Surveys of the development site to calculate the pre-development biodiversity value of the onsite habitat should ideally be done shortly before the submission of the planning application to ensure, if the relevant date is the date of the planning application, the pre-development biodiversity value is accurate. Older surveys can be used where there has been no material change to the onsite habitat when the planning application is submitted.
If there has been a material change since a survey, it should not be used.
Please note that the proposed date cannot be a date which is before the day on which Schedule 7A came into force in relation to the development (i.e. 12 February 2024 for large sites or 2 April 2024 for small sites)
For the purposes of the Biodiversity Gain Plan, paragraph 5 of Schedule 7A sets out that the ‘relevant date’ is used to calculate the pre-development biodiversity value of the onsite habitat is the biodiversity value of the onsite habitat. The relevant date is either:
in a case in which planning permission is granted on application, the date of the application, and
in any other case, the date on which the planning permission is granted.
An earlier date can be agreed between the person submitting the Biodiversity Gain Plan and the planning authority determining the Plan. If an earlier date is used, reasons for using this date should be provided on the planning application and the Biodiversity Gain Plan, (and Overall Biodiversity Gain Plan).