Recommendation 30

Statutory biodiversity net gain (BNG) is an existing scheme requiring that developers’ planning applications avoid harm to biodiversity as much as possible and more than offset any harms with biodiversity improvements. In this way, BNG has a similar overall objective to that of the Nature Restoration Fund. Defra has overall responsibility for statutory BNG, and Natural England delivered and administered aspects of it on Defra’s behalf.82 Defra prioritised a quick launch of BNG, but has not achieved take-up targets for local authorities, who are the core delivery partners for the policy alongside Natural England.83 78 C&AG’s Report, paras 4.5 and 4.8 79 Q 78 80 Correspondence from Natural England, 13 February 2026 81 Q 78 82 C&AG’s Report, Implementing statutory biodiversity net gain, HC 729, 22 May 2024, para 6 83 C&AG’s Report, Implementing statutory biodiversity net gain, HC 729, 22 May 2024, paras 12 and 16-18 19