Nationally significant infrastructure projects: biodiversity gain statement for water resources

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 2026
Nationally significant infrastructure projects: biodiversity gain statement for water resources Download document

Document Status

Current

Supplement

Sustainability, Environment, Development & Planning

Abstract

Sets out how biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements can be applied to nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs). Focuses on water resources and covers: BNG objective, mitigation hierarchy, calculating BNG, pre-development biodiversity value (baseline value), delivering BNG, irreplaceable habitat, evidence for submission and decision making.

History

Document type: policy paper. First published: 2 June 2026.

ISBN

9781528664868

Subjects

  • Planning and development
  • Planning control
  • Planning control, England
  • Strategic planning
  • Environmental planning/land
  • Natural environment
  • Nature conservation
  • Other planning disciplines
  • Waste planning
  • Water catchment and supply, sewerage

Publisher History

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is a UK Government department. They are committed to tackling climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and work to secure a healthy, resilient, productive and diverse natural environment. This work has formerly been carried out by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of the Environment.

Information

NBS

NBS has produced specification systems and information products for construction industry professionals for more than 40 years. The National Building Specification is the recognised UK national standard and is used by over 5,000 organisations. NBS is part of RIBA Enterprises Ltd.

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