Biodiversity net gain

[colmjude]

A discussion thread for information about the Biodiversity net gain section

See all open issues for Biodiversity Net Gain section

[colmjude]

Information model

👉 See the latest version of the information model

[GaryBurt-DEF]

Should the BNG exemption reason be derived from one of the reasons listed under the reasons in the link https://www.gov.uk/guidance/biodiversity-net-gain-exempt-developments

[James-Planningportal]

Should the BNG exemption reason be derived from one of the reasons listed under the reasons in the link https://www.gov.uk/guidance/biodiversity-net-gain-exempt-developments

Agreed. We worked with MHCLG to have a standard list of reasons included on the Planning Portal question set (from my understanding the paper form had a single text box simply as a matter of convenience), users can select more than one, and need to provide a specific justification for each selected.

Otherwise you just have a string of unstructured text that could contain any number of individual exemptions (valid or otherwise) and justifications.

I mean, we could just consolidate all of this back into a single text string, but it wouldn't be as useful to anyone in data terms.

[colmjude]

We've started to put together a codelist for these exemptions - see bng-exemption-type codelist. Hopefully, this is starting to cover all the exemptions

[James-Planningportal]

Hi Colm.

Yes that looks correct as it stands. I note that the 'pre-commencement' and 'small sites' were time limited and are no longer valid. Its good to have them in there for completeness, but we removed the options from Planning Portal to stop them being used incorrectly.

There are more potential changes on the horizon that could impact this list based on options in the current consultation from DEFRA: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/defra-biodiversity-net-gain/improving-the-implementation-of-biodiversity-net-g/

Also to note that on Planning Portal, we allow users to add more than one reason if needed, and make them provide a specific justification for each reason selected (i.e. a structure of pairs of 'reason' and 'justification').

Finally, I'm saying 'reasons' above, as feedback was that some of the reasons are exemptions (as per exemption legislation), and some are where BNG is not in scope. Its a technical point, but one we were picked up on from applicants and LPAs, so we updated our content accordingly.

[JBakerL]

Given the exemption, would it be better not to have a householder form and solely have a full application form? Or for the Planning Portal to say "by selecting a householder application you are confirming that your proposal is for x, y or z type of development in x, y, or z type of property. Then by proceeding to the form, the BNG exemption point is addressed. If a person doesn't know whether or not they are a householder they are unlikely to know whether or not a BNG exemption applies?

[James-Planningportal]

Can only really speak for Planning Portal, but that is still planned be the case on the 'front end' when users are completing applications. Householder and full applications will see different BNG questions related to the selected application type, with the householder question pretty much being a tick box declaration as per above, rather than any longer 'statement'.