General Advice
Local validation requirements here
Cheltenham’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.
Pre-Application Advice Service
Cheltenham’s pre-application advice service can be foundhere.
Local Nature Recovery Strategy
Cheltenham is part of the Gloucestershire Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Information can be found here.
Specific Requirements
Specific BNG Requirements are set out in the BNG Page.
There are three options for delivering BNG:
On-site, by improving or restoring existing habitat within the ‘red line’ boundary of the application site
On an alternative site (off-site) by improving or restoring existing habitat on that site. This is usually done with a legal agreement. This could include the purchase of ‘biodiversity units’ which enable third-party landowners to increase the biodiversity value of their land elsewhere
Through the purchase of statutory biodiversity credits from the government. This should be a last resort. The government will use the revenue to invest in habitat creation in England. The status of statutory credits as a last resort is reflected in their pricing, which is higher than the equivalent biodiversity gain units available on the market
See also the Drafted Joint Core Strategy.
Strategic Significance
N/A