A supplementary planning document (SPD) offering guidance to support our Rushmoor Local Plan biodiversity policies.
Our Biodiversity Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) shows how you should take into account biodiversity as part of the development process.
It also sets out how you, as a planning applicant, should meet the national requirement for a minimum of 10% biodiversity net gain on new developments.
This requirement was introduced on large sites from 12 February 2024 and on small sites from 2 April 2024. Our document sets out our local policy biodiversity net gain requirements and complements national law.
To make sure your planning application meets the local policy and validation requirements, we advise you to read through our supplementary planning document.
How to meet the biodiversity net gain requirements
To show that you have considered the biodiversity net gain requirements, you must complete our Biodiversity Net Gain Statement Form (Word)
Our form goes through what you need to send to us as part of your planning application, and if your development is exempt, we will let you know what parts to fill in.
Biodiversity net gain monitoring fee
The law requires that new biodiversity net gain habitat is secured for at least 30 years. We monitor the delivery of biodiversity net gain in Rushmoor within the biodiversity gain plan. We have a monitoring fee for on-site and off-site biodiversity net gain schemes that we look after.
Your fee depends on the size of your biodiversity net gain site and the technical difficulty of the habitats. Please use our biodiversity net gain monitoring fee calculator (Excel) to work out the fee.
Self-build and custom build exemptions
If you apply for a self-build or custom build home, you are exempt from the requirement to deliver 10% biodiversity net gain. Please read our biodiversity net gain and self and custom build procedure note (December 2024) for more information and how to apply for an exemption.
Supporting documents
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