How do I pick enhancements?
How do I pick enhancements?
When designing on-site habitat creation and enhancement, you’ll need to consider whether it will be possible to maintain and monitor the habitat over 30 years.
The Government has suggested that you should factor the following into your thinking:
will soil conditions be suitable for your plans?
will there be an access point for equipment needed to maintain the habitat, such as a mower?
how might pets living on the development affect your plans?
is this plant species suitable for the local area?
Do I need to maintain the gains for 30 years?
Do I need to maintain the gains for 30 years?
If you are creating a development, you only need to maintain the habitat for 30 years if the Local Planning Authority deems the development "significant".
Examples of non-significant enhancements are private gardens or container planting.
If your enhancements are deemed to be "significant" then you will need to enter into a legal agreement with the LPA to maintain the enhancements for 30 years. You’ll need to agree:
how you’ll monitor the biodiversity gain site, including a schedule and how to access the land
an end date that is at least 30 years from when you complete creating or enhancing the habitat
any consent or licences that you need
what actions the LPA or responsible body can take if you do not meet your obligations
what actions you will take if the habitat enhancement does not go as planned
how you will make permitted changes or manage disputes
any funding arrangements (for example, for ongoing monitoring) and a payment schedule
the biodiversity value of the pre-enhancement habitat (calculated using the statutory biodiversity metric)
How do I source the plants / get landscapers to actually deliver BNG?
How do I source the plants / get landscapers to actually deliver BNG?
It is important that the plants and trees used to deliver your BNG are free from pests and diseases. Source plants and trees from reputable nurseries or suppliers with plant health management standards in place, for example, nurseries with Plant Healthy certification or similar.