BNG Implementation Board: One Year of Boosting Nature Recovery

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The biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Implementation Board has just marked its one‑year anniversary, offering a clear snapshot of the UK’s biodiversity policy rollout across the built environment. Established to steer the delivery of the government’s landmark BNG policy, the board met on 22 October 2025 to assess progress, highlight persistent challenges, and chart priorities for the year ahead. Ministers confirmed their intention to streamline BNG consultation responses alongside forthcoming updates to the National Planning Policy Framework and National Development Management Policies later this year. These updates, however, will not involve immediate policy changes, as any adjustments to exemptions or metrics require secondary legislation or further public consultation. In the meantime, developers are encouraged to continue working within the existing BNG framework. The meeting also spotlighted ongoing sector uncertainty, with many developers delaying projects pending consultation outcomes.

It’s worth recalling that BNG became mandatory for large development sites from 12 February 2024 , and extended to small sites from 2 April 2024. Developments must now demonstrate a minimum 10% net gain in biodiversity to secure planning permission. To ease adoption, the Future Homes Hub has complemented the policy with tools like a Biodiversity Unit Finder, an offsets checklist, and clear process flows, supported by working groups addressing baseline surveys, SME challenges, and the potential role of technology and AI.

Earlier in June 2025, the Hub launched a new Good Practice Guide to simplify on-site BNG delivery, offering a practical checklist and sector‑led narratives to support developers. This resource is particularly aimed at streamlining processes for SMEs and avoiding delays. In **May 2025**, the Implementation Board convened to align BNG with evolving nature recovery policies and identify sector-wide areas in need of clarity. That meeting led to focused action on how BNG interplays with National Planning Policies and Local Nature Recovery Strategies. A previous session, in **February 2025**, saw the board expand efforts by establishing working groups to address off‑site markets, small‑site challenges, baseline survey consistency, and emerging tech and AI solutions. Stakeholders have been invited to contribute case studies and insights to inform these workstreams.

Meanwhile, the board’s composition is being strengthened by policy expertise. In September 2025, Nick Barter, Deputy Director for Land Use at Defra, joined the Hub board. Barter brings deep experience across land use planning, Local Nature Recovery Strategies, and BNG policy, reinforcing the Hub’s capacity to embed nature‑positive planning into new‑homes development.

What this means:
The first year of the BNG Implementation Board demonstrates a collaborative, evolving approach to embedding biodiversity into construction and planning. While mandatory BNG has clearly shifted industry expectations, the path forward hinges on refining guidance, aligning policy instruments, and reducing uncertainty particularly for SMEs and small‑scale developers. The board’s structure of working groups and regular updates provides a model for adaptive governance, while the Good Practice Guide and joined‑up policy horizons offer tangible support for on‑site delivery. As BNG continues to mature in 2026, industry actors that engage actively with these tools and forums will be best positioned to integrate biodiversity, streamline approvals, and deliver nature‑rich developments.

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