Guidance

Meet biodiversity net gain requirements: steps for developers

What you need to do as a developer to meet biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements.

Applies to England

Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is mandatory from 12 February 2024.

You can view all of the BNG guidance in the BNG collection.

1. Find out about BNG 

Understanding BNG 

Check if your development is exempt from BNG 

2. Decide how you’ll achieve BNG 

Find out how you can achieve BNG 

What you can count towards a development’s BNG 

3. Measure a habitat or development’s impact on biodiversity 

Calculate the biodiversity value of your site before development 

Calculate how many units your development needs 

4. Follow the steps for the BNG option you choose 

There are different steps for each option in the biodiversity gain hierarchy. You can combine all 3 options. 

Make on-site gains 

Enter a legal agreement for your significant on-site gains

Get planning permission 

Submit your habitat management and monitoring plan for significant on-site gains 

Submit a biodiversity gain plan 

Find out more about how to make on-site gains 

Make off-site gains 

Find off-site units for sale  

Enter a legal agreement for biodiversity net gain

Get planning permission 

Agree to buy units 

Record the allocation of off-site gains to your development

Submit your habitat management and monitoring plan 

Submit a biodiversity gain plan 

Find out more about how to make off-site biodiversity gains  

Buy statutory biodiversity credits

This option is a last resort if you cannot achieve on-site or off-site BNG

Get planning permission 

Discuss statutory credits with your local planning authority

Estimate how much statutory credits will cost 

Check the price of statutory biodiversity credits 

Buy statutory biodiversity credits 

Submit a biodiversity gain plan 

Give feedback

Give feedback on this guidance by completing a short survey.

Updates to this page

Published 29 November 2023
Last updated 12 February 2024 + show all updates
  1. Updated box at top of page to state that biodiversity net gain (BNG) is mandatory from 12 February 2024 and removed the 'draft guidance' label. Removed information about delivering 10% BNG for at least 30 years as this is not usually a step for developers.

  2. Added information about delivering 10% BNG for 30 years.

  3. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page