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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Biodiversity

Asked by Freddie van MierloLiberal DemocratDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 18 December 2025UIN 100139

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of exempting all small sites from biodiversity net gain on the UK's progress in meeting its legally-binding biodiversity targets.

Answered by Mary Creagh

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) plays a vital role in protecting nature and the Government expects it to make an important contribution to meeting legally binding environmental targets. We have heard from developers, local authorities, and ecologists that BNG needs to work better for some of the smallest developments. Recently announced reforms will make the process simpler for small developers while maintaining nature recovery at scale. A full response to the BNG consultations is expected in the new year.

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