BNG Habitat Banks: The Many Hats of the ‘Competent Person’
For Landowners and Land Managers taking the first steps towards establishing a biodiversity net gain (BNG) habitat bank, the big question is how far to front-load site surveys and investigative work. Covering all bases from the outset potentially reduces delays and costs further down the line; it can also require significant up-front investment with no guarantee of return. Yet, how reliable and robust can proposals be considered until such baseline work has been completed?
Although the origins of BNG were very firmly with ecology, the reality has proven to be far more complex. The Government’s BNG guidance requires a ‘Competent Person’ to conduct the baseline habitat assessment and complete the metric and suggests that this should be a professional Ecologist. Yet the nature of BNG habitat bank projects is rarely restricted to pure ecology and often requires the input of various disciplines and skills.
For example, whilst an Ecologist could be considered competent to undertake a baseline woodland survey using the Statutory Metric Condition Assessment sheets, it is less likely that their recommendations for enhancement will match the practical, deliverable proposals of an experienced Forestry Consultant. Likewise, although baseline soil surveys may be commissioned early in a project to understand current site conditions, at what stage should the skills and experience of a professional Agronomist be engaged to interpret data and advise on suitable grassland prescriptions?
Historic land use and archaeology present a similar challenge – should all baseline assessments include consulting the Historic Environment Record to ensure the absence of constraints that could impact habitat proposals? It is undoubtedly the case that proposing planting on remnant archaeological features will raise a red flag for the Local Authority / Responsible Body through their Due Diligence checks.
Ultimately, the capability of the ‘Competent Person’, whether an Ecologist or otherwise, must extend to providing sound, holistic advice that considers all of these various aspects and constraints from the outset and can identify where other skills and disciplines may be required through the process. They must be able to help the Landowner / Land Manager decide when to press the button on additional fees and services and respect that it will not always be feasible for these to be front-loaded.
For Consultants, our challenge is to carefully manage the narrative so that we are not seen as overcomplicating the process or upselling additional services. This will only be helped by the continued sharing of successful BNG Habitat Bank case studies and experiences to develop a broader understanding of best practices and the need for specialisms beyond ecology.
Words by Jon Collins, Head of Consultancy.
If you would like to discuss any BNG services with our team, then please do contact us:
Email
info@maydencroft.co.uk
0800 157 7707