Two in five councils lack in-house expertise on biodiversity net gain, says HBF

Nearly 40% of local authorities lack access to in-house ecological expertise, according to the Home Builders Federation (HBF).

Freedom of Information (FOI) requests submitted by the organisations have revealed a lack of capacity to deal with new environmental rules, which housebuilders have blamed for delays to building.

A report published by the organisation claimed that builders were struggling to implement biodiversity net gain requirements, with lack of capacity in local authority planning departments cited as the main cause for delays.

Biodiversity net gain rules, which were introduced via new legislation passed in 2019, are meant to ensure that new developments enhance wildlife habitats and ecology and require firms to achieve at least a 10% net gain in biodiversity.

A survey of housebuilders found that 98% of SMEs were finding it challenging to implement the new requirements, which were brought into force in February 2024.

Delays in processing planning applications due to BNG were cited by 94% of respondents, while 90% said they experienced delays specifically due to insufficient BNG expertise or resources in councils. 

The HBF said FOI responses had also revealed that a quarter of local authorities had seen ecologists leave their role in the past year, while one in three had not expanded their ecology teams since BNG was introduced.

According to the HBF, local authorities are now spending an average of £23,000 per year, per council, on BNG-related consultancy fees.

The Home Builders Federation says that small and medium-sized builders are facing huge challenges to implementing recently introduced environmental rules.

>>See also: Will the government’s biodiversity plans prove a net gain for the housebuilding sector?

Neil Jefferson, chief executive at the Home Builders Federation, said: “The home building industry has embraced BNG and is committed to both increasing housing supply and protecting and enhancing our natural environment

“However, if we are to increase supply alongside these new requirements it is vital to address emerging barriers to implementation, such as the insufficient resourcing of local authorities, shortage of ecologists, and inadequate national guidance. 

“Government must provide clarity, funding, and support to planning departments so that they can deal with applications effectively and remove this barrier to getting new homes built.”