The construction industry has reacted with contradictions to reports that the government is delaying new biodiversity regulation for developments.
Biodiversity Net Gain (NBG) rules were due to come into effect in November, meaning developers would have a legal obligation to improve wildlife habitats. However, government sources have confirmed that the policy “will not be introduced this year”, according to the BBC.
A trade body for small and medium builders said it was “delighted” by the reports, while another industry body said the government needed to “live up to its requirements” and address “significant gaps” in policy guidance .
However, the UK Green Building Council, whose membership includes many of the country’s biggest contractors, said: “This is yet another blow to sustainable development and risks undermining national efforts to reverse the collapse of nature”.
Neil Jefferson, chief executive of the Home Builders Federation, which represents the largest housebuilders, said: “Housebuilders in England and Wales have embraced the biodiversity net gain principle and are committed to to create places that protect and improve the natural environment.
“[But] there are significant gaps in government guidance that will not only prohibit local authorities’ abilities to effectively manage this new requirement. [but would] it will inevitably lead to further delays in the planning process.
“We need the government to meet its requirements so the industry can deliver these huge environmental benefits alongside the new homes they desperately need.”
The National Federation of Builders (NFB), meanwhile, said it had written to ministers in July “to make a final plea to change course”.
“We are therefore delighted that the government has chosen to delay the introduction of the BNG as it gives us the opportunity to work with them to implement our Build in Biodiversity proposal,” said Rico Wojtulewicz, head of housing policy and planning at the NFB.
The NFB Build in Biodiversity The paper calls for the government to reconsider the way GNI is calculated, saying SMEs are “paying disproportionately more” to meet the requirements.
“In its current form, the BNG is a compensatory tax that does not stay true to its promise of delivering results on the ground,” Wojtulewicz said.
However, Simon McWhirter, deputy chief executive of the UK Green Building Council, said: “For years, responsible developers, large and small, have been preparing for this change, with many of our members creating dedicated net profit jobs from in-house consultants to designers, landscape architects and creative project managers.
“This will be exceptionally disruptive to their intended lines of work, investment, supply chains and related job functions.”
Councils and planners supported the government’s reported decision to delay regulation of BNG.
Earlier this month, the Royal Planning Institute (RTPI) published research which it said “shows that planners are struggling to prepare” for the BNG’s requirements.
A survey of RTPI members found that 60 per cent of public sector planners could not confirm that they would have “dedicated BNG resources and green expertise in-house” in November.
A post on RTPI’s X, formerly Twitter, today (September 27) said: “Following an RTPI survey, 60% of public sector planning departments lack the resources and expertise necessary to offer the BNG scheme, the government is willing to delay the rules. Thanks to everyone who responded.”
Darren Rodwell, environment spokesman for the Local Government Association, said: “Councils want to play their part in ensuring that BNG leads to the growth of the natural environments that our communities want and need.
“However, there have been several delays in the implementation schedule and councils are concerned about the impact of further delays on their ability to effectively implement the BNG. Councils urgently need confirmation of dates of start-up, the essential guidelines and definitions and a clear funding schedule to be able to hire additional staff and invest in experience and capacity.”
Sue Young, head of land use planning at the Wildlife Trusts, said: “Attempts to delay or weaken the rules for the net benefit of biodiversity would deliver another hammer blow for nature from the current government of the United Kingdom”.
