Service 06
Biodiversity & Enhancement
The statutory 10% net gain calculation, and the management plan that keeps it in place for 30 years.
What is it?
Under the Environment Act 2021 most planning applications in England require a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain, calculated using the Statutory Biodiversity Metric. We assess habitat condition across the site, calculate pre- and post-development units, and identify on-site enhancement or off-site solutions to meet the uplift. Habitat management plans then set out how those gains are sustained.
When is it required?
Mandatory for most major applications from February 2024 and minor applications from April 2024 in England. Management plans are usually secured by condition, typically for 30 years.
What happens
- 01Habitat condition assessment across the site
- 02Pre- and post-development unit calculation using the statutory metric
- 03Enhancement options appraised against the scheme layout
- 04Management and monitoring plan prepared for the condition
What happens next
Net gain is easier and cheaper to design in early. Brought in after the layout is fixed, the options narrow quickly.
Related services
Often commissioned alongside this
03
Habitats & Botany
Classification and mapping of what grows on your site, feeding directly into net gain calculations.
04
Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW)
On-site ecological supervision that turns approved mitigation into something the contractor can actually build to.
08
Reporting & Documentation
Documents written to be understood by the planning officer, not just to be technically correct.
Need biodiversity & enhancement for a project?
Send your site postcode and a short description of the scheme. We will tell you what is required and what it will take.