New Forest’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.

New Forest’s pre-application advice service can be foundhere.

New Forest is part of the Hampshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Information can be foundhere.

Specific BNG Requirements are set out in Policy 5.2 of the Local Plan (adopted 6 July 2020).

5.20 The design, management and maintenance of recreational mitigation areas is important to ensure that they are, and remain, safe and attractive areas for recreational walking and dog exercising. Working with Natural England the Council has established design guidelines and parameters for recreational mitigation land, to ensure it provides effective mitigation by creating attractive recreational walking and dog-walking routes and spaces. The design guidelines are set out in the Mitigation for Recreational Impacts SPD, and suitable arrangements are illustrated in the Strategic Site Allocation Policy concept master plans, forming part of an integrated approach that will also meet Local Plan objectives to provide net gains for biodiversity and for landscape protection and enhancement (Policy STR1: Achieving sustainable development; Policy ENV4: Landscape character and quality).

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