Purpose

The requirement to provide Biodiversity Net Gain is a national requirement set out within the National Planning Policy Framework and further established within the planning consent received for the development (ref. 24/01911/FUL). The consent includes the following condition:
4 CONDITION: The development may not be begun unless (a) a biodiversity gain plan has been submitted to the planning authority (see note), and (b) the planning authority has approved the plan (see note).
REASON: In order to accord with Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as inserted by Schedule 14 of the Environment Act 2021) and amended by The Biodiversity Gain (Town and Country Planning) Modifications and Amendments (England) Regulations 2024
The planning consultants have submitted an application to discharge the condition, which this decision will support (ref. 25/01202/DISCON)
It was explored as to whether the necessary BNG could be provided on site as part of the development however this was found not to be possible. Therefore the only option for discharging this requirement is to purchase BNG credits off site. A specialist ecologist was procured and appointed as part of the planning process who prepared the necessary calculations to inform the BNG credits purchased.
The planning consultant appointed for the development provided support in procuring quotations from suitable organisations to satisfy this requirement.

Decision

To enter into a contract with HAROLD’S PARK WILDLAND LIMITED (company registration number 15566075) to purchase 0.03 Biodiversity Net Gain Units for the Victoria Street project which is being delivered as part of the wider Homes for Dovercourt Capital Regeneration Projects scheme. The services have a total cost of £840.00 plus VAT.

Alternative options considered

1 – Not to purchase the credits: The Council has a statutory duty as the developer to provide BNG as part of the development. As it has been established by the appointed consultant team that it is not possible to accommodate sufficient BNG on site, purchasing credits is the only available option to discharge this duty.
2 – Purchase from an alternative company: a minimum of 3 quotations were sought from suitable organisations. The selected organisation provided the best value as part of the Request for Quotation process.
3 – Not to purchase credits: This option was not progressed as it would be in contravention of the planning consent received for the scheme.
4 – Not to progress the scheme: This would forfeit substantial government funding and could risk securing funding in the future.