BNG tweaks could disproportionately affect poorer areas – new report

The leading nature charity’s report says that a third of those living in the poorest areas already have very limited access to biodiversity, which is nearly three times greater than those living in the most affluent areas.

It goes on to say that recent revisions to the BNG policy – specifically, the ‘small sites exemption’ – will now hit deprived communities hardest, where four in five planning applications may no longer have to meet biodiversity requirements.

The government introduced the small sites exemption earlier this year and it means developments under 0.2 hectares are no longer subject to BNG rules.

The WCL report also finds that a further proposed tweak to BNG rules, exempting residential brownfield development under 2.5 hectares, would also affect poorest areas more, given they have four times the amount of these sites than the wealthiest areas.

The BALI policy team knows that there is mounting evidence around the benefits of green space to people and communities, so these findings are concerning and we will be mindful of them in our ongoing lobbying work.