Please note that this LPA has stated that it wants a BNG uplift of higher than 10%. See specific requirements.
General Advice
Local validation requirements here
Mole Valley’s BNG level is set at 20%.
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.
Pre-Application Advice Service
Mole Valley’s pre-application advice service can be foundhere.
Local Nature Recovery Strategy
Mole Valley is part of the Surrey Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Information can be found here.
Specific Requirements
Specific BNG Requirements are set out in the BNG Page.
The law mandates delivering a minimum biodiversity uplift of at least 10% in addition to standard biodiversity mitigation and compensation measures. Our Emerging Local Plan supports a target of 20% BNG.
BNG is mandatory for all major applications submitted on and after 12th February 2024 and small site applications submitted on and after 2nd April 2024, as per development definitions within Town and Country Planning Act (1990).
Small sites are defined by the following:
Residential development: where the number of dwellings to be provided is between one and nine (inclusive), or if this unknown, a site area of less than 0.5 hectares.
Other development: where the floor space to be created is less than 1,000 square metres or where the total site area is less than one hectare, and is not the winning and working of minerals or the use of land for mineral-working deposits, or waste development.
There are however developments that are exempt from the BNG requirement.
A new Local Plan is currently being developed.
Strategic Significance
N/A