St Helens’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.

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

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

Specific BNG Requirements are set out in Policy LPC06.5 of the Local Plan (adopted 16 June 2022).

5. Where necessary to avoid harm, appropriate mitigation, replacement or other compensatory provision will be required. The location of such measures will be targeted, using the following sequential approach (with (a) being the preferred approach and (d) being the least preferred): a) on the development site; b) locations within the immediate locality and /or supporting LCR Ecological Network; c) locations that fall within the LCR Nature Improvement Area and within the Borough; and lastly d) locations that fall within the LCR Nature Improvement Area but outside the Borough.

This sequential approach will also apply to the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain improvements to be delivered in line with new development, in accordance with the Environment Act.

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