Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 18
18
Accepted
Evaluate BNG policy effectiveness, review investment estimates, and publish annual updates
Recommendation
The Government should continue to demonstrate leadership on natural capital markets by evaluating and reviewing the BNG policy and whether its design, metrics, and implementation remain effective in increasing investment into natural capital projects and delivering measurable improvements in nature recovery. Estimates of the investment to be generated from BNG (currently £9.6 billion over ten years) should be kept under regular review, with the Government publishing annual updates of progress. (Recommendation, Paragraph 92)
Government Response Summary
The government confirms it continues to monitor BNG, has launched consultations to improve its operation, and will keep monitoring and evaluation requirements under regular review, publishing reports periodically.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Mandatory BNG is still in its early stages, having been introduced for most major developments from 12th February 2024, and for minor development (small sites) from 2nd April 2024. Evidence of its contributions to nature recovery as a whole is a long term endeavour. We continue to monitor BNG to ensure that the market is continuing to grow and that investment into natural capital projects is increasing and delivering nature recovery. We have recently launched two consultations on BNG, including one that proposes improvements to the operation of BNG for minor and medium development, and which includes options to facilitate easier access to the off-site market, as well as easements for the smallest developments, and a consultation on extending mandatory BNG to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) which will help support a thriving off-site market. We will keep BNG monitoring and evaluation requirements under regular review and publish reports periodically. We recognise the current information gap relating to investment in ‘onsite’ habitat creation and enhancement, and will work with Local Planning Authorities to make data available where possible.