The Environmental Industries Commission (EIC) has welcomed the Government’s latest announcements on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), including new regulations, a clear delivery timetable and a further consultation on brownfield residential development.

EIC says publication of Defra’s responses to two consultations, alongside the launch of a third, provides greater certainty for developers and environmental service providers on how BNG will be implemented in practice.

Planned secondary legislation in 2026 will introduce a new 0.2 hectare exemption, remove the self and custom build exemption, exempt temporary permissions of up to five years and amend the biodiversity gain hierarchy for minor development.

Marie-Claude Hemming, Policy Director at EIC, said: “These announcements send a strong and welcome signal that Government is listening and acting on industry feedback. Getting Biodiversity Net Gain right is critical, and this added clarity on exemptions, timescales and nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP) implementation gives EIC members the certainty they need to plan and invest with confidence. Crucially, it keeps the focus where it belongs: on delivering tangible, lasting gains for nature.”

EIC is part of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering Group (ACE). ACE is the business association for the UK’s professional consultancy and engineering companies operating in the social and economic infrastructure sectors

Click here to read the full report.
For summary of responses and government response on NSIPs click here.
For details on the new consultation on brownfield residential development, click here.