PAS BNG Event Resources

On Wednesday 6 May 2026, we were joined by colleagues from MHCLG and DEFRA for a webinar looking at forthcoming changes to the statutory Biodiversity Net Gain approach. This session provides an overview of the Government's responses to the May 2025 consultations on improving BNG implementation for minor, medium, and brownfield development and BNG for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) alongside a consultation on a targeted BNG exemption for residential brownfield development.

This session, hosted by PAS, provides an overview of the 2025 consultation on improving the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) for minor, medium and brownfield developments. Representatives from MHCLG and Defra present an overview of the consultation itself, along with the broader context and plans for implementation.

In this 2024 recording, Natural England explained why the statutory biodiversity metric tool is a key element of mandatory biodiversity net gain and an overview of the metric and how it compares to Natural England's metric 4.0. A recording and PDF of the slides from the session is shared below. Please note that references in this recording to requirements for completed metrics at at planning application validation and approval stages are not correct for mandatory BNG, as this is not a legal requirement. This session does not provide details on how to use or review the Biodiversity Metric and we recommend that anyone new to this work area reviews other PAS BNG pages, before viewing this.

This recording provides an overview of BNG policy and its interaction with existing legislation, detailing the specific requirements for small sites. It explains the rules and ecological principles underpinning the Small Sites Metric (SSM), its relationship with the statutory biodiversity metric, the level of competency needed for its effective use, and guidance on accessing further resources and support.

These recordings are an introduction to Biodiversity Net Gain within the Planning system. It is aimed at those with no prior knowledge and who may be just starting work in Planning.

This is a recording of the fourth in a series of six workshops exploring the planning issues and opportunities around solar farm developments. Aimed at planners and associated local planning authority professions, this session focus on issues and opportunities for biodiversity on solar farm developments, drawing on direct experience from a range of experts as well as recent publications by Solar Energy UK.