Decision details

Ratification of Gloucestershire Nature and Climate Fund Memorandum of Understanding

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decision:

Ratification of countywide Memorandum of Understanding – Co-operation on Biodiversity Net Gain through the Gloucestershire Nature and Climate Fund.

 

Reasons for the decision:

The government has announced that developers in England will be required to deliver 10% biodiversity net gain (BNG) when building housing industrial or commercial developments from November 2023.

 

In circumstances where biodiversity improvements are not possible, developers will be able to pay for improvements on other sites by purchasing ‘units’ via a private, off-site market.

 

Gloucestershire local authorities have been working in association with the Gloucestershire Local Nature partnership (GLNP) to establish a local mechanism to provide options for developers locally, which will reduce the risk of BNG payments being used for biodiversity enhancement outside the county.

 

BNG was introduced by the Environment Act 2021 and forms part of the government’s plans to halt species decline by 2030. 

Alternative options considered:

There are no direct policy implications, but for the sake of transparency, a Cabinet decision is sought to ratify the principle of supporting a local scheme for biodiversity enhancement, which will not be the only option available to developers unable to deliver BNG on their application site.

Consultees

No consultation is proposed as the proposed Memorandum of Understanding is broadly consistent with the authority’s approved climate pathway action plan and in particular, the need for support for nature in light of climate change.

Contact: Mike Redman, Director of Climate Change and Place Services Email: [email protected].

Publication date: 17/03/2023

Date of decision: 23/05/2023