Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 23
23
Accepted in Part
Commit to reviewing the effectiveness of on-site BNG delivery by February 2027.
Recommendation
The Government should also ensure that on-site gains have sufficient transparency and scrutiny of delivery—through sufficient funding of local authorities to deliver checks, and provision to local authorities of the capacity to undertake enforcement action—with a commitment to reforming the delivery of on-site gains if widespread non-compliance is detected. We recommend that Ministers now commit to reviewing the effectiveness of on-site delivery of BNG at the end of the third BNG reporting year in February 2027, and to issuing the report of the review by the end of May 2027. (Recommendation, Paragraph 124)
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the principle of reviewing on-site BNG effectiveness but does not commit to the specific proposed timeline. They have allocated an additional £10m this financial year (on top of £35m previously) to assist local planning authorities with BNG implementation and note existing duties for LAs to publish biodiversity reports including on-site gains.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
We agree with the principle of a review of the effectiveness of on-site delivery after a number of years to allow delivery to reach a steady state. The government has recently announced a further £10m this financial year to help local planning authorities implement BNG, on top of £35m provided in previous years. The end date of the first reporting period must be no later the 1 January 2026. Local planning authorities have a duty to publish a biodiversity report which must include details of biodiversity gains resulting, or expected to result, from biodiversity gain plans they have approved, and we expect this will include information on on-site gains, including any enforcement action taken. Government continues to review the effectiveness of BNG delivery and has recently published a consultation on improvements to BNG for small developments.