BNG Exemption for Small Development Sites
From 6th August 2026, there will be a new exemption for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), based on site area.
Under this change, the statutory requirement to deliver a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain will no longer apply to development sites with an area of 0.2 hectares or less. The exemption will apply across all development types, including both residential and commercial schemes.
This is good news for smaller-scale developments where BNG had led to delays and additional costs to the planning process, meaning that some smaller developments have become unviable.
There are some smaller sites that won’t be exempt, including those which have existing high value habitats where there will still be a requirement to achieve the mandatory 10%. There may also be local policies which require BNG.
It’s therefore important to get proper advice at an early stage of your project, to ensure that the right strategy is taken.
Please contact our planning team for further advice.
Truro: 01872 225 259
Exeter: 01392 979 135
Email: hello@laurenceassociates.co.uk
