BASE HEADER

No

ID sylw: 105783

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Wates Developments Ltd

Asiant : Savills

We object to Draft Policy Direction 38 and consider that the Councils should not seek to require Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in excess of the 10% statutory requirement. We consider that the 10% BNG requirement is an important statutory requirement which should be provided in line with existing legislation. However, Planning Practice Guidance1 states that any requirement for BNG in excess of 10% will require robust evidence as to why a further requirement is necessary and that viability will not be impacted. Such evidence has yet to be provided by the Councils and therefore we object on this basis. In some cases, seeking more than 10% BNG could make sites unviable or less sustainable by not maximising development opportunities and also lead to larger land areas being released for the same quantum of development.