Buckinghamshire’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.

Buckinghamshire’s pre-application advice service can be foundhere

Buckinghamshire is part of the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Information can be foundhere.

Specific BNG requirements are set out in policy 2.2 of the BNG SPD (updated July 2022).

The latest government metric must be used by applicants as was available in the most recent survey season prior to application unless an alternative is agreed by the council prior to application submission. The calculation is derived by use of a Biodiversity Metric set by the government. This is a spreadsheet-based tool; and can be used in conjunction with a qualitative ecological assessment. The metric is used to calculate the units of biodiversity gained or lost as a result of development on a site, and that which can be gained on a potential off-set site. The government’s Biodiversity Metric is subject to a series of 8 Principles and 6 Rules which are summarised in Figure 3 below and are listed in full in Appendix 2. The government’s metric guidance and the prevailing law should be consulted to establish if there is an exemption from the biodiversity net gain assessment for the proposed development.

A new Local Plan is currently being developed. See also the BNG Page.

Specific Strategic Significance requirements are set out in policy 3.2.3 of the BNG SPD (updated July 2022).

An assessment of biodiversity net gain Impact Assessment using the Biodiversity Metric must be submitted as a spreadsheet with the planning application so that it can be assessed. It is expected that the council’s guidance regarding strategic significance on biodiversity is used. Applicants should contact the council or its website for guidance on the local nature priorities for the assessment of the land parcels and their strategic significance to biodiversity.