Cemex UK has launched a new service to help companies meet their requirements following changes to UK legislation.
The Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is designed to ensure that future UK developments reach a minimum target of a 10 per cent uplift in the biodiversity of a site.
Cemex UK created a dedicated solution to the new legislation. The company plans to utilise its established portfolio of sites and expertise in nature recovery and land restoration.
“Our Biodiversity Net Gain offering can help organisations who are new to biodiversity enhancement projects, those who may not have the in-house skills or knowledge, and companies working with sites where biodiversity net gain targets will be difficult or costly to achieve,” Cemex land development and property director Steve Redwood said.
“Cemex’s Biodiversity Net Gain service will help guide businesses through the entire lifecycle approach from initial assessment to unit purchase and long-term habitat management with no further input required, ensuring a hassle-free approach to the management and realisation of biodiversity net gain.
“For developers, Cemex’s offer will help to deliver biodiversity net gain without the pain; that may otherwise be associated with challenging or difficult to deliver sites.”
How does it work?
As part of achieving the 10 per cent target, a ‘Biodiversity Baseline Assessment’ will need to be conducted. This measure will assess the existing biodiversity of a site using the Defra Biodiversity Metric (currently Biodiversity Metric 4.0). Developers will then need to demonstrate a 10 per cent increase compared to this baseline. In addition, developers will need to demonstrate how biodiversity units will be maintained for at least 30 years.
If a developer cannot achieve a 10 per cent biodiversity gain on-site, they can purchase units from third party landowners who may have exceeded their own biodiversity requirements and therefore have a surplus of biodiversity credits that can be traded.
Due to legislation changes, planning permission conditions will include the need to include an LPA-approved Biodiversity Gain Plan prior to construction commencing.
