The found that 84% of the 80 home builders surveyed continue to find implementing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) challenging. The survey, conducted earlier this year, found that 60% of respondents reported that BNG has influenced their company鈥檚 decision not to pursue sites that may previously have been viable.
Respondents highlighted ongoing uncertainty around aspects of BNG policy, inconsistencies in how requirements are applied, and the cumulative burden of increasing regulatory and cost pressures facing the industry.
Delays while local authorities review biodiversity assessments are also a challenge: 80% of respondents in 2026 reported planning delays due to BNG.聽Some progress has been made however. Last year, 79% of respondents had issues with insufficient resources or expertise; this fell to 66% this year. The availability of off-site biodiversity units has also approved, with 47% of respondents reporting adequate supply, up from 31% last year.
The federation is urging the government to ensure BNG is implemented without restricting housing supply by addressing the recruitment crisis for public sector ecologists, providing clearer guidance, and including baseline biodiversity assessments in local plans.
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