Local Planning Authorities – Delivering Biodiversity Net Gain
During 2021 ALGE, ADEPT and Defra undertook a survey of ALGE members, and from other local authorities, as to the current skills and capacity of local planning authorities to deliver biodiversity net gain (BNG). BNG is a mandatory requirement that is a key component of the Environment Act 2021, which received Royal Assent in November 2021.
BNG will place new burdens on local planning authorities (LPAs) in terms of capacity to deal with the expected increase in workload, and the professional expertise necessary to address the additional technical, planning and legal issues involved in implementing the new measures.
Through an online survey ALGE and ADEPT canvassed LPAs and local government officers across England, along with contributions from other agencies, A report, based on the survey results, has now been released by Defra and provides an important contribution to the preparations to deliver BNG in England, but its findings are equally important and will be of interest to those LPAs in the other UK countries.
The final report, which is also available on the Defra website at Defra, UK – Science Search, can be downloaded below (PDF, 3MB):
ALGE-ADEPT Report on LPAs and BNG 2022
We would like to thank all ALGE members and their LPA colleagues who took time to undertake the original survey, and for contributing to its development and production.
