By Greg Shaw, Senior Officer – Biodiversity Net Gain (Strategic Solutions and Biodiversity Net Gain Team).
Volunteer, at the river, Boothby Wildlands project. © Jill Wotherspoon, NattergalAcross England, many communities face depleted green spaces and health inequalities. Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) can offer a clear link between development, wellbeing and nature recovery. BNG is a planning obligation and a practical tool linking development, communities and nature - helping create healthier, more resilient places.
What Biodiversity Net Gain really meansBNG is a simple concept: new development must leave biodiversity in a better state than before, by at least 10%, unless exempt. It allows growth to continue while making sure developments benefit nature and local communities.
BNG habitats must be secured and managed for a minimum of 30 years, ensuring long-term biodiversity value. By embedding nature into planning, developments can adapt to climate and environmental challenges and support wildlife while meeting legal requirements.
Health, Wellbeing and Access to NatureAccess to nature can improve health and wellbeing. Research shows us that spending time in green spaces reduces stress, boosts mental health and encourages physical activity. It also strengthens community ties and belonging. Research also shows that living near green spaces can cut the risk of depression by around 16% (British Journal of Psychiatry, 2019). Natural England’s latest People and Nature Survey shows that 85% of adults say nature boosts their happiness, and over 90% agree it benefits both their physical and mental health.
Local authorities are embedding nature into planning. NHS Green Social Prescribing is using access to nature to improve health outcomes. NHS England reports “there is strong and growing evidence that nature‑based social prescribing plays an important role in improving mental and physical health and reducing loneliness”. Levelling Up initiatives recognise green infrastructure as vital for reducing inequalities.
Creating Climate Resilience DevelopmentBNG can help create developments that withstand climate challenges. By integrating nature-based solutions into design, we reduce risks and enhance community wellbeing. Trees cool urban areas and improve air quality, wetlands manage flood risk and store carbon, and meadows support pollinators while enriching public spaces.
This is purposeful ecological design - working with nature to benefit both people and wildlife. Incorporating these features into development builds resilience to heatwaves, flooding, and other climate pressures, while potentially cutting long-term adaptation costs.
Real world example - Designing with Nature in MindNottingham’s Broad Marsh regeneration shows how BNG can transform urban spaces. The project replaced a former shopping centre with green infrastructure - new habitats, tree planting and pollinator areas - creating a ‘Green Heart’ for the city. These features cool streets, manage water and offer places for recreation and wellbeing.
The site achieved an impressive 438% biodiversity net gain, far exceeding the legal minimum. Such high figures are unusual because urban baselines are often very low, meaning even modest habitat creation can result in large percentage increases.
Broad Marsh shows that growth and nature can thrive together - bringing life back to the city and pride back to its people. These site-level outcomes can translate into wider benefits for communities. Willmott Dixon commented that “Bringing nature into development creates places that actively enhance people’s wellbeing and strengthen communities, leaving a positive legacy for future generations. It’s a key part of our Now or Never sustainability strategy ambition to deliver environmental net gain on all our projects by 2030”.
Communities and Shared BenefitsWhile the focus of BNG is on restoring & creating habitats, it can also provide wider benefits for people - such as healthier green spaces and improved wellbeing. Bringing nature into daily life restores pride, belonging and local identity. Green spaces close to home make streets feel alive and give communities places to connect.
Residents can play an active role too - planting trees, caring for wildflower verges or monitoring local habitats. These shared efforts can help build stronger ties and a sense of stewardship for the places we live. Recent research, by the Institute of Development Studies, highlights the critical role of engaging people for BNG.
Boothby Wildland in Lincolnshire demonstrates how BNG can deliver for both nature and communities. Formerly intensive farmland, the site is being transformed through the sale of BNG units. Local engagement has been central to the process, with community workshops and a dedicated community group helping shape outcomes such as new footpath routes. This collaborative approach ensures nature recovery is complemented by improved access and shared benefits for local people (Boothby Wildland).
Pete Holland, volunteer at Boothby Wildland, says: “For me, Boothby symbolises the opportunity to invest in nature to set up a different future for our society. Being a volunteer and having the chance to play a small part in contributing to restoring nature to how it should be has been extremely powerful and rewarding for my heart and soul. One day I’ll walk the site with my children and be able to say ‘I helped create this’.”.
Looking ahead - Working with Nature for GrowthThe future of development is collaborative. Growth and nature can work together to create places that last. BNG helps us design communities that are healthier, more resilient and better connected to the landscapes around them.
BNG is also a key part of delivering Natural England’s wider strategic ambition to create healthier, more resilient places where people and nature can thrive together.
Planners, developers and communities all share this responsibility. Working together, we can embed nature into streets, parks and river corridors - making green infrastructure a core part of development and not an add-on.
seen at 18:39, 9 March in Natural England.