Leicestershire BNG advice
Biodiversity Net Gain in Leicestershire
Plan your development around its habitats, local planning policies and biodiversity net gain requirements.
ACP Consultants can help with habitat surveys, biodiversity metric calculations and a practical BNG delivery plan for your Leicestershire site.
Local planning guidance
Is Biodiversity Net Gain mandatory in Leicestershire?
For qualifying developments in England, the statutory minimum is normally 10% Biodiversity Net Gain. This national requirement applies within Leicestershire, Leicester City and Rutland, unless an exemption or transition provision applies.
The rules changed on 6 August 2026. For new planning applications made from that date, a development site of 0.2 hectares or less can be exempt where no onsite priority habitat is affected. Certain wholly temporary developments lasting five years or less may also be exempt. The former dedicated exemption for self-build and custom-build development ended for new applications made from that date.
A small site is not automatically exempt. Check the red-line area, priority habitat, application date and any earlier permission or section 73 history. Existing householder, de minimis and other exemptions have their own conditions.
Even if mandatory BNG does not apply, bats, breeding birds, protected sites, trees and watercourses may need separate survey or mitigation.
Use the ACP BNG exemptions guide for the decision route and the government's current BNG guidance for legal interpretation.
Local planning guidance
Which council deals with your Leicestershire development?
Leicestershire County Council does not normally determine housing or commercial planning applications across the county. Its seven district and borough councils are separate local planning authorities.
Leicester City Council and Rutland County Council are unitary authorities. Their own local plans and validation processes apply to developments in their areas, even though all ten authorities contribute to the shared nature-recovery strategy.
| Planning authority | Adopted planning position, as at 7 November 2026 | Important current distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Blaby District Council | Core Strategy adopted February 2013 plus Delivery DPD adopted February 2019. | A replacement Local Plan completed Regulation 19 consultation 7 September 2026; possible submission consideration on 24 November. It is not adopted. |
| Charnwood Borough Council | Charnwood Local Plan 2021–2037 adopted 19 January 2026. EV6 covers biodiversity/geodiversity and seeks 10% BNG. | Use the new adopted plan, not its 2015 predecessor. Also check EV4 National Forest, EV5 River Soar and EV7 trees where relevant. |
| Harborough District Council | Harborough Local Plan 2011–2031 adopted 30 April 2019. | Replacement Local Plan 2020–2041 submitted 17 April 2026 and under examination, not adopted. |
| Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council | Core Strategy adopted 2009 with Site Allocations and Development Management DPD adopted 2016. | Replacement 2024–2045 plan Regulation 19 consultation closed 21 September 2026, not adopted. |
| Melton Borough Council | Melton Local Plan 2011–2036 adopted October 2018, including EN2 Biodiversity and Geodiversity. | Its partial update Main Modifications consultation runs 30 October–14 December 2026. Adoption remains pending. |
| North West Leicestershire District Council | Local Plan adopted November 2017, incorporating the March 2021 partial review. | Proposed Local Plan 2024–2042 Regulation 19 consultation closed 11 September 2026; River Mease SAC catchment may require additional assessment. |
| Oadby and Wigston Borough Council | Borough Local Plan adopted April 2019. | Replacement Local Plan 2025–2042 submitted June 2026; examination hearing programme began in November 2026. Not adopted. |
| Leicester City Council — separate unitary | Leicester Local Plan 2020–2036 adopted June 2026, including NE01, NE02, NE03 and NE04 ecology policies. | Use the adopted 2026 plan and the City’s application requirements. The City determines its own applications. |
| Rutland County Council — separate unitary | Rutland has its own adopted and emerging development-plan documents. | Its geography is in the shared LNRS but is not part of Leicestershire's seven districts. Check Rutland planning policy and local validation separately. |
| Leicestershire County Council — county functions | Leicestershire Minerals and Waste Local Plan to 2031, adopted 2019, plus county development functions. | The county's ecology team advises many districts, but does not make all their final planning decisions. |
Authority check: Confirm the site boundary through the actual council's planning map. A Leicester postcode, National Forest location or LNRS mapped habitat does not itself identify the decision-maker.
Local planning guidance
Who reviews ecology and BNG assessments in Leicestershire?
Leicestershire County Council's Ecology and Biodiversity team publishes specialist guidance and advises planning officers in Blaby, Harborough, Hinckley and Bosworth, Melton, North West Leicestershire, and Oadby and Wigston. It also advises the county's own planning functions and Rutland.
Charnwood and Leicester City handle ecology advice separately. As a result, their local application requirements should not be inferred from a county ecology checklist intended for another authority.
The county ecologists provide advice when consulted. However, the relevant planning authority remains responsible for deciding the application and assessing its own published validation list.
A scheme may need a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal, targeted species surveys, UKHab mapping, habitat condition data and statutory BNG metric information. What is proportionate depends on the land, works and council.
See the Leicestershire County Council planning biodiversity and survey guidance. For a Leicester City site, consult the city's own biodiversity survey guidance.
Local planning guidance
Which local biodiversity policies matter most?
Charnwood — new adopted plan, policy EV6
Charnwood adopted its Local Plan 2021–2037 on 19 January 2026. Its adopted EV6 Conserving and Enhancing Biodiversity and Geodiversity seeks 10% BNG alongside habitat protection, connectivity and nature recovery.
The surrounding policies address Charnwood Forest and the National Forest (EV4), River Soar and Grand Union Canal Corridor (EV5) and trees (EV7). These make local habitat design materially different from a generic metric-only exercise.
Leicester City — adopted 2026 policy NE02
The City adopted its replacement Local Plan in June 2026. NE02 Biodiversity Gain now forms part of the adopted framework. NE01 deals with protected sites and species, NE03 with green and blue infrastructure, and NE04 with ancient woodland, veteran trees and irreplaceable habitats.
During the plan examination, inspectors found that a compulsory requirement above statutory 10% was not justified by the evidence. This does not stop a developer proposing additional voluntary gains.
Blaby, Hinckley and Bosworth, and North West Leicestershire
All three have more recent Regulation 19 proposed replacement plans, but they remain emerging. For planning applications, use the currently adopted plan and consider appropriate weight for any draft allocation or environmental policy.
Hinckley and Bosworth's replacement consultation closed on 21 September 2026. Blaby closed on 7 September; North West Leicestershire closed on 11 September. Those dates do not prove subsequent adoption.
Harborough, Melton and Oadby and Wigston
Harborough's replacement Local Plan was submitted for examination in April 2026. Oadby and Wigston's plan was submitted in June 2026.
Melton's plan update has reached an advanced examination stage. Its Main Modifications consultation remains open until 14 December 2026, so the changes are still proposed.
National policy after September 2026
The 29 September 2026 National Planning Policy Framework, policies N1(2) and N2(3), limits compulsory local gain above the statutory minimum to specific, justified and deliverable site allocations. Wider local requirements above 10% cannot simply be assumed to apply.
That is why the guide distinguishes statutory 10%, adopted ecology policies and emerging ambitions. A site may need substantial habitat protection without having a blanket 20% BNG target.
Local planning guidance
How does the Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland LNRS affect BNG?
The Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) was published in August 2025, following its July launch and approval process. Leicestershire County Council is the responsible authority.
Its written strategy sets out priorities for restoring and connecting nature. The Local Habitat Map identifies areas already important for biodiversity and places where action could improve ecological connectivity.
These priorities include woodland restoration, grassland management, species recovery, healthier rivers and wetlands, urban green/blue infrastructure and sustainable farming landscapes.
The map may inform strategic significance within the biodiversity metric. However, a coloured opportunity area is not proof of existing high-value habitat, a legally registered habitat bank or a guaranteed multiplier.
For a qualifying proposed enhancement, the ecologist must test the specific mapped measure, habitat intervention and current statutory metric rules. The existing site still needs a competent habitat baseline and condition assessment.
Use the published LNRS and full strategy and official Local Habitat Map.
Local planning guidance
Which habitats and protected features are important locally?
Charnwood Forest, woodland and rocky landscapes
Charnwood's ancient woodland, veteran trees, woodland edges, grassland and rocky outcrops need careful assessment. Retaining valuable existing habitat can be more appropriate than attempting to replace it with generic new planting.
The National Forest and new habitat connectivity
The National Forest covers parts of North West Leicestershire and Charnwood. Its landscape-scale woodland and habitat objectives can inform green infrastructure and ecology design. However, its boundary is not a new local planning authority, and woodland planting must match actual site conditions.
River Soar, Wreake, Welland and tributaries
Rivers, riparian corridors and floodplain wetlands can support water quality, protected species and wider nature recovery. Changes to a watercourse may require specialist survey evidence and, where appropriate, a river condition assessment.
Hedgerows, field margins, ponds and Local Wildlife Sites
Agricultural land may support species-rich hedgerows, ponds, ditches, grassland fragments and Local Wildlife Sites. These features cannot be assessed solely from a general aerial photograph.
Protected species
Bats, great crested newts, otters, water voles, badgers, nesting birds and white-clawed crayfish may require separate assessment. The biodiversity metric alone does not establish their absence or whether licensing is necessary.
Priority: Map ecological constraints and retain important habitats before relying on replacement habitats or purchased off-site units.
Local planning guidance
Why does the River Mease SAC need separate planning checks?
Parts of North West Leicestershire lie within the catchment of the River Mease Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The river is designated for sensitive aquatic habitats and species, including spined loach, bullhead, white-clawed crayfish and otter.
Some development may increase nutrients entering the catchment. Natural England's guidance and the Habitats Regulations can require a nutrient neutrality assessment and suitable mitigation before a competent authority can conclude there will be no adverse effect on the SAC.
This is not the same as Biodiversity Net Gain. Delivering 10% more biodiversity units does not automatically make an otherwise harmful nutrient increase acceptable.
The issue particularly affects certain schemes involving overnight accommodation or increased wastewater, although other development types can also require assessment.
The actual route depends on the drainage connection, site location, proposal and current guidance. Do not assume that all North West Leicestershire developments pay one standard tariff or that a purchased BNG unit resolves nutrient neutrality.
For background, consult the River Mease Partnership's developer guidance and the latest relevant planning-authority and Natural England advice.
Local planning guidance
Leicestershire BNG: seven checks before planning submission
Use these seven checks to organise your site information and prepare a proportionate ecological brief.
| Step | What to record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Correct authority | Red-line plan; one of seven districts, Leicester City, Rutland or county minerals/waste case | Identifies the operative local plan and checklist. |
| 2. Application route | Submission date, development type, red-line area, priority habitats and section 73 history | Determines conditional national exemptions and transitions. |
| 3. Existing habitat | UKHab parcels, condition, hedges, watercourses, trees, photographs | Defines metric modules and survey needs. |
| 4. Other ecology constraints | Species, ancient woodland, Local Wildlife Sites and any River Mease SAC pathway | Identifies independent avoidance, HRA and mitigation. |
| 5. Nature-recovery fit | Joint LNRS map, proposed habitat and matching mapped measures | Supports a defensible strategic significance decision. |
| 6. Gain delivery route | Onsite habitat space, habitat trading, off-site needs and registered gain-site evidence | Tests whether proposed gains are feasible and lawful. |
| 7. Long-term management | Responsible party, habitat management and monitoring arrangements, legal security and timetable | Supports the post-permission gain plan and stewardship. |
Result: If the LPA, red-line area, habitat baseline, designated-site constraint or LNRS action is uncertain, obtain the relevant evidence before claiming BNG compliance.
Local planning guidance
What BNG evidence is needed with a planning application?
For development subject to mandatory BNG, the national application-stage minimum normally includes:
- A statement identifying whether the applicant believes statutory BNG applies.
- The pre-development biodiversity value and completed appropriate metric, with version or publication date.
- Reasons for any earlier proposed baseline date.
- Relevant habitat degradation dates, values and supporting calculations.
- A description of any irreplaceable habitat.
- A scaled map showing onsite habitats, the direction of north and relevant site features.
In addition, the appropriate planning authority can request necessary, relevant and proportionate local ecological evidence under its published validation list.
For six Leicestershire districts, county ecology specialists may advise the planning team. Charnwood and Leicester City provide their own ecology advice. Rutland has a separate application route, although county ecology specialists may advise it.
A Preliminary Ecological Appraisal, targeted protected-species survey, habitat condition sheets or other documents may be needed where justified. Never assume that every applicant must commission the same reports.
For planning service scope, read the ACP BNG assessment page and BNG habitat surveys.
Local planning guidance
How are biodiversity units assessed in Leicestershire?
The statutory biodiversity metric measures the value of habitats before and after development. It considers type, extent, condition, strategic significance and risks associated with creation or enhancement.
As at 7 November 2026, the latest published government statutory metric workbook is version 1.1.0, updated 3 November 2026. Government guidance permits the use of previously published statutory metric versions where appropriate. Record the version actually used and comply with its rules. Older pre-statutory Metric 4.0 is not itself a current statutory tool.
Some eligible smaller schemes may use the separate Small Sites Metric. Its eligibility criteria must be checked; it is not simply the default for every development below a certain floor area.
The shared LNRS may support higher strategic significance only where the proposed intervention corresponds to the relevant mapped habitat measure and metric rules. It cannot replace field surveys or justify an automatic uplift.
For technical support see statutory biodiversity metric calculations and Small Sites Metric assessments.
Local planning guidance
Can Leicestershire projects use off-site biodiversity units?
Yes, subject to the statutory requirements, habitat trading, appropriate legal security and registration of the gain site and the units allocated to the development.
For major schemes, the gain hierarchy continues to prioritise suitable onsite options. For eligible non-major applications made from 6 August 2026, onsite and registered off-site gains may be considered at an equivalent level. Statutory biodiversity credits remain a last option.
Significant onsite and registered off-site gains generally need secure management and monitoring for at least 30 years.
Commercial habitat bank directories describe possible sites at places such as Ratcliffe on the Wreake, Tonge and Aston Flamville, alongside proposals elsewhere. However, a supplier's published 'live' or 'pending' label is not independent proof of units currently registered, available, legally allocated or suitable for your development.
Check the government's gain-site register, habitat types, spatial risk and legal documents for a specific purchase. No reliable countywide unit price can be quoted without a real proposal.
Our off-site biodiversity units guide and Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan service explain the respective work.
Local planning guidance
What do local planning records illustrate?
The following are published authority records, not claims that ACP worked on these sites or that habitat outcomes have already been delivered.
Charnwood: a metric shortfall considered alongside wider ecology
A Charnwood Plans Committee report published in March 2026 described a development application where revised biodiversity calculations indicated a possible loss of 3.97 habitat units and 2.07 hedgerow units if the indicative proposals were implemented.
The committee material discussed section 106 measures, habitat compensation and protected-species conditions. These were planning considerations, not proof that the measured shortfall was finally delivered or resolved.
Leicester City: a 2026 plan allocation with biodiversity constraints
Leicester's adopted Local Plan identifies land behind Rosedale Avenue / Harrison Road allotments as a development allocation with former biodiversity-enhancement-site considerations. Its site guidance calls for an Ecological Assessment and appropriate off-site enhancement in line with adopted NE02.
This is a documented plan allocation and assessment requirement, not a completed ACP case study or proof of permission for a particular proposal.
These examples demonstrate the importance of baseline evidence, habitat history, legal obligations and species protection beyond one headline percentage.
Sources: Charnwood Plans Committee papers and Leicester adopted Local Plan site allocations.
Local planning guidance
When should a BNG assessment start, and what affects the cost?
A project is easier to design when ecology is considered before the layout becomes fixed. Survey timing, habitat complexity and protected species can influence the scope.
The cost of a BNG assessment depends on the site area, existing habitats, condition assessment, watercourses, hedgerows, metric complexity and the work required to design a deliverable gain.
Separate work may also be needed for River Mease nutrient neutrality, protected species, Habitats Regulations Assessment, registered off-site units and long-term management. These are not interchangeable charges.
A final Biodiversity Gain Plan for a qualifying permission is normally approved after planning permission but before development begins. National minimum application information is an earlier step.
Read our Biodiversity Gain Plan guide and BNG costs and pricing for the stages to budget.
Local planning guidance
BNG assessments for Leicestershire developments
Step 1 — Establish the planning context. Send the site postcode, red-line plan, proposed works, available drawings and anticipated application date. We identify the right local authority and initial ecological questions.
Step 2 — Prepare reliable habitat evidence. We scope field surveys, condition assessments, the statutory metric and, where needed, protected-species or watercourse work.
Step 3 — Develop a practical delivery route. We review habitat retention, onsite improvement, any off-site shortfall and the potential long-term management obligations.
Early ecological evidence can help reduce avoidable redesign and survey-season problems. However, each planning authority makes its own decisions; no consultant can guarantee permission or unit availability.
Local planning guidance
Leicestershire Biodiversity Net Gain FAQs
Is 10% Biodiversity Net Gain mandatory in Leicestershire?
Qualifying planning applications normally need 10% statutory BNG, subject to exemptions and transitional arrangements. The rule is national. Each council may also have relevant adopted ecology policy and justified survey requirements.
Which authority deals with a development near Leicester?
It depends on the actual red-line boundary. Leicester City is a separate unitary planning authority; seven Leicestershire districts handle ordinary applications outside it. A Leicester postal address does not establish the council.
Does the LNRS cover Leicester and Rutland as well as Leicestershire?
Yes. The Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Local Nature Recovery Strategy was published in August 2025. Leicestershire County Council is the responsible authority, but the strategy does not merge the three areas into one planning council.
Does Charnwood's new Local Plan require BNG?
Charnwood adopted its 2021–2037 Local Plan on 19 January 2026. Policy EV6 seeks 10% BNG alongside wider biodiversity protection. National exemptions still determine whether the statutory BNG condition applies to a specific project.
Which Leicester City biodiversity policy is current?
Leicester adopted its replacement 2020–2036 Local Plan in June 2026. Policy NE02 covers Biodiversity Gain, while NE01, NE03 and NE04 cover other ecology and habitat matters. Older Core Strategy references should not replace the adopted plan.
Are small sites below 0.2 hectares now exempt?
An eligible application made from 6 August 2026 can qualify if the full development site is 0.2 hectares or less and does not affect onsite priority habitat. There are exceptions and transitional cases. Species duties may still apply.
Is the River Mease nutrient assessment part of BNG?
No. The River Mease SAC is protected through the Habitats Regulations. Some development in its catchment may need nutrient neutrality and separate mitigation. BNG units do not automatically remove those requirements.
Can a proposed habitat on the LNRS map receive higher strategic significance?
Possibly, where the actual habitat action, mapped measure and statutory metric rules match. Simply being inside a broad nature-recovery area does not guarantee an uplift.
Do I need bat surveys if statutory BNG is exempt?
Potentially. Bats and other protected species are covered by separate legislation and planning duties. Survey needs depend on site features and likely impacts, not only the biodiversity metric.
Are biodiversity units from a local habitat bank available to buy?
Commercial listings may identify candidate banks. Availability, relevant habitats, legal registration, allocation and price need independent confirmation for the actual project. Do not rely on a supplier's historic 'live' label alone.
When is the Biodiversity Gain Plan approved?
For qualifying permissions, the final Biodiversity Gain Plan is normally submitted and approved after planning permission and before works begin. Relevant minimum BNG information accompanies the original application, and councils may seek proportionate additional evidence.
What should I send ACP for a Leicestershire BNG quotation?
Provide the red-line boundary, postcode, development description, existing ecology reports, drawings and proposed planning date. Tell us if the site may affect the River Mease, woodland, trees or a watercourse.
Local planning guidance
Discuss a Leicestershire BNG assessment with ACP
Send us the site location, proposed development, drawings and planning timetable. We can help determine the habitat evidence and metric assessment needed.
Request Leicestershire BNG advice
Alternatively, Contact ACP Consultants.
Talk to ACP / Site enquiries
What does your site need next?
Tell us where the site is, what you plan to build and how far the application has progressed. We’ll use that context to discuss the surveys, calculations or plans your project needs.
What to have to handA red-line plan, an existing ecology report or a request from the council can help us scope the work. Start with whatever you already have.
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Leicestershire BNG
Sources and references
Reviewed 7 November 2026.
Official planning and nature recovery sources
- GOV.UK — Biodiversity Net Gain planning guidance
- GOV.UK — Current BNG exemptions
- Government statutory biodiversity metric tools
- Leicestershire County Council ecology advice
- Published Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland LNRS
- Official LNRS Local Habitat Map
- Charnwood adopted Local Plan policy framework
- Leicester City adopted Local Plan 2026
- Blaby adopted and proposed Local Plans
- Harborough 2026 Local Plan examination
- Hinckley and Bosworth 2026 Regulation 19 consultation
- Melton Local Plan Main Modifications consultation
- River Mease Partnership developer guidance