23rd October 2023
Our Principal Planner, Amy Powell, had the pleasure of attending and chairing a session at the RTPI’s Biodiversity and Nature Recovery event at Reading Town Hall on Wednesday 11th October 2023.
Amy chaired a panel session on planning technology to support the delivery and monitoring of mandatory biodiversity net gain.
Insights were heard from:
- Rebecca Moberly, Planning Advisory Service, who provided advice on the implementation of biodiversity net gain to local authorities.
- David Sutherland, Buckinghamshire Council, who shared how the Council has implemented biodiversity net gain through their local plans and development management process.
- Chandeni Bissumbhar, Future Homes Hub, who discussed how the development industry has been preparing for mandatory biodiversity net gain and the new tools to support developers.
- Oliver Lewis, Joe’s Blooms, Dr Matthew Brown, Verna and Chris Trudgen, Exacom, who shared their thoughts and expertise on planning technology.
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Key takeaways
- Baseline assessment will be key from the very early stages of a project. Understanding what habits are on a site and their value will allow the scheme to develop to maximise on-site biodiversity net gain, rather than needing to rely on off-site measures, which may impact a scheme’s viability.
- Section 106 Agreements will become more commonplace – these will secure biodiversity net gain. The Planning Advisory Service has templates to make this transition easier for all parties involved.
- Landowners and developers will need to manage risk appropriately. Biodiversity net gain will be legally secured for 30 years, therefore, ensuring the right mechanisms for maintenance, monitoring and reporting will be essential.
If you’re a landowner or developer looking for planning advice regarding biodiversity net gain, get in contact with our team on 01865 731700 or email us via enquiries@edgarslimited.co.uk.