Suffolk BNG advice
Biodiversity Net Gain in Suffolk
Plan your Suffolk development around local habitat evidence, council policies and nature recovery opportunities.
ACP Consultants can help with habitat surveys, biodiversity metric calculations and a practical BNG delivery plan for your Suffolk site.
Local planning guidance
How biodiversity net gain works in Suffolk
The statutory objective for most developments in scope is to improve biodiversity value by at least 10% compared with the site's pre-development baseline.
An ecologist identifies existing habitat types and their condition, usually through UKHab mapping and a proportionate ecological assessment. The statutory biodiversity metric then compares that baseline with proposed habitat retention, enhancement and creation.
This is not simply the percentage of the site kept as green space. Habitat distinctiveness, condition, area, strategic significance and the time and difficulty of delivering improvements all influence the calculation.
Furthermore, area, hedgerow and watercourse units have separate accounts and trading rules. A new strip of amenity grassland cannot automatically replace the loss of an important hedgerow or stream.
Therefore, early ecology input can improve a layout by retaining established trees, hedges, grassland or wetlands. It can also expose delivery risks before planning drawings become difficult to change.
For the detailed process, use ACP's BNG assessment and habitat baseline survey service and statutory biodiversity metric calculations.
Local planning guidance
Which Suffolk planning authority applies to your site?
Suffolk is not one local planning authority for normal housing and commercial applications.
Five councils normally decide these applications. East Suffolk applies two adopted Local Plans across its former Suffolk Coastal and Waveney policy areas. Babergh and Mid Suffolk share a Joint Local Plan, but they remain separate councils.
The Broads Authority is the planning authority for land inside the Broads boundary, including parts of Suffolk. Meanwhile, Suffolk County Council determines minerals, waste and some county development applications.
| Site or project | Planning authority | Current adopted plan | Extra boundary or mitigation check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Felixstowe, Woodbridge, Aldeburgh and former Suffolk Coastal | East Suffolk Council | 2020 Suffolk Coastal SCLP10.1, SCLP10.2 | Coastal SPA/SAC/Ramsar and Suffolk Coast RAMS for affected residential proposals |
| Lowestoft, Halesworth and former Waveney outside Broads | East Suffolk Council | 2019 Waveney WLP8.34 | Coastal RAMS and possible Broads boundary; verify exact parish/site planning boundary |
| Sudbury, Hadleigh and Babergh | Babergh District Council | Joint Local Plan Part 1 2023 LP16; Biodiversity/Trees SPD 2025 | Separate Babergh applications; RAMS Zone A may apply to eligible dwellings |
| Stowmarket, Needham Market and Mid Suffolk | Mid Suffolk District Council | Joint Local Plan Part 1 2023 LP16; Biodiversity/Trees SPD 2025 | Separate Mid Suffolk council; RAMS Zone A may apply to eligible dwellings |
| Ipswich Borough | Ipswich Borough Council | Local Plan Review 2022 DM8; Local Validation List 2026 | Check RAMS Zone A and application-specific ecology/BNG requirements |
| Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket, Haverhill and West Suffolk | West Suffolk Council | 2025 Local Plan SP8/9/10/11 and LP13 | Protected sites including Breckland where relevant; emerging 2045 review is not adopted |
| Suffolk-side Broads land such as relevant Oulton Broad/River Waveney sites | Broads Authority | Broads Local Plan 2019 SP6 and DM13 | Check separate Broads validation list, coastal RAMS where mapped and catchment nutrients where affected |
| Mineral extraction, waste facilities and county schools/fire stations | Suffolk County Council | Minerals & Waste Local Plan 2020; July 2025 local validation | Different planning route; restoration/phased BNG and mineral/waste habitat constraints |
The Broads boundary, parish name and relevant local planning authority should be checked on a site plan. A Lowestoft or Beccles postcode alone is not a reliable legal boundary test.
Suffolk County Council — which planning applications it decides.
Prepare your site brief
Suffolk BNG: six practical evidence checks
Use these questions to organise your site information, habitat evidence and any separate coastal or nutrient requirements.
| Question | Why it matters | Evidence or next check |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Is statutory BNG required? | The red-line site ≤0.2 hectares exemption applies to qualifying new applications from 6 August 2026 only if onsite priority habitat is not adversely affected. Saved or varied permission can differ. | Site and permission history, area and habitat impacts; current GOV.UK exemptions |
| 2. What habitats and species are already present? | Coastal heathland, lowland wetland, hedgerows, woodland, watercourses and protected species can require different surveys and management. | UKHab baseline, condition sheets, protected species records, designated sites and tree information |
| 3. Does the LNRS measure genuinely match the habitat proposal? | APIB, ACB and potential measures are different layers. The 1.15 strategic factor is not automatic and a community nature project is not a registered gain site. | Suffolk LNRS map guide, correct polygon/measure, habitat action and current statutory metric |
| 4. Does Suffolk Coast RAMS apply separately? | Eligible housing/tourist schemes in a mapped coastal influence zone may need recreational-disturbance mitigation. RAMS tariff is not a BNG unit price. | Current LPA RAMS zone, qualifying dwelling type, published April 2026 tariff and any bespoke mitigation need |
| 5. Does Broads nutrient neutrality apply? | Certain new overnight-accommodation or water-loading proposals can affect designated Broads catchments. Waveney name or Suffolk postcode is not proof. | Protected-site pathway, actual wastewater service, Broads nutrient guidance and Natural England calculator if in scope |
| 6. How are BNG gains delivered and secured? | Eligible non-major and major gain hierarchies differ. Offsite units need trading compatibility, legal security, registration and allocation, normally 30-year management. | Full metric, delivery options, draft HMMP/legal heads where relevant, national gain sites register |
Bring your red-line plan, proposed works and any existing ecology reports. Discuss your Suffolk BNG assessment with ACP.
Local planning guidance
Suffolk's published Local Nature Recovery Strategy
Suffolk's Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) was published in October 2025. Suffolk County Council is the responsible authority, working alongside partners through the Norfolk and Suffolk Nature Recovery Partnership.
The two counties developed their strategies through a partnership. However, Suffolk and Norfolk remain separate statutory LNRS areas. The correct strategy depends on where the development and proposed habitat action are located.
The written Suffolk strategy includes four main parts: its landscape description, habitat opportunities, priority habitats and species, and locations for action.
It is complemented by a Local Habitat Map. Together, they provide a useful starting point for designing habitat enhancement and connecting ecological networks.
Suffolk Local Nature Recovery Strategy and full written strategy parts.
How to use Suffolk's Local Habitat Map
The map distinguishes three different forms of information:
- Areas of Particular Importance for Biodiversity (APIBs): established sites and habitats already important for nature, including qualifying designations and irreplaceable habitats.
- Areas that Could Become of Particular Importance for Biodiversity (ACBs): opportunities where appropriate restoration or creation could improve ecological networks.
- Potential measures: mapped suggested actions in places where they may contribute to the strategy's priorities.
Some useful actions are not tied to specific map polygons. For example, hedgerow creation and improvements to built-up green space may be relevant in more than one location.
The map is based on existing evidence and has not been field-verified on every parcel. Consequently, it should not be used as a substitute for UKHab assessment, condition scoring, species surveys or other site constraints work.
Does the LNRS automatically increase biodiversity units?
No. A potential-measures polygon can affect the metric's strategic-significance score only where the relevant habitat, action and location meet the current statutory rules.
For eligible measures, the metric may apply a 1.15 strategic significance factor. However, that factor is not automatic across Suffolk or across every ACB.
Similarly, the county's new Local Nature Recovery Hub, launched on 5 November 2026, is a way for people to showcase nature projects. It is not the statutory gain-site register and does not confirm units are available for sale.
Local planning guidance
Does your Suffolk development need statutory BNG?
Statutory BNG is not required for every planning application. The legal position depends on the application type, application date, whole red-line site boundary and effects on onsite priority habitat.
For qualifying new applications made on or after 6 August 2026, a development on a red-line site of 0.2 hectares or less is exempt where it does not adversely impact onsite priority habitat.
Other exemptions include genuine householder applications, some developments with very limited habitat impacts, and certain wholly temporary permissions of no more than five years. Each has different conditions.
The former specific exemption for self-build and custom-build applications was removed for new applications made from 6 August 2026. Older permissions and some section 73 applications may retain different arrangements.
Small Sites Metric eligibility is not the same as a statutory exemption. Equally, a development exempt from 10% BNG can still need a protected species survey, ecological enhancement under adopted policy, or Habitats Regulations evidence.
Use the current national exemption criteria alongside the council’s application requirements.
For the full tests, see ACP's BNG exemptions guide and government BNG exemptions guidance.
Local planning guidance
East Suffolk: two adopted Local Plans and the 2026 review
East Suffolk Council was formed from the previous Suffolk Coastal and Waveney districts. It is one council, but the two adopted Local Plans still apply to their respective areas.
Former Suffolk Coastal: SCLP10.1 and SCLP10.2
The Suffolk Coastal Local Plan, adopted on 23 September 2020, includes Policy SCLP10.1, Biodiversity and Geodiversity.
It supports habitat protection, restoration and green infrastructure connections. The policy also expects ecological effects to follow the avoidance, mitigation and compensation principles.
SCLP10.2, Visitor Management of European Sites, is relevant to certain recreational pressures on protected sites. The Suffolk Coast RAMS provides the coordinated mitigation route for eligible developments.
Relevant species or habitat evidence may be needed even where statutory BNG is exempt. This is particularly important near estuaries, heathland, coastal wetlands and other protected habitats.
Former Waveney: WLP8.34
The Waveney Local Plan, adopted on 20 March 2019, includes Policy WLP8.34, Biodiversity and Geodiversity.
It seeks to protect existing ecological networks and improve habitat connections. Development affecting protected species or sites may require suitable survey evidence and mitigation.
Part of the former Waveney area falls within the Broads Authority's planning boundary. In those places, the adopted Broads Local Plan rather than the Waveney plan provides the ordinary local planning framework.
Is a new East Suffolk Local Plan adopted?
No. East Suffolk is preparing one replacement Local Plan intended to cover the whole district to 2045.
Its 2026 scoping consultation closed in July. It reopened its Call for Sites from 5 October to 16 November 2026 as part of early evidence gathering. Suggested sites are not automatically allocated for development.
The replacement has not been adopted. Until then, the 2020 Suffolk Coastal and 2019 Waveney policies remain important for the actual site.
Suffolk Coastal Local Plan 2020 and Waveney Local Plan 2019.
Local planning guidance
Babergh and Mid Suffolk: LP16 and the Biodiversity and Trees SPD
Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils adopted Part 1 of their Joint Local Plan in November 2023.
Its Policy LP16, Biodiversity and Geodiversity, seeks to protect habitats and species, follow the ecological mitigation hierarchy and pursue measurable biodiversity improvement.
The local plan refers to net gain equivalent to a minimum 10%. Therefore, it is important to consider LP16 alongside national law, including where the statutory gain condition does not apply but local ecological enhancement policies remain relevant.
Both councils adopted a Biodiversity and Trees Supplementary Planning Document on 20 March 2025. It provides supplementary guidance rather than a separate statutory Local Plan.
Babergh and Mid Suffolk remain separate local planning authorities. Their shared policies do not merge their council functions or validation processes.
A new joint plan to 2045 is being prepared
The councils have decided to prepare a full Joint Local Plan instead of continuing the earlier Part 2 process.
The new plan's Gateway 1 assessment was dated 21 October 2026, following summer scoping. Its timetable targets adoption in April 2029, not November 2026.
As a result, the adopted November 2023 Part 1 and any retained relevant policies remain the appropriate starting point for current applications.
Babergh/Mid Suffolk adopted Joint Local Plan Part 1, Biodiversity and Trees SPD, and BNG application guidance.
Local planning guidance
Ipswich: adopted DM8, current validation and emerging 2045 plan
Ipswich Borough Council adopted the Ipswich Local Plan Review 2018–2036 on 23 March 2022.
Its Policy DM8, The Natural Environment, supports habitat protection, biodiversity enhancement and ecological networks. Other local green-corridor and site-allocation policies may also matter.
Ipswich has a separate Local Validation List adopted in 2026. This sets out application-specific requirements, including BNG statements, ecological assessment and habitat-management information where appropriate.
The list's tables differ by application type. Therefore, an item marked required for one major development category should not be presented as mandatory for every householder or minor application.
Is the new Ipswich Local Plan in force?
No. The Ipswich Local Plan 2026–2045 is being prepared under the newer plan-making system.
The scoping consultation closed on 2 September 2026, and the council completed Gateway 1 on 26 October 2026.
These are plan-preparation milestones, not adoption of a replacement. The current 2022 plan remains the adopted framework.
Ipswich adopted Local Plan, 2026 Local Validation List, and emerging Ipswich plan.
Local planning guidance
West Suffolk: SP8 and the adopted July 2025 Local Plan
West Suffolk Council adopted its Local Plan 2024–2041 on 15 July 2025. It superseded the earlier main adopted development-plan documents for the former Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury areas.
Policy SP8, Biodiversity Net Gain and Enhancements, is particularly relevant. It supports habitat creation, connections and recovery, with onsite delivery preferred where that provides an appropriate outcome.
Related policies include SP9, Protected Sites, Habitats and Features, and provisions for protected species and internationally important sites.
The plan also expects proportionate biodiversity enhancement in some proposals outside mandatory statutory BNG, so an exemption should not automatically be read as an absence of ecological planning policy.
Apply the August 2026 gain hierarchy for qualifying non-major applications alongside the adopted local policies for ecological protection and design.
The council has begun preparing a further Local Plan to 2045 under the new plan-making system. Its 2026 Call for Sites does not allocate new housing sites or replace the adopted July 2025 plan.
West Suffolk adopted Local Plan and West Suffolk biodiversity guidance.
Local planning guidance
The Broads Authority: a different planning and ecological route
Parts of the Suffolk-side Broads, including relevant land around the River Waveney and Oulton Broad, fall under the Broads Authority's separate planning powers.
Its Local Plan for the Broads was adopted on 17 May 2019. Relevant policies include SP6, Biodiversity, and DM13, Natural Environment.
The Authority's local validation guidance can require a biodiversity enhancement statement under DM13, and additional BNG evidence for in-scope developments.
For example, a draft fully calculated post-development metric is requested for relevant BNG applications. Major schemes may also need a draft delivery report or Biodiversity Gain Plan, and significant onsite/offsite proposals may need draft legal heads of terms.
These requests should be distinguished from the formal statutory Biodiversity Gain Plan, which is usually approved after planning permission and before development starts.
The replacement Broads plan is not yet adopted
A replacement Local Plan was submitted for examination on 16 February 2026. Hearings are scheduled for February 2027.
Draft policies include additional BNG and nutrient-related requirements. Nevertheless, they remain emerging and do not replace the adopted 2019 policies.
Adopted Broads Local Plan, Broads BNG guidance, and Broads validation checklist.
Local planning guidance
Suffolk County Council: minerals, waste and restoration opportunities
Suffolk County Council determines relevant minerals, waste and county development applications, such as some school projects.
Its Suffolk Minerals and Waste Local Plan, adopted on 9 July 2020, is the operative plan for those activities.
The county also has a July 2025 Local Validation List, containing additional landscape and supporting information for qualifying minerals, waste and county projects.
Restoration and habitat creation may offer important ecological opportunities. However, the habitat units, legal security and any phased planning permission must be checked against current statutory BNG requirements.
A new county minerals and waste plan is in preparation. A second Call for Sites opened on 2 November 2026 and is scheduled to close on 14 December 2026.
That consultation is not a newly adopted Local Plan or evidence that suggested land is a registered BNG gain site.
Suffolk County Council minerals and waste plan, county planning application/validation requirements.
Local planning guidance
Suffolk Coast RAMS: recreation mitigation is separate from BNG
The Suffolk Coast Recreational Disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy (RAMS) deals with possible recreational pressure from development on internationally important wildlife sites.
It is not the same as Biodiversity Net Gain.
For relevant residential and tourism developments within the RAMS zone of influence, the planning authority may require a contribution to strategic mitigation and, for larger or sensitive schemes, additional bespoke measures.
The strategy generally uses a 13 km zone of influence around relevant Habitats Regulations sites. Its coverage also extends northwards in the former Waveney area for specific little tern considerations.
The zone crosses several planning authorities: East Suffolk, Ipswich, Babergh and Mid Suffolk, with a smaller Broads planning exception. A Suffolk address alone does not determine which mitigation category applies.
What does Suffolk Coast RAMS cost?
Ipswich Borough Council's published rates from 6 April 2026 are:
| RAMS category | Published contribution per dwelling from 6 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Zone A | £150.27 |
| Zone B | £396.01 |
These are dated RAMS contributions, not prices for BNG biodiversity units. They are index-linked and should be reconfirmed for the actual application and payment date.
The council identifies Ipswich, Babergh and Mid Suffolk as Zone A for relevant RAMS developments. East Suffolk may fall in Zone A or B, depending on the scheme and location.
Larger developments or sensitive sites may require other mitigation in addition to any tariff. For example, public open space, walking routes or long-term recreation management may form part of a Habitats Regulations solution.
Buying BNG units does not automatically satisfy a Suffolk Coast RAMS obligation. The gain metric and protected-site recreation tests address different effects.
Local planning guidance
Coastal, heathland, estuary and river ecology constraints
Suffolk includes coastal lagoons, reedbeds, heaths, river estuaries, lowland fens, farmland habitats, ancient woodland and valuable hedgerow networks.
Sites such as Minsmere–Walberswick, the Alde–Ore Estuary, Deben Estuary, Sandlings and Stour and Orwell Estuaries have internationally important protected habitats or bird interests.
Other sensitive areas include Breckland heathland and grassland, as well as wetland habitats and tributaries along the Waveney and Broads fringe.
A project near such areas may require separate habitat and species survey work. Where there is a plausible impact pathway, Habitats Regulations screening or appropriate assessment can be needed.
The effects of recreation, water quality, drainage or protected species cannot be resolved solely by achieving a 10% headline metric result.
Moreover, a sensitive habitat or an irreplaceable habitat may require avoidance or a distinct legal approach rather than ordinary unit trading.
These are county examples, not findings that an unprovided Suffolk development site contains or affects them.
Useful official sources: Minsmere to Walberswick SAC and JNCC list of classified SPAs.
Local planning guidance
Broads nutrient neutrality: a separate catchment test
Certain developments in the Broads protected habitat catchments can also raise nutrient neutrality requirements.
For example, new overnight accommodation or proposals affecting relevant wastewater or drainage pathways may need a nutrient budget and suitable mitigation before permission is granted.
However, not every Suffolk site along the River Waveney is automatically within an affected nutrient-neutrality catchment. The precise drainage, wastewater treatment works and designated-site pathway must be checked.
Natural England publishes a Broads and Wensum SAC nutrient calculator. This is a separate assessment from the statutory biodiversity metric.
It is also separate from Suffolk Coast RAMS, which deals with recreational disturbance.
For a specific proposal, establish whether the site requires one, two or all three types of work: BNG, habitat-site recreation mitigation, and nutrient neutrality. Each has distinct legal tests and evidence.
Official links: Broads Authority nutrient neutrality and Natural England Broads and Wensum nutrient calculator.
Local planning guidance
Six steps towards a suitable Suffolk BNG planning submission
1. Confirm the right council and permission history
Find the red-line boundary and deciding authority. Check whether East Suffolk's Suffolk Coastal or Waveney Local Plan applies, and whether the site sits inside the Broads.
Record the type and date of the original planning application and any section 73 variation.
2. Establish exemptions and separate environmental duties
Check current national BNG exemptions and any saved arrangements. At the same time, screen priority habitats, designated sites, protected species, trees and watercourses.
Identify possible RAMS or Broads nutrient requirements separately.
3. Survey and calculate the habitat baseline
Commission proportionate UKHab classification and habitat condition assessment. Include relevant hedgerows and watercourses as separate unit categories.
Complete the applicable statutory biodiversity metric or an eligible Small Sites Metric.
4. Check the Suffolk LNRS and local development plan
Use the October 2025 LNRS and current Local Habitat Map to consider suitable habitat measures. Only apply strategic significance where the proposed habitat action genuinely qualifies.
Check the adopted local plan and application-specific validation list, not just a future draft or a county-wide summary.
5. Test realistic habitat delivery
Avoid unnecessary losses and assess feasible onsite habitat retention, creation and enhancement. Where needed, test registered offsite provision and the metric's habitat trading and geographic requirements.
Do not treat an advertised habitat bank or November 2026 community project map as proof of available units.
6. Secure the Gain Plan and long-term management
For a qualifying permission, the formal Biodiversity Gain Plan normally needs approval after planning permission and before development starts.
Significant onsite and registered offsite gains generally require legally secured management for at least 30 years.
For specialist assistance, see ACP's Biodiversity Gain Plan guidance and Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans.
Local planning guidance
Onsite and offsite biodiversity units in Suffolk
The statutory gain hierarchy supports a proportionate delivery approach.
For major development, avoiding harm and appropriate onsite measures generally take priority before registered offsite habitat gains. Statutory biodiversity credits are the final option.
For qualifying non-major applications made on or after 6 August 2026, onsite enhancement, onsite creation and registered offsite gains sit at an equal priority level under the revised hierarchy. Statutory credits remain last.
Older applications and some variations may follow different transitional rules. In addition, local ecological protection policies can remain relevant even where the statutory hierarchy permits an offsite route.
Any offsite gain units must suit the habitat trading rules, be legally secured, registered and formally allocated to the development.
Suffolk's LNRS potential measures can help identify suitable locations. Yet a mapped opportunity is not itself evidence of a legally secured, saleable unit.
For more detail, see ACP's offsite biodiversity units guidance and the government biodiversity gain sites register.
Local planning guidance
Suffolk BNG planning checklist
Unsure which ecology evidence your Suffolk council will require?
Send ACP your development location, plans and any existing ecology reports. We can help identify a proportionate BNG assessment and the relevant planning constraints.
Local planning guidance
How ACP Consultants can help
A useful BNG assessment should guide design and planning decisions, rather than simply produce a percentage at the end of a project.
ACP can help scope habitat surveys, interpret the biodiversity metric and assess appropriate onsite or registered offsite delivery routes.
Where coastal protected sites, the Broads, or other ecological constraints affect a proposal, separate survey and planning evidence may also be necessary.
The appropriate work depends on the development location and stage. It should not assume that all Suffolk applicants need identical reports.
For an overview of the wider process, see ACP's BNG process guide and BNG consultancy services.
Local planning guidance
Frequently asked questions about BNG in Suffolk
Is biodiversity net gain mandatory for every planning application in Suffolk?
No. Statutory BNG generally applies to qualifying planning permissions, but exemptions and transitional provisions exist. Check the application date, red-line site area, development type and habitat impacts.
Which Suffolk planning authority should receive my BNG documents?
Most ordinary applications go to East Suffolk, West Suffolk, Babergh, Mid Suffolk or Ipswich. Broads Authority land follows its separate planning process. Suffolk County Council deals with minerals, waste and certain county developments.
Does East Suffolk have one adopted Local Plan?
Not yet. The former Suffolk Coastal area uses its 2020 adopted plan, while former Waveney uses the 2019 plan. A unified East Suffolk replacement is being prepared but is not adopted.
What BNG policies apply in Babergh and Mid Suffolk?
Both districts use the November 2023 Joint Local Plan Part 1, including LP16 Biodiversity and Geodiversity. A Biodiversity and Trees SPD was adopted in March 2025. The councils remain separate planning authorities.
Is West Suffolk's new Local Plan adopted?
Yes. West Suffolk adopted its Local Plan 2024–2041 in July 2025, including SP8 on Biodiversity Net Gain and Enhancements. Its proposed 2045 review is a separate, emerging plan-making process.
When was Suffolk's Local Nature Recovery Strategy published?
Suffolk County Council published it in October 2025. Norfolk and Suffolk worked together, but have separate statutory LNRS areas and maps.
Does land inside the Suffolk LNRS map automatically gain extra biodiversity units?
No. A suitable mapped potential measure, habitat type, location and current metric must align. The conditional strategic-significance factor is not a blanket uplift for all mapped land.
Can a development on 0.2 hectares or less be exempt from BNG?
For qualifying applications made on or after 6 August 2026, the exemption can apply where the whole red-line site is no larger than 0.2 hectares and the development does not adversely affect onsite priority habitat.
Are self-build homes automatically exempt from biodiversity net gain?
No. The former self-build/custom-build-specific exemption was removed for new applications made from 6 August 2026. An applicant may qualify under a different exemption, but must satisfy its separate conditions.
Is the Suffolk Coast RAMS contribution the same as buying BNG units?
No. RAMS contributions address potential recreational disturbance to protected coastal sites. BNG units represent biodiversity habitat value. A scheme within the relevant zone can need both.
Do Suffolk developments need nutrient neutrality calculations?
Not universally. Certain projects within affected Broads protected-site catchments may need a separate nutrient budget and mitigation. The catchment, wastewater pathway and development type must be checked.
What should I send ACP for a Suffolk BNG quotation?
Share the red-line site plan or address, development description, drawings, application stage, planning authority if known and existing ecology reports. Include any known RAMS, Broads or designated-site constraints.
Local planning guidance
Discuss biodiversity net gain for your Suffolk site
If you are preparing an application, reviewing habitat survey results or considering habitat delivery options, the best starting point is the site and the proposed works.
Tell ACP about your Suffolk development. We can help identify the likely BNG evidence, ecological constraints and suitable next steps.
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.
Request a site-specific quotation
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Suffolk BNG
Sources and references
Reviewed 7 November 2026.
Official planning and nature recovery sources
- GOV.UK biodiversity net gain planning guidance
- GOV.UK BNG exemptions
- Statutory biodiversity metric tools
- Suffolk Local Nature Recovery Strategy
- Suffolk LNRS landowner/map guidance
- Suffolk Coastal Local Plan
- Waveney Local Plan
- Babergh and Mid Suffolk Joint Local Plan
- Biodiversity and Trees SPD
- Ipswich adopted Local Plan
- local validation list
- West Suffolk adopted Local Plan
- Broads Local Plan
- Broads validation checklist
- Suffolk County minerals and waste plan
- Suffolk Coast RAMS
- Broads nutrient neutrality
- Government biodiversity gain sites register