use policies and framework blog (2023) | Government blog on incorporating Local Nature Recovery Strategies when planning for Biodiversity Net Gain |
| Martinez-Cillero et. al. 2023 | Functional connectivity modelling and biodiversity Net Gain in England: Recommendations for practitioners |
| Rampling et. al. 2023 | Achieving biodiversity net gain by addressing governance gaps underpinning ecological compensation policies |
| BNG market mechanisms (2021) | The Nature Conservancy report ‘Biodiversity Net Gain in England: Developing Effective Market Mechanisms’ |
| BNG and People’s Wellbeing (2021) | The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) report ‘Biodiversity Net Gain and People’s Wellbeing’ |
| The state of BNG offsetting policy in England LPAs (2021) | Dr Megan Roberts report ‘The State of No Net Loss/Net Gain and Biodiversity Offsetting Policy in English Local Planning Authorities’ |
| Skill and capacity assessment of local government to deliver BNG (2022) | Department for Environmental Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) report ‘Assessment of the skills and capacity of local government to deliver Biodiversity Net Gain and other Environment Bill responsibilities’ |
| LERCs and BNG (2019) | Association of Local Environmental Records Centers (ALERC) report ‘Local Environmental Records Centers and Biodiversity Net Gain’ |
| BNG Good practice case studies (2016) | The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) report ‘Biodiversity New Gain: Good Practice Principles for Development Case Studies’ |
| The ecological outcomes of BNG (2021) | Sophus et al. ‘Exploring the ecological outcomes of mandatory biodiversity net gain using evidence from early-adopter jurisdictions in England’ (published in Society for Conservation Biology) |
| Developing policy and practice for marine BNG (2021) | Tara Hooper et al. ‘Developing policy and practice for marine net gain’ (published in Journal of Environmental Management) |
BNG Metric
| Link | Description |
|---|---|
| Natural England BNG Metric 4.0 (2023) | Natural England’s Biodiversity Metric 4.0 webpage. This includes information, a user guide, a calculator and other useful and essential documents to download. |
| BNG Metric 4.0 update (2023) | Natural England’s blog post on Biodiversity Metric 4.0 detailing updates from previous versions. |
| BNG metric tools and guides (2023) | Government tools and guides for measuring the biodiversity value of habitats for BNG |
| BNG metric consultation (2023) | Results from DEFRA’s technical consultation on the biodiversity metric |
| Ecosystem Knowledge Network offset calculator | Ecosystem Knowledge Network’s calculator for offsets or net gain |
| Future Homes Hub UK (2023) | Future Homes Hub -The Biodiversity Unit Finder to help developers connect with landowners, land managers and others developing and selling biodiversity units under BNG. |
| PAS Watercourse metric guidance (2023) | A detailed look at the watercourse element of the wider Biodiversity Metric explaining how planning applications which include, or have an impact on, a watercourse should be reviewed by local authorities. |
| Natural England (Beta) tool (2021) | Natural England’s ‘Environmental Benefits from Nature Tool – Beta test version’, designed to work alongside Biodiversity metric 3.0. |
| Natural England Small Sites Metric (2021) | Natural England’s Small Sites Metric, a simplified version of Biodiversity Metric 3.1 designed for us on small development sites. |
| Natural England metric blog post (2021) | Natural England’s Launch event blog post on Biodiversity Metric 3.0. |
| Natural England Launch event (2021) | A recording of Natural England’s BNG launch event (youtube). |
| Natural England Biodiversity Metric 3.1 (2021) | Natural England’s Biodiversity Metric 3.1 webpage. This includes information, a user guide, a calculator and other useful and essential documents to download. |
Habitat classifications
| Link | Description |
|---|---|
| DEFRA UK BAP Habitat description: Hedgerows (2016) | A definition of hedgerows as a UK BAP habitat, published by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). |
| Hedgerow survey handbook (2011) | Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) hedgerow survey handbook that sets out a standard way of recording hedgerows. |
| DEFRA UK BAP Habitat description: Open Mosaic Habitats (2016) | A definition of open mosaic habitats on previously developed land as a UK BAP habitat, published by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). |
| Open mosaic habitat survey handbook (2013) | exeGesIS SDM open mosaic habitat survey handbook that sets out a standard way of recording this habitat type |
| UKHab Survey App | UKHab survey app for phones and tablets (eCountability). |
| UKHab Survey App | UKHab survey app for phones and tablets (Coreo). |