Companies and consultants from throughout the development and constructed setting sector have revealed an open letter asking the Authorities to retain Biodiversity Internet Acquire (BNG) necessities for small websites and undertake a extra proportionate strategy to reform.
Coordinated by the Inexperienced Building Board (GCB) and UK Inexperienced Constructing Council (UKGBC) the letter is supported by over 140 signatories from round 120 organisations, representing builders, contractors, consultants, ecologists, engineers, financiers, planners, teachers, land managers, membership {and professional} our bodies.
Signatories embody Professor Sir John Lawton CBE FRS, creator of Making House for Nature, and Sir Partha Dasgupta, creator of The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Evaluation, companies {and professional} our bodies from cross completely different sectors together with Affiliation for Consultancy and Engineering and Environmental Industries Fee, Aldersgate Group, Wates Group, Knepp Property and Triodos Financial institution.
The letter stresses the latest findings of the Environmental Audit Committee, exhibiting that nature is just not a blocker to housing progress. As an alternative, it highlights that well-designed nature coverage can as an alternative assist supply, enhance high quality of life, and improve long-term property asset worth.
It recommends extra sensible alternate options to the proposed blanket exemption for small websites, reminiscent of a 0.1-hectare area-based exemption threshold, fairly than the proposed 1-hectare threshold (bigger than the dimensions of a Twickenham Rugby Pitch), which might supply a extra balanced and workable resolution. This strategy would simplify necessities for over 50,000 of the smallest developments every year, whereas persevering with to assist nature restoration, long-term asset worth and the well being and wellbeing advantages that entry to inexperienced house offers for communities.
The signatories warn {that a} blanket exemption for small websites would danger undermining nature restoration at scale, penalising companies which have already invested in delivering BNG, and weaken confidence within the rising nature markets which are starting to unlock non-public funding in habitat restoration and restoration.
Dr Martina Girvan, Chair of the Inexperienced Building Board’s Biodiversity and Environmental Internet Acquire Group, stated:
“This letter demonstrates the power of enterprise and professional assist for Biodiversity Internet Acquire and for nature-positive growth. Small websites are sometimes the place the lack of inexperienced house is felt most acutely, notably in city areas. Even modest areas of inexperienced infrastructure can ship vital social and environmental advantages, from cooling and flood mitigation to improved well being and wellbeing. Eradicating BNG from these websites dangers embedding poorer outcomes for communities and missed alternatives to reinforce the standard of locations the place individuals; risking a unfavorable long-term legacy that neither residents or companies need.”
David Pinder, Chair of the Inexperienced Building Board, added: “The trade is obvious that Biodiversity Internet Acquire and nature protections will not be anti-growth. Proportionate and sensible options exist. A 0.1-hectare exemption would cut back complexity for the smallest schemes with out undermining nature restoration, investor confidence or the companies which have dedicated to doing the suitable factor. A blanket exemption can be a backwards step for nature, markets and long-term worth.”
The letter reiterates that BNG is a central pillar of the Inexperienced Building Board’s Biodiversity Roadmap for the sector, revealed by the Building Management Council, and a key mechanism for delivering the UK’s legally binding environmental targets beneath the Surroundings Act, in addition to wider worldwide commitments on nature and biodiversity. The signatories warning that weakening BNG by means of wide-ranging exemptions would contradict these commitments and undermine the UK’s management in mobilising non-public finance for nature restoration.
With companies, traders and native authorities already getting ready to ship BNG at scale, the coalition is looking for coverage certainty and proportionate refinement, fairly than wholesale rollback. They urge Authorities to work with trade to streamline supply on small websites, whereas sustaining the integrity of a coverage that helps progress, resilience and high-quality, nature-positive locations.
Learn the letter right here.
