<p><span>Biodiversity net gain regulations have been delayed by two months until January 2024.</span></p> <p><span>This November, legislation for a minimum of 10% biodiversity net gain (BNG) within new schemes was scheduled to be implemented in England. But the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has announced an “updated timetable” for January, with the legislation to be laid in November instead, before implementation.</span></p> <p><span>BNG will apply to small sites from April 2024, as before. Mandatory BNG is being brought into law through the Environment Act 2021 which includes a legal requirement for 10% BNG to apply from the end of November.</span></p> <p><span>But now, DEFRA is set to publish all relevant “guidance and the regulations” for BNG by the end of November. This includes the statutory biodiversity metric for calculating the correct biodiversity gain, the draft biodiversity gain plan template to help developers prepare for what is needed for planning applications and the Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan template, setting out long-term management of improved onsite and offsite habitats.</span></p> <p><span>There will also be a “package of” guidance for developers, land owners and local planning authorities, explaining their role and responsibilities under mandatory BNG.</span></p> <p><span>The industry has been awaiting secondary legislation for …