Unsurprising Budget Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) reforms – Residential brownfield developments on sites up to 1.5 hectares in England are being exempted from BNG requirements.

Good that the Government's ‘brownfield-first’ ambition directly supports the delivery of new homes, as the urban mosaic category was posing a real issue, though still a question for sites over 1.5 ha. In parallel, confirmed that BNG will become mandatory for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects from November 2026.

Another week, another green dot on the map with the Registration of our Toronto site.

A very interesting project this one, with grassland, scrub, hedgerows, trees, a traditional orchard and pond. All the family members are committed to creating a valuable range of habitat on land which falls away from Toronto village, looking over the historic Saxon village of Escomb .

Another green dot on the map with the Registration of our Eppleby site.

Producing V High and Medium distinctiveness grassland, along with Ditch units.

Great news with the Registration of our Lutterington site.

It's been a long time in gestation with some of the Lowland meadow being established for 2 years, so well done the client for sticking with it and thanks to Fera Science for all their help and support as Responsible Body.

The site provides 95.86 units of V High distinctiveness grassland and 0.3 units Individual rural trees

I have a slot speaking at Innovation in Restoration: positive approaches for changing times organised by West Cumbria Rivers Trust, Old Trafford Cricket ground, Manchester, 15 Oct 2026.

You can get tickets and further info here