Luton’s BNG level is set at 10%.

The NPPF states: "applicants are encouraged to consider biodiversity net gain early in the development process and factor it into site selection and design. Where appropriate, they should discuss the biodiversity net gain requirements for their development upfront with the relevant local planning authority utilising any pre-application advice services offered by them. This could help establish whether development proposals would be subject to biodiversity net gain and, if they are, enable feedback on the proposed strategy for achieving the biodiversity gain objective and consideration of the Biodiversity Gain Hierarchy to inform the design of the proposals"

Please note, If you work for the LPA and wish to add additional information, please inform the Joe's Blooms team here.

Luton’s pre-application advice service can be foundhere.

Luton is part of the Bedfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Information can be foundhere.

Specific BNG requirements are set out in Policy 10.20 of the Local Plan (adopted November 2017).

The duty to have regard to the Chilterns AONB and give great weight to conserving its landscape and scenic beauty and its protection from major development, whilst also protecting and enhancing valued landscapes, geological conservation interests and soils (NPPF paragraphs 109, 115 and 116 and NPPG Ref ID: 8-003-20140306); recognising the wider benefits of ecosystem services (NPPF paragraph 109); and minimising impacts on biodiversity and providing net gains in biodiversity where possible, contributing to the Government’s commitment to halt the overall decline in biodiversity, including by establishing coherent ecological networks that are more resilient to current and future pressures (NPPF paragraph 109).

See also the BNG page.

N/A