Solar panels and wildflowers. Credit: Richard Peat, Flickr.
New reservoirs, energy networks, roads and railways will help shape the co1untry for decades to come. They also offer an opportunity to restore habitats and create more space for wildlife – from new wetlands to connected corridors where nature can thrive.
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) turns that opportunity into a measurable commitment.
From today, 2 November 2026, developers applying for a Development Consent Order (DCO) for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) in England must ensure their project delivers at least a 10% net gain in biodiversity.
For NSIP developers, this brings a consistent framework for building nature recovery into these much needed infrastructure projects from the outset. For nature, it means major infrastructure will contribute to lasting landscape-scale habitat improvements.
A consistent framework with flexibility for NSIP developersThe framework builds on the experience of infrastructure providers already delivering BNG voluntarily. It gives developers a consistent set of requirements to plan against, with flexibility to deliver biodiversity gains on site, off site or through a combination of both.
The approach is tailored to major infrastructure. Requirements focus on habitats affected by development, rather than the whole development site, with a simpler approach for qualifying temporary impacts. It delivers on recommendations from the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce Review, led by John Fingleton, for a streamlined BNG framework that supports infrastructure delivery and nature recovery.
Developed through extensive engagement with industry and the environmental sector, the BNG framework is supported by guidance to help applicants, advisers and decision-makers apply the requirements.
What NSIP developers need to doNSIP developers should consider BNG from the earliest stages of project design, alongside other environmental requirements, and engage early with ecologists and relevant stakeholders.
Early planning helps developers identify opportunities to avoid habitat loss, incorporate improvements into scheme design and plan the long-term management needed to deliver them.
DCO applications must include an outline biodiversity gain plan explaining how the project will achieve at least 10% BNG, supported by a biodiversity metric calculation.
Developers must follow the biodiversity gain statement relevant to their project, to meet the mandatory requirements. Our guidance for NSIP developers provides further detail on the steps to take through design, consenting and delivery.
Lasting benefits for nature and communitiesFor major infrastructure, BNG offers opportunities to restore land, create wetlands and connect habitats so wildlife can move through the landscape. These improvements can contribute to wider nature recovery ambitions and the government’s environmental targets.
To ensure lasting benefits for wildlife, significant on-site habitat gains and off-site gains must be legally secured, managed and monitored for at least 30 years. On-site gains can be secured through DCO requirements, planning obligations or conservation covenants.
Depending on how they are designed and managed, habitat improvements can also help manage flood risk, store carbon, improve air and water quality, and provide greener surroundings for communities.
Extending mandatory BNG to NSIPs is also expected to generate additional demand for biodiversity units, supporting the off-site market.
Industry voices welcome mandatory BNG for NSIPsJulia Baker, Global Submarket Lead for Biodiversity & Nature at Mott MacDonald, said:
“Mandatory biodiversity net gain is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for major infrastructure to help restore nature while delivering lasting benefits for communities. The focus now must be on making BNG an integral part of infrastructure design and long-term management, rather than simply a requirement to meet”.
Kat Stanhope, Strategic BNG Manager at National Grid, said:
“[This] is an important step forward for both nature recovery and the delivery of critical infrastructure.
“As we build the network Britain needs for its energy future, which will include a large number of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, BNG offers an opportunity to create lasting value for people and the environment, at scale, supporting more resilient landscapes, thriving habitats and benefits for local communities alongside the infrastructure the country needs.”
Tom Clancy, Head of Environmental Delivery, National Highways, said:
“We welcome the introduction of mandatory biodiversity net gain for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. Implementing voluntary BNG across our major enhancement portfolio to date has resulted in improved optioneering and design decisions that have better outcomes for nature and communities.”
Next stepsWe will continue working with Natural England, the Planning Inspectorate, the Planning Advisory Service, local authorities and other stakeholders to support a smooth transition to mandatory BNG for NSIPs and help developers put the framework into practice.
seen at 10:30, 2 November in Environment.