South Norfolk’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.

South Norfolk’s pre-application advice service can be foundhere.

South Norfolk is part of the Norfolk Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Information can be foundhere.

Specific BNG requirements are set out in Policy 190 of the Local Plan (adopted March 2024).

Reflecting the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, the NPPF places great weight on protecting and enhancing Greater Norwich’s rich natural environment. It seeks to ensure that development not only avoids harm to natural environmental assets, but also encourages a local plan policy approach which actively protects, promotes and enhances biodiversity, so that development results in biodiversity net gain.

Specific Strategic Significance requirements are set out in the BNG Guidance.

From mid-2025 onwards the forthcoming Norfolk and Suffolk Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) will say which habitats and locations are strategically significant for BNG. In the meantime, and until the LNRS is agreed, this advice note references the alternative plans and strategies for South Norfolk district that count as strategically significant.