Biodiversity Net Gain - considering a targeted exemption for residential brownfield development: BALI consultation response summary
Formedin1972,theBritishAssociationofLandscapeIndustries(BALI)representstheinterests ofapproximately1800memberbusinessesandover950accreditedmembers.Membersinclude landscapecontractors,suppliers,gardendesigners,arboriculturists,trainingproviders,students andotherrelatedprofessionals.
Executive Summary
• BALIdoesnotagreewithatargetedexemptionforresidentialbrownfieldsites
• ContinuedchangestoBiodiversityNetGainthroughexemptionsandreworked definitionscreatesuncertaintyforthefutureoftheprogramandthelandscaping businesseswhoaimtosupporttheobjectives
• Thelandscapingindustryiswellplacedtodeliverbiodiversitysupportandbybringing theindustryintotheprocessearlierwillallowforbetteroutcomesfortheprojectsand theenvironment.
Background
InFebruary2024,BiodiversityNetGain(BNG)becomemandatoryformajorsitesfollowedby smallsitesinApril2024.ThepurposeofBNGistosupportbiodiversityinEnglandandreduce habitatandspecieslossesby2030.BNGhasbeenrecognisedgloballyasanexemplarin deliveringbiodiversityandreversingitsdecline,asevidencedbyitsreferenceduringtheUN’s BiodiversityConference(COP16)inColombia1 However,despiteitsinternationalrecognitionas aleadingenvironmentaldeliverymechanism,theincreaseinexemptionsismakingitclearthat thegovernmentisprioritisinghousebuildingatspeedattheexpenseofnature.
BALIbelievesthatnatureandhousesarenotcompetinginterests,butinsteadare complimentaryelementsofplace-making,ofwhichlandscapingisakeyfactor.Housesand naturedonotexistinisolation;theyareequallyvitalcomponentsofourcommunitiesandto deliveroneattheexpenseoftheotheristothedetrimentofthecommunityandEngland
AreportbytheWildlifeandCountrysideLinkshowshowincreasingBNGexemptionsis increasingnaturedeprivationinthemostsociallydeprivedareas.Accesstogreenspacesand naturearecriticaltocommunities,fromreducedratesofanxietyanddepression2 ,increased socialinteractionandcohesion3 ,aswellasthevitalenvironmentalbenefitstheyprovidesuchas
1 https://naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2024/11/08/international-use-of-englands-biodiversity-metric-having-global-impact/
2 https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/local-green-spaces-are-linked-with-better-mental-health/
3 https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/3/452
Supporting, representing, and accrediting the landscape industry
Althougheveryefforthasbeen madetoensureaccuracy,neither BALInortheauthorcanaccept liabilityforerrorsandoromissions.
reducingairpollution4 ,supportingurbancooling,andwatermanagement5 Theevidenceclearly showsthatincreasingaccesstogreenspacesandnaturedeliversgoodsforpeople,the environment,andwiderhealthandwellbeing,sointroducingexemptionswhichdeprioritise thesespacesisastepinthewrongdirection.
Response Summary
AccordingtoNaturalEngland'sGreenInfrastructureFramework,"parksandgreenspacesin Englanddeliveranestimated ￡6.6billionofhealth,climatechangeandenvironmentalbenefits everyyear.Butwith80%ofpeoplenowlivingintownsandcities,onethirdofpeopledonot haveaccesstogoodqualitygreenandbluespacewithin15minutesoftheirhome6."In introducingatargetedexemptionforbrownfielddevelopment,thesebenefitswillbelostonthe majorityofpeople,particularlythemostdeprivedcommunities.
Further,forthelandscapingindustry,increasingexemptionswouldreduceconfidencein investingintonature-basedsolutionsandenvironmentalprioritiesfortheirbusinesses. AccordingtoBALI'sLayoftheLandreport,47%ofmembersareinterestedinexploring businessopportunitiesaroundbiodiversityandnet-zero.However,ifhousingwithoutquality greenspacesandgardensispriorities,theopportunitiestodeliverenvironmentalgoods throughlandscapingisseverelyreduced.
BALIcontinuestocallongovernmenttoreassesstheBNGmeasurestorecognisethe biodiversitybenefitsdeliveredinprivategardensinordertoincentivisedeveloperstoinvestin qualitylandscapingprojects.Whileitisdifficulttoguaranteethemanagementofthesefeatures for30years,withoutanyrecognitionofthebenefitsofbiodiversegardensinhousing developments,itislikelythatthedeveloperswillgoforthecheapestandmostsimplistic landscapingoptions.Thisdoesmoreofadisservicetobiodiversitythanhavingabiodiverse gardenthatmay-ormay-notbemaintainedfor30years.Itisimportantthatthiswouldnotbe exploitedandusedasamethodofreducingobligationsforhabitatdelivery,buttocontinueto excludethemfromBNGwillreducetheoverallbenefitsthatlandscapingcandeliver.Further,it isvitalthattheguidancedoesnotdisproportionatelyfavournativespecies,asthereisclear evidencethatnon-nativeplantscanenhancebiodiversityandincreaseclimateresilience.Ifthe guidancedoesnotaccuratelyreflectthebenefitsbroughtbynon-nativeplants,thenthetrue biodiversityimpactswillnotbecaptured.
4 https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.21.2.0518
5 https://www.ciwem.org/the-environment/why-greening-our-cities-is-key-to-urban-climate-resilience
6 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/natural-england-unveils-new-green-infrastructure-framework
Supporting, representing, and accrediting the landscape industry
Althougheveryefforthasbeen madetoensureaccuracy,neither BALInortheauthorcanaccept liabilityforerrorsandoromissions.