Biodiversity
How can BNG help your business be a force for good
How Can BNG help your business be a force for good? How a business responds to losing a competitive advantage tells you a lot about its strategic capabilities. As a consequence of the new biodiversity net gain (BNG) planning requirement, many progressive building developers find themselves facing this precise scenario. No matter where you stand…
Read MoreBNG is not perfect, but a statement of ambition
BNG is not perfect, but a statement of ambition BNG feels like a policy with the requisite ambition to help respond to our biodiversity crisis. While economic pressure has led to U-turns on a range of environmental targets, seeing this policy come into force is exciting. Its potential to reshape the impact of housing development…
Read MoreWildlife Surveying at Watercress Farm
WILDLIFE SURVEYING AT WATERCRESS FARM Belmont’s wildlife surveying programme began in 2020 after several members of the local community were interested in supporting the rewilding ambition at Watercress Farm. Several volunteers visited the site and volunteered to undertake responsibility for recording groups of other taxa in which they had interest and experience. Each of these…
Read MoreOnsite vs offsite BNG
Onsite vs Offsite Biodiversity Net Gain The new Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) planning requirement has created debate over which of the two possible delivery approaches – onsite or offsite – is most impactful. Guidance prioritises onsite, while many ecologists argue offsite will produce better long-term results. Here, we delve a little deeper to help you…
Read MoreWe are not a BNG provider
We are not a BNG provider Watercress Farm is a site that really exemplifies the potential of rewilding. Belmont acquired the site in 2019 with the goal of restoring the degraded land through restored natural processes. From conventional pasture and former arable fields to a mix of scrub, meadow, wetland, woodland and river, a host…
Read More5 tips for purchasing high-quality BNG units
A SIMPLE CHECKLIST FOR SECURING HIGH-QUALITY BNG UNITS If you work for a local planning authority, developer or utility, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) units will be on your mind. With so much uncertainty still circulating around BNG’s rollout, you may be tempted to opt for the cheapest provider you can find. But purchasing the wrong…
Read MoreWhat BNG means to Belmont?
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) are words that you may have or will hear more regularly this year. BNG is a mechanism aiming to preserve and restore our biodiversity through the planning system. It will be enshrined in law in February 2024 with some local planning authorities having already voluntarily adopting it. So, if you’re building…
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