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Discharging the statutory biodiversity gain condition

The biodiversity gain condition has a separate statutory basis as a planning condition.

The condition automatically applies to most planning permissions granted for development in England (unless exemptions or transitional arrangements apply).

Development must not commence until the biodiversity gain condition has been formally discharged by Cheltenham Borough Council. 

When to submit your biodiversity gain plan

To discharge the condition, you must submit a biodiversity gain plan to us:

  • in writing
  • after planning permission has been granted
  • before development commences

The biodiversity gain plan must demonstrate that the biodiversity gain objective (minimum 10 percent net gain) has been met.

Visit GOV.UK for biodiversity gain plan templates. 

What you must submit

To enable the council to determine whether the biodiversity gain objective has been achieved, you must submit the following:

1. Biodiversity Gain Plan

A completed Biodiversity Gain Plan using the government’s template.

2. Biodiversity Metric Calculation

A completed statutory biodiversity metric spreadsheet (or small sites metric where applicable).

The spreadsheet must be submitted in .xls format.

The correct metric must be used in accordance with current government guidance.

3. On-site Baseline Habitat Map

The baseline map must:

  • Be drawn to an identified scale
  • Show the direction of North
  • Show all existing baseline habitats
  • Include the area of each habitat type

Measurement units must match the metric used:

Statutory Biodiversity Metric 

Habitat module: hectares (ha)

Watercourse and hedgerow modules: kilometres (km)

Small Sites Metric

Habitat module: square metres (m²)

Watercourse and hedgerow modules: metres (m)

The map must be submitted in two formats:

  • PDF (.pdf)
  • Shapefile (.shp)

4. On-site Post-Intervention Habitat Map

This map must:

  1. be drawn to an identified scale
  2. show the direction of North
  3. identify habitats to be retained and enhanced
  4. identify new habitats to be created
  5. use the correct metric units (as set out above)

The map must be submitted in:

  • PDF (.pdf)
  • Shapefile (.shp)

5. Additional Information (where relevant)

You may also need to submit the following, depending on your proposal.

Off-site Habitat Maps

If delivering off-site gains (either on land within your ownership or through a third-party landowner), you must submit:

  • Baseline map
  • Post-intervention map

These must:

  • Be drawn to scale
  • Show North
  • Show retained, enhanced and created habitats
  • Use the correct metric units
  • Be submitted in both .pdf and .shp formats

 

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