Liverpool’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.

Liverpool’s pre-application advice service can be found here.

Liverpool is part of the Liverpool City Region Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Information can be found here.

Specific BNG Requirements are set out in Policy 12.53-12.54 of the Local Plan (adopted January 2022).

12.53 NPPF requires plans to take a proactive approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change. This policy requires development proposals, wherever possible, to contribute to enhancing green infrastructure in the City, through the incorporation of green infrastructure measures into the design of the proposal. High quality design which includes green infrastructure can help mitigate the impacts of climate change, create or define local character and deliver significant benefits for local communities, ensuring that areas are sustainable, healthy, attractive, welcoming, safe and manageable. This may include enhancing existing open spaces on site, or high quality landscaping along key routes and at key gateways into the City where appropriate opportunities arise within the development site.

12.54 The policy encourages opportunities for habitat enhancement within development proposals and proposals where possible should contribute to delivering a net gain in biodiversity in the City. Opportunities range, for example, from larger scale habitat creation within larger sites (such as wetland habitat linked to surface water management (SuDS) or flood risk storage areas) to smaller measures (such as ‘bat boxes’ and tree and bulb planting) which can be integrated with wider green infrastructure provision.

Specific Strategic Significance Requirements are set out in Policy 4.14 of the BNG Advice Note (revised March 2024).

4.14. When completing the Biodiversity Metric, the ‘strategic significance’ score gives additional unit value to habitats that are located within a preferred location for biodiversity. Strategic significance is whether the location of each habitat parcel is identified in the Local Plan or other strategic document as an important area for biodiversity. The following areas/plans are currently considered to be of strategic significance in Liverpool: • Liverpool’s Local Wildlife Sites; • LCR Ecological Network Nature Improvement Areas; • LCR Local Nature Recovery Strategy (when produced); • North Merseyside Biodiversity Action Plan Habitats (with the exception of Urban Green Infrastructure and Urban Grasslands that are classified as modified grassland). • Liverpool’s Green Wedges;