Just to add one more comment about the local plan. When it comes to new developments the council have put in a minimum of 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). Sounds great (though it could have been higher tbh), however they have left the door open that this BNG doesn’t have to be met on site. So a developer could cut down a load of trees on site, but as long as they plant some more nearby it gets counted as BNG. They have also let in a clause that allows this offsite location not even to be Medway. They could end up planting the trees in Norfolk and I could still count.
I would ask everyone during the consultation to insist all BNG can only be counted onsite or at the minimum in Medway.
Good spot. I think this reflects the overarching national legislation though - I believe some effort has to be made to produce BNG on site, but if not possible, it can be further away as you say. I don’t think the council can do anything about it.
Looking at what information there is online about it, from what it says a local authority can offer offsite BNG but doesn’t say it has too. Of course I’m no expert on this.
Just to add one more comment about the local plan. When it comes to new developments the council have put in a minimum of 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). Sounds great (though it could have been higher tbh), however they have left the door open that this BNG doesn’t have to be met on site. So a developer could cut down a load of trees on site, but as long as they plant some more nearby it gets counted as BNG. They have also let in a clause that allows this offsite location not even to be Medway. They could end up planting the trees in Norfolk and I could still count.
I would ask everyone during the consultation to insist all BNG can only be counted onsite or at the minimum in Medway.
Good spot. I think this reflects the overarching national legislation though - I believe some effort has to be made to produce BNG on site, but if not possible, it can be further away as you say. I don’t think the council can do anything about it.
Looking at what information there is online about it, from what it says a local authority can offer offsite BNG but doesn’t say it has too. Of course I’m no expert on this.
https://www.local.gov.uk/pas/events/past-events/biodiversity-net-gain-local-authorities/biodiversity-net-gain-faqs