Mitigation Sites

Biodiversity Net Gain

All Local Planning Authorities across Cumbria are looking for sites within the county that could be used to create biodiversity net gain habitats. Biodiversity Net Gain sites must be retained in that use for a period of 30 years. Managing a site for Biodiversity Net Gain could therefore become an additional income stream for landowners, with the change in land use and future maintenance funded by Biodiversity Net Gain unit sales alongside other activity such as agriculture. We are accepting sites from across the county on behalf of other local planning authorities which will be forwarded to the relevant authority to be assessed.

Examples of what Biodiversity Net Gain on a site could look like include the creation of new woodland, wood pasture and hay meadows, or changes in management to improve species rich grasslands or hedgerows.

For more information on Biodiversity Net Gain, please see the following documents:

• Natural England Biodiversity Net Gain brochure: naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/183/2022/04/BNG-Brochure_Final_Compressed-002.pdf

• UK Gov Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sell-biodiversity-units-as-a-land-manager

Please note this is a new funding option which may or may not prevent you from receiving funding from other schemes. Therefore when assessing expressions of interest, we will work closely with the landowner to ensure that projects are not double funded, which may lead to exclusion from the process as shown in Appendix 1 of the EOI form.

Biodiversity Net Gain sites are assessed by the relevant Local Planning Authority. If the site is suitable our officers will work closely with the landowners to ensure the most beneficial solution can be carried out. The officers have knowledge and guidance to advise landowners through the process.

All sites submitted for Biodiversity Net Gain will be reviewed against the exclusion criteria set out in Appendix 1 of the expression of interest form. Those sites that are excluded will be taken no further at this stage. All remaining sites will be assessed against a list of basic criteria by Council Officers; this will be based on current guidance available at the time.

Not all sites will be taken forward, this decision will be made based on the data available and the suitability of the site for the intended use. We are particularly looking for those sites that could provide multiple benefits such as those that provide flood risk reduction and/or recreational benefits while supporting farm diversification.

Nutrient Neutrality

Nutrient Neutrality sites are assessed initially by a high-level triage carried out by either Local Planning Officers and by Local Natural England Officers. Those sites that are deemed to have no potential will be taken no further at this stage. Once the site is assessed and deemed to have potential it may be put forward for a pre-feasibility assessment, subject to funding. At this stage no commitment is needed from landowner. A full feasibility assessment is the final stage before solutions can be started, providing the necessary permits/permissions are in place. Not all sites will be taken forward, this decision will be made based on the data available and the suitability of the site for the intended use.

How is the site secured?

The site is secured through entering into a legal agreement between the landowners and the Local Planning Authority.

As previously stated, long term biodiversity net gain agreements last 30 years.

For nutrient neutrality, there are two types of agreements: short-term agreements will secure the site until 2030, whilst long-term agreements secure the site for 80 years.