Biodiversity Net Gain requirements are delaying building work

Biodiversity Net Gain requirements (BNG) are giving already overstretched local authority planning departments even more of a backlog on processing applications.

According to a report from the Home Builders Federation (HBF), small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) builders are facing huge challenges in implementing BNG environmental requirements.

The research, based on a survey of home builders and a freedom of information (FOI) request of local authorities, found 98 per cent of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) builders were finding the implementation of the new requirements a challenge, with delays in the process as a result of a lack of local authority capacity being the biggest barrier.

BNG was introduced via new legislation in 2019 and ensures that new development enhances wildlife habitats and ecology, requiring developers to achieve at least a 10 per cent net gain in biodiversity.

Since the requirement was introduced in February 2024, it has proven new homes and environmental benefits can be delivered together.

But a lack of capacity in local authority planning departments has long been a major frustration for industry professionals, such as builders, architects and project managers.

Delays to the processing of planning applications prevent builders from getting onto sites to start work.

Overstretched departments now have the additional responsibility of BNG to contend with, delaying application sign-off further.

The research revealed some 94 per cent of respondents had experienced delays in processing planning applications due to BNG.

And some 90 per cent had experienced delays specifically due to insufficient BNG expertise or resources within local authorities.

Despite the significant additional workload required to oversee and monitor BNG, the FOI carried out by HBF found that:

*Nearly 40 per cent of local authorities lack access to in-house ecological expertise.

*A quarter of councils have seen ecologists leave their role in the past year.

*One in three councils has not expanded their ecology teams since BNG was introduced.

*Around a quarter of staff recruited to support BNG requirements are temporary.

*Local authorities are also increasingly reliant on external consultants, spending an average of £23,000 per year per council on BNG-related consultancy fees.

This constitutes the majority of Defra’s BNG funding for local authorities before the costs of hiring new staff or providing training for existing staff are even taken into account.

Furthermore, the National Audit Office estimates that government funding equates to just 0.66 full-time equivalent (FTE) ecologists per council, far below the level required for effective implementation.

Neil Jefferson, Chief Executive at the HBF, said: “The home-building industry has embraced BNG and is committed to both increasing housing supply and protecting and enhancing our natural environment

“However, if we are to increase supply alongside these new requirements it is vital to address emerging barriers to implementation, such as the insufficient resourcing of local authorities, shortage of ecologists, and inadequate national guidance.

“Government must provide clarity, funding, and support to planning departments so that they can deal with applications effectively and remove this barrier to getting new homes built.”