Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 28
28
Not Addressed
Clarify responsibilities for oversight, enforcement, and standardised monitoring of off-site Biodiversity Net Gain projects.
Recommendation
More clarity is needed on how off-site Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) projects will be maintained, monitored, and enforced over the full 30-year period. We ask the Government, in response to this report, to lay out clearly who is responsible for oversight and enforcement of BNG throughout its lifespan, and how monitoring and enforcement is standardised across Local Planning Authorities to ensure consistent delivery. (Recommendation, Paragraph 112) 90
Government response summary AI-generated
The government's response discusses whole-life carbon assessments and updating Planning Practice Guidance for carbon emissions, completely failing to address the recommendation for clarity on how off-site BNG projects will be maintained, monitored, and enforced.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government · verbatim extract
Not Addressed
51. All off-site gains must be supported by a legal agreement, either through a planning obligation (section 106) with a local planning authority, or a conservation covenant agreement with a responsible body. 52. The legal agreement must cover at least 30 years and must set out who is responsible for creating or enhancing habitats and managing the habitats for at least 30 years. A habitat management and monitoring plan (HMMP) should also be provided to show a detailed schedule of management and monitoring 53. For the biodiversity gains set out in the legal agreement, the appropriate body will be responsible for taking enforcement action if there is a failure to meet obligation in the legal agreement. This means an LPA for a planning obligation, or the responsible body if a conservation covenant is used.
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