Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Upcoming Changes

Biodiversity Net Gain is set to change during 2026, with the Government proposing a new exemption for developments where the entire planning application site is 0.2 hectares or less, provided no priority habitat is affected. Expected by the end of July 2026, subject to parliamentary scheduling and formal implementation, the reforms would also remove the current small-scale self-build and custom-build exemption, exempt temporary permissions of up to five years, and give minor developments greater flexibility to use off-site habitat delivery where on-site provision is constrained. BNG will therefore remain an important early design and planning consideration, even for smaller schemes, as biodiversity, landscaping and the mitigation hierarchy will continue to influence planning outcomes.