Issue - meetings

That Cabinet:

a)           note and welcome the updates on BNG and the Council’s Land Assets review;

b)          approve the four ‘NSDC BNG sites’ identified be progressed for the purpose of generating biodiversity net gain (BNG) ‘biodiversity units’, to be used firstly for NSDC’s own planning application BNG obligations; secondly for NSDC supported projects, and finally (and subject to unit capacity) for sale of BNG units to other third-party developments in discharge of their BNG responsibilities.

c)           approve a revenue budget of up to £25,000 to allow the implementation of the four NSDC BNG sites funded from the Change Management Reserve in 2025/26;

d)          approve a further revenue budget of £45,000 to allow the implementation of the four NSDC BNG sites in 2026/27 funded from the Change Management Reserve;

e)           approve delegated authority be given to the Director - Planning & Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Strategy, Finance & Performance and Climate Change & Environment, to enter into necessary legal arrangements to secure the BNG Habitat Banks via the Governments Biodiversity Gain Site Register, including any appropriate habitat(s) to be created, as detailed below; and

f)            agree that a report is brought back to Cabinet prior to NSDC selling BNG units as detailed in recommendation b) above in order to set appropriate BNG unit fees.

The Biodiversity and Ecology Lead Officer was in attendance to present a report identifying existing Council land assets with the potential to be used for the purposes of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). Four sites, detailed within the report, map and exempt appendix had been identified for progressions to become biodiversity units. The Cabinet considered the report, noting the work undertaken and the intent to continue searching for possible BNG sites.

AGREED (unanimously) That Cabinet:

a)           note and welcome the updates on BNG and the Council’s Land Assets review;

b)          approve the four ‘NSDC BNG sites’ identified be progressed for the purpose of generating biodiversity net gain (BNG) ‘biodiversity units’, to be used firstly for NSDC’s own planning application BNG obligations; secondly for NSDC supported projects, and finally (and subject to unit capacity) for sale of BNG units to other third-party developments in discharge of their BNG responsibilities.

c)           approve a revenue budget of up to £25,000 to allow the implementation of the four NSDC BNG sites funded from the Change Management Reserve in 2025/26;

d)          approve a further revenue budget of £45,000 to allow the implementation of the four NSDC BNG sites in 2026/27 funded from the Change Management Reserve;

e)           approve delegated authority be given to the Director - Planning & Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Strategy, Finance & Performance and Climate Change & Environment, to enter into necessary legal arrangements to secure the BNG Habitat Banks via the Governments Biodiversity Gain Site Register, including any appropriate habitat(s) to be created, as detailed below; and

f)            agree that a report is brought back to Cabinet prior to NSDC selling BNG units as detailed in recommendation b) above in order to set appropriate BNG unit fees.

Reasons for Decision:

To secure local and responsible BNG Habitats to mitigate the impacts of new developments and to enhance NSDC land-assets and the overall biodiversity of the District.

Options Considered:

NSDC could choose not to enter the BNG market in favour of the national credit route or awaiting a local market for BNG units becoming available. These are discounted on the basis of a need to proactively create a local mechanism to secure BNG enhancements, including demonstrable cost-savings for the Council’s own developments.