Local authorities not fit to manage BNG regulations, claims BPF

The British Property Federation is calling for a new long-term approach to resourcing the planning system to ensure that local authorities have the capacity and capability to deliver biodiversity net gain effectively. The call comes days ahead of mandatory regulations around biodiversity being introduced, forcing many developers to ensure a 10% net gain in natural habitats and to maintain this for 30 years or more. Gains can be delivered on-site, off-site, by purchasing BNG credits from Natural England, or by a combination of these. However, the BPF has raised concerns that current levels of resource, capacity and skills within local authorities are not ready to deal with the introduction of BNG. Research from Defra suggests that only 5% of local planning authorities feel their current ecological resource is adequate to scrutinise all applications that might affect biodiversity and less than 10% feel that their expertise and resources will be adequate to deliver BNG. The BPF 2024 Election Manifesto, released last week, calls for the planning system to be reformed so the property sector can deliver on its climate change ambitions. This includes a new approach to resourcing which would involve more government investment into local authority planning departments, higher fees paid by applicants in return for a better service, and the creation of central talent pools to ensure a more agile and timely response to major applications. Rob Wall, assistant director at the BPF, said: “The property sector has a huge role to play in protecting and restoring nature, and many developers are already delivering biodiversity net gain across their existing assets and new developments. “The new mandatory BNG regulations will place an additional burden on already over-stretched local authority planning departments. This is why we are calling on government to set out a new long-term strategy for resourcing the planning system to ensure that planning departments have the capacity and capability to deliver on all fronts including on BNG.” He added: “We will also be closely monitoring the implementation of BNG to understand the impact on development. This will include looking at local authorities’ approach to allowing BNG offsite and to going beyond the 10% BNG minimum and monitoring how the market in BNG units is developing.” Photo by Pixabay