Approved work: Security of UK technology infrastructure
This POSTnote will outline what UK technology infrastructure is, potential impacts of disruptions, risks, options for mitigating risks and relevant policy.
This POSTnote outlines the mandatory biodiversity net gain policy introduced in England in 2024 and the risks and challenges for delivering its objectives.
Biodiversity net gain (821 KB , PDF)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58248/PN728
Mandatory biodiversity net gain (BNG) is a new requirement in addition to existing biodiversity and wildlife planning policy. The 2019 impact assessment for the policy states that developers causing the most environmental damage should face the highest costs to steer development towards the least damaging areas and designs.
A baseline survey maps the size, state and presence of differing patches of vegetation types on a development site using the UK Habitat Classification system. The BNG metric, set out in secondary legislation, is used to determine the value of these habitats in “biodiversity units”; the pre-intervention score. Using the metric, biodiversity gain plans demonstrate how the developer will deliver a minimum of a 10% gain in these units; the post development score. These planned units can be on the development site, off the development site or delivered through the purchase of statutory credits as a last resort.
A 2024 NAO report found widespread support for mandatory BNG, but that implementation risks were also being raised. The majority of habitat creation and enhancement is projected to occur on development sites. Researchers suggest this may not deliver optimal outcomes for nature recovery objectives, and more holistic approaches are needed to restoring habitats strategically across landscapes are required. The NAO set out risks local authorities will not be able to discharge legal, compliance and enforcement obligations in relation to BNG, as a result of challenges such as insufficient access to ecological expertise.
POSTnotes are based on literature reviews and interviews with a range of stakeholders and are externally peer reviewed. POST would like to thank the interviewees and peer reviewers for kindly giving up their time during the preparation of this briefing, including:
Members of the POST Board*
Alex Bush, University of Lancaster*
Emma Gardner, CEH*
Adam Sheppard, University of Birmingham
Becky Pullinger, The Wildlife Trusts*
Rachel Hackett, The Wildlife Trusts*
Alistair McVittie, SRUC*
Katherine Simpson, University of Glasgow
Nick Hanley, University of Glasgow
Jennifer Dodd, University of Napier
Heather Rumble, UWE*
Philippa Hughes, UWE
Caroline Nash, UEL
Minerva Singh, Imperial College
Claire Wansbury, Atkins*
Julia Baker, Mott Macdonald
Sam Stafford, Home Builders Federation*
Rachel Danemann, Home Builders Federation
Richard Lankshear, Future Homes Hub
Ben Balmford, University of Exeter
Sophus zu Ermgassen, University of Oxford
Nick White, Natural England
Jez Martin, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and ALGE
David Sutherland, Buckinghamshire County Council and ADEPT
Defra*
*Denotes people and organisations who acted as external reviewers of the briefing
Corrections requested by Defra [11/09/2024]:
P8 Sentence in the second paragraph of the small sites metric subsection relating to risk multipliers deleted.
P10 First paragraph of irreplaceable habitat section reworded to clarify what the BNG secondary legislation definition of irreplaceable habitat is.
P15 Planning Advisory Service reference (118) in fourth paragraph of gains on development site section updated.
P17: Last paragraph of gains off development site section reworded to clarify the sentence relating to statutory credits. First sentence of a strategic landscape approach to gains reworded to clarify the role of LNRS. Sentence in the statutory credits section relating to biodiversity gain plans reworded to clarify the lack of market supply must be set out, and sentence relating to the Wildlife Trusts reworded to clarify their objection.
P20: Reworded to clarify that the review is of secondary legislation rather than BNG policy.
Biodiversity net gain (821 KB , PDF)
This POSTnote will outline what UK technology infrastructure is, potential impacts of disruptions, risks, options for mitigating risks and relevant policy.
This POSTnote will outline the challenges and opportunities for spatial planning and climate change across national, regional and local decision-making levels.
This POSTnote will outline the energy system application of AI and Machine Learning. It will also consider the data, cybersecurity and ethical challenges that will need to be considered for application in the UK to enhance energy security.