The Government has failed to define what it means by net environmental gain as set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan, as its ambition for future development. The 120 Biodiversity in the UK: bloom or bust? failure to move towards a system of net environmental gain risks undermining the government’s plans for a green recovery and allows developers to focus entirely on biodiversity, rather than treat the environment as a system. This could lead to severe habitat fragmentation.

The Government has failed to define what it means by net environmental gain as set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan, as its ambition for future development. The 120 Biodiversity in the UK: bloom or bust? failure to move towards a system of net environmental gain risks undermining the government’s plans for a green recovery and allows developers to focus entirely on biodiversity, rather than treat the environment as a system. This could lead to severe habitat fragmentation. Type: conclusion | Number: 41 | Paragraph: 193 | Response status: not_addressed Government response: The Environment Bill will ensure that new developments enhance biodiversity and deliver measurable ‘Biodiversity Net Gain’ (BNG). This means developers will be required to ensure habitats for wildlife are left in a measurably better state than they were before the development. This will be achieved