Biodiversity Net Gain

Defra has produced a comprehensive user guide for completing the Statutory Biodiversity Metric. This includes 9 principles and 4 rules which must be followed.

Key points include: 

• the Biodiversity Metric must be completed by a suitably qualified and experienced ecologist
• the metric does not change existing protection or obligations, and good practice guidance and professional codes still apply
• habitat interventions must be deliverable and realistic
• biodiversity unit outputs for each type of unit (area/habitat, linear habitat and watercourse) cannot be summed, traded or converted between types

Strategic significance 

The Biodiversity Metric includes a section on strategic significance.

Strategic significance is whether the location of each habitat parcel is identified in a local plan or other strategic document as an important area for biodiversity.

Strategic documents for biodiversity often include planning documents such as supplementary planning documents and local plans, or within local nature recovery strategies, biodiversity opportunity areas and biodiversity action plans.