The Government’s flagship Environment Bill passed into law last week. Local planning authorities (LPAs) will have up to two years to transition to mandating Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) on all new developments and infrastructure projects, as set out in the Bill.

Make no mistake, BNG is coming, and it will affect every planning authority in England. It is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create lasting change for our environment. But what does that look like in reality and, in the wake of COP26, how can BNG be used proactively by local authority leaders to create a greener, sustainable future for their communities?