Tuesday 6th August 2026 - BNG Updates for Small Sites

After what has felt like a very long wait, the much-anticipated Biodiversity Net Gain exemption for eligible small sites is finally approaching, with the changes expected to take effect from 6 August 2026. From a professional point of view, this is likely to simplify the planning process for many smaller developments and reduce the disproportionate level of assessment, reporting and cost that BNG has sometimes created on modest sites.

From a personal point of view, I am relieved — although perhaps also slightly emotional to say goodbye to the endless habitat measurements, last-minute plan revisions and beautifully temperamental BNG metric spreadsheets… not. While BNG remains an important tool for delivering meaningful biodiversity improvements, the forthcoming exemption should allow ecological effort to be focused more proportionately on sites where it can achieve the greatest benefit for nature.