The Environment Act 2021 requires most developments to deliver a minimum of 10% gain in biodiversity units, as measured using Natural England’s Biodiversity Metric. All on and offsite habitats will need to be secured, monitored and maintained for a period of at least 30 years.
So, if you’re a local planning authority, housing developer, utility provider – or other organisation that manages building developments or land – it’s a good idea to seek expert advice.
Maydencroft specialises in the assessment, design, creation and maintenance of natural habitats and ecosystems, and has many years of experience delivering such projects for clients across all sectors. Whether you require just one of our services, or are looking for our involvement at all stages, we guarantee to bring the same level of care and quality to all projects.
The first stage of any Biodiversity Net Gain project is to fully understand and document a site’s ecological baseline. Through a combination of desk study and field surveys, our Ecologists assess and record the type and condition of all habitats on site, and then use DEFRA’s Statutory Biodiversity Metric to determine the baseline Biodiversity Units, and devise a suitable BNG Strategy.
Find out moreOnce a site-level strategy for BNG has been determined, our Nature Recovery Consultants and Landscape Architects will work to turn the concept into a realistic design. This will be illustrated on a Site Masterplan supported by a 30-Yr Habitat Management & Monitoring Plan (HMMP) which details all of the capital, maintenance & monitoring actions required to achieve the intended BNG targets, and further supported by a detailed budget calculator modelling all costs throughout the lifespan of the project.
The physical delivery of BNG habitat enhancement and creation works requires specialist Contractors with a great deal of ecological knowledge and understanding. Not only do we support highly-skilled teams with an array of specialised machinery and equipment, but our people care about the environment and take an immense pride in their work, ensuring that all BNG projects are delivered to incredibly high standards.
The true success of BNG schemes will be seen in the effectiveness of maintenance and monitoring over the period of +30-years. Our Grounds & Estates Division supports teams of roaming Countryside Rangers who specialise in this type of skilled ecological maintenance, and can offer far wider benefits including general site management and community liaison. Through establishing clusters of BNG sites with dedicated delivery teams, we can offer a flexible, cost-effective solution to ensure that BNG targets are always achieved.
We offer these services individually, as well as a complete long-term project. To find out more contact a member of our team today.