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A breakdown of what goes into a biodiversity gain plan—why it’s required, what to include, and how landowners or developers can get it right to meet Biodiversity Net Gain rules.
By now, most people involved in land or planning have heard of Biodiversity Net Gain. But when it comes to putting it into action, there’s one document that sits right at the centre of it all: the Biodiversity Gain Plan.
Whether you’re a developer trying to get planning permission or a landowner helping to deliver off-site habitat improvements, the biodiversity gain plan is where it all comes together—and where the local planning authority takes a hard look at your numbers, maps, and long-term promises.
So, what exactly is it, and what do you need to include?
A biodiversity gain plan (often shortened to BGP) is a document that must be submitted as part of a planning application when BNG rules apply. It sets out how the development will achieve a minimum 10% increase in biodiversity value, compared to what was there before.
The local planning authority won’t approve your planning permission unless they’re satisfied the plan is sound, measurable, and legally secured for 30 years.
In other words—it’s not just a box-ticking form. It’s the legal and ecological foundation of the whole BNG process.
You’ll need a biodiversity gain plan if your development:
Even simple rural developments—like converting a barn or building a few homes—may need a plan if they impact local habitats.
The government has published a standard template, and your plan must include:
Usually, an ecologist or environmental consultant prepares the plan for developers. If you’re a landowner registering a gain site, you’ll likely work with a land agent, advisor, or ecologist to pull everything together.
Smaller projects using the Small Sites Metric can be prepared without a full ecological team—but you’ll still need to follow the same structure.
Yes—and it happens.
Common reasons for rejection include:
Remember: the biodiversity gain plan is a legal requirement, not just a planning “nice to have”. Get it wrong, and your entire planning application could stall.
If you’re a landowner thinking of delivering off-site biodiversity units—or a developer looking to secure BNG—we can help you understand what your biodiversity gain plan needs to include, how to pull together the right data, and connect with professionals who’ve done it before.
We’re not here to add paperwork—we’re here to make sense of it.
A breakdown of what goes into a biodiversity gain plan—why it’s required, what to include, and how landowners or developers can get it right to meet Biodiversity Net Gain rules.
By now, most people involved in land or planning have heard of Biodiversity Net Gain. But when it comes to putting it into action, there’s one document that sits right at the centre of it all: the Biodiversity Gain Plan.
Whether you’re a developer trying to get planning permission or a landowner helping to deliver off-site habitat improvements, the biodiversity gain plan is where it all comes together—and where the local planning authority takes a hard look at your numbers, maps, and long-term promises.
So, what exactly is it, and what do you need to include?
A biodiversity gain plan (often shortened to BGP) is a document that must be submitted as part of a planning application when BNG rules apply. It sets out how the development will achieve a minimum 10% increase in biodiversity value, compared to what was there before.
The local planning authority won’t approve your planning permission unless they’re satisfied the plan is sound, measurable, and legally secured for 30 years.
In other words—it’s not just a box-ticking form. It’s the legal and ecological foundation of the whole BNG process.
You’ll need a biodiversity gain plan if your development:
Even simple rural developments—like converting a barn or building a few homes—may need a plan if they impact local habitats.
The government has published a standard template, and your plan must include:
Usually, an ecologist or environmental consultant prepares the plan for developers. If you’re a landowner registering a gain site, you’ll likely work with a land agent, advisor, or ecologist to pull everything together.
Smaller projects using the Small Sites Metric can be prepared without a full ecological team—but you’ll still need to follow the same structure.
Yes—and it happens.
Common reasons for rejection include:
Remember: the biodiversity gain plan is a legal requirement, not just a planning “nice to have”. Get it wrong, and your entire planning application could stall.
If you’re a landowner thinking of delivering off-site biodiversity units—or a developer looking to secure BNG—we can help you understand what your biodiversity gain plan needs to include, how to pull together the right data, and connect with professionals who’ve done it before.
We’re not here to add paperwork—we’re here to make sense of it.
