Merseyside BNG advice
Biodiversity Net Gain in Merseyside
Plan your Merseyside 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 Merseyside site.
Local planning guidance
Which Merseyside council handles your planning application?
For ordinary development, Merseyside has five local planning authorities: Liverpool City Council, Sefton Council, Knowsley Council, St Helens Council and Wirral Council.
However, the Liverpool City Region also includes Halton Borough Council. Halton is a separate planning authority and is not one of Merseyside's five metropolitan boroughs.
That difference matters when selecting an adopted Local Plan or the right planning application portal. The region's Combined Authority leads the Nature Recovery Strategy but does not decide every local planning application.
Start with the site's full red-line boundary, rather than the nearest city name or postcode. Confirm the planning authority before using its validation checklist.
Why does the Liverpool City Region include Halton?
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority works with six councils: the five metropolitan Merseyside boroughs plus Halton.
All six contributed to the published regional nature recovery strategy. However, they remain separate planning authorities.
For example, an application in Widnes or Runcorn generally belongs to Halton Borough Council, not Liverpool or St Helens.
If an applicant needs Halton-specific local planning guidance, the Halton Delivery and Allocations Local Plan is the proper policy starting point. The LCR nature recovery map does not replace that plan.
Local planning guidance
Merseyside adopted Local Plans and BNG requirements
National statutory BNG rules apply to qualifying development across the area. Nevertheless, local plans and application evidence requirements differ.
The following policy comparison explains the current starting point. Always check the full adopted Local Plan, policies map and any relevant supplementary guidance.
Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley
| Local planning authority | Adopted policy framework | Important application check |
|---|---|---|
| Liverpool City Council | Liverpool Local Plan 2013–2033 adopted 26 January 2022, with biodiversity, green infrastructure and mapped natural assets policies. | Liverpool has a biodiversity checklist, BNG advice note and local draft gain-plan guidance. Liverpool Local Plan 2043 remains emerging. Apply the current national exemption rules alongside the council’s submission requirements. |
| Sefton Council | Sefton Local Plan 2015–2030 adopted 20 April 2017, including NH1 Natural Assets, NH2 Nature and NH3 Nature Improvement Area. | Bootle Area Action Plan adopted 15 January 2026 adds BAAP9 Nature for Bootle and nearby areas. A new Nature SPD was adopted in June 2026. Sefton Coast protected-site duties can apply. |
| Knowsley Council | Knowsley Local Plan Core Strategy adopted January 2016. CS8 Green Infrastructure supports ecological networks and biodiversity. | A new-system plan timetable took effect 3 November 2026. Its notice and first consultation were scheduled later, so no adopted replacement exists yet. Check Knowsley's current validation list. |
St Helens, Wirral and the Halton boundary
| Local planning authority | Adopted policy framework | Important application check |
|---|---|---|
| St Helens Council | St Helens Borough Local Plan up to 2037 adopted July 2022, alongside the joint Waste Local Plan. | Check the operative biodiversity and green-infrastructure policies for the site. The Bold Forest Garden Village masterplan adopted in January 2026 is a specific council framework, not a countywide BNG rule. |
| Wirral Council | Wirral Local Plan 2022–2040 adopted 31 March 2025, including WS5 Green and Blue Infrastructure, Biodiversity and Landscape and WD3 Biodiversity and Geodiversity. | The Biodiversity and Nature Recovery SPD was at scoping stage in 2026, and remains in preparation. Estuary, coast, protected sites and visitor-impact mitigation may need separate checks. |
| Halton Council — wider City Region only | Halton Delivery and Allocations Local Plan adopted 2 March 2022, with natural environment and green-infrastructure policies. | Halton is not a sixth Merseyside metropolitan borough. Its own Local Plan and validation rules apply, although its land falls inside the LCR Local Nature Recovery Strategy. |
What changed in Sefton's planning policies in 2026?
Sefton adopted the Bootle Area Action Plan on 15 January 2026, covering Bootle and parts of Seaforth and Litherland.
It adds local planning policies for regeneration, public spaces and nature, including BAAP9 Nature. Sefton's June 2026 Nature Supplementary Planning Document also adds guidance to the existing nature policies.
These documents matter for qualifying proposals in their respective areas. However, an SPD offers more detail about existing policies; it is not a new statutory Local Plan by itself.
For a proposal in Formby, Southport or elsewhere in Sefton, the correct policy map and local constraints may be different from those around Bootle.
Does the Merseyside and Halton Waste Local Plan affect BNG?
The six councils jointly adopted the Merseyside and Halton Waste Local Plan in July 2013. It remains part of their adopted planning frameworks where relevant.
A 2025 review produced supporting evidence, but that review is not an adopted replacement.
Waste development can involve restoration, land contamination, drainage and ecological mitigation. Existing legal restoration duties cannot automatically be counted as additional biodiversity gain for another planning permission.
Local planning guidance
How does statutory biodiversity net gain work in Merseyside?
BNG compares the habitat biodiversity value before and after development. The statutory biodiversity metric uses habitat type, area, condition and other prescribed factors.
An appropriate survey establishes the existing habitat baseline. The design team can then test options for keeping, creating or improving habitats.
The metric should inform the design early. For example, protecting a mature hedgerow may be more suitable than removing it and relying on replacement planting.
For an eligible non-exempt planning permission, a Biodiversity Gain Plan must normally be approved before development begins. Local councils can require some baseline surveys, metric and supporting information earlier, at application stage.
Are all minor developments required to deliver 10% BNG?
No. There are statutory exemptions, and recent changes matter.
For qualifying applications made on or after 6 August 2026, a site with a full red-line area of 0.2 hectares or less may be exempt if the proposed works do not impact any on-site priority habitat.
Separate exemptions can apply to householder, de minimis and certain temporary developments. The rules also depend on the application date and any transitional arrangements.
The former general self-build and custom-build exemption was removed for new applications from 6 August 2026.
An exemption from the statutory biodiversity gain condition does not automatically remove local ecology assessments, protected species obligations or Habitats Regulations requirements.
Which biodiversity metric applies?
The official Statutory Biodiversity Metric was updated to version 1.1.0 on 3 November 2026.
The latest guide clarifies spatial risk where watercourse impacts span more than one catchment. Government guidance allows other valid statutory workbook versions, but an older non-statutory Metric 4.0 is not suitable for a new mandatory BNG calculation.
Some eligible developments may use the Small Sites Metric. This is a separate decision from exemption: a minor planning application does not automatically qualify for the simplified method.
The metric assesses area habitats, hedgerows and watercourses separately. Surplus habitat units in one category cannot simply replace a deficit in another.
See our Statutory Biodiversity Metric guide and Small Sites Metric guidance.
Local planning guidance
Liverpool City Region's published Local Nature Recovery Strategy
The Liverpool City Region Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) was approved on 6 March 2026 and officially launched on 20 March 2026.
It covers Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens, Wirral and Halton. The Combined Authority leads the strategy, working with local councils and ecological partners.
Its purpose is to identify where action for nature could make the greatest difference. It provides a statement of biodiversity priorities and a Local Habitat Map.
The map can help developers and land managers assess whether habitat improvements support the wider ecological network.
However, the LNRS is not planning permission, a habitat survey or proof that registered biodiversity units are available on a particular parcel.
What does the Liverpool City Region Local Habitat Map include?
The published map shows existing core nature sites and mapped recovery measures across several groups.
These include wetlands and watercourses, coastal and estuarine habitats, grassland and heathland, trees and woodland, urban areas, farmland, invasive species and priority species.
A mapped recovery theme helps identify a potentially suitable type of action. Nevertheless, the relevant measure, habitat type and actual site conditions need examination before using the information in a statutory calculation.
For example, proposed woodland may be unsuitable on an existing valuable open coastal habitat. Equally, wetland habitat creation requires feasible water conditions and long-term management.
How should you use the LNRS for a BNG scheme?
- Confirm the planning authority and the site's exact red-line boundary. The LNRS area includes Halton, but planning decisions remain with the individual council.
- Open the final LCR Local Habitat Map and examine the specific local recovery measure, not simply the general map colour.
- Review the written strategy to understand the relevant habitat priority and intended ecological action.
- Compare with the baseline survey and proposed habitats, including UKHab habitat type, condition and ecological feasibility.
- Record the metric reasoning if claiming strategic significance. Use the current statutory user guide and the real mapped measure.
- Check the delivery plan, including land rights, soils, water, habitat maintenance and any separate environmental permissions.
An LNRS opportunity area does not automatically increase biodiversity units. Nor does it compel a landowner to carry out a project or register a gain site.
Local Habitat Map: Explore the Liverpool City Region Local Habitat Map.
Can older Merseyside ecological-network guidance still be used?
Older ecological-network evidence can provide useful background. However, the published March 2026 LNRS is now the statutory strategy.
In particular, earlier MEAS guidance titled Strategic Significance prior to publication of LNRS was designed for the period before the final strategy.
Consequently, do not apply that interim guidance automatically to a new November 2026 metric assessment. Start with the final LNRS, the relevant habitat measure and current statutory metric guidance.
Local planning guidance
Merseyside habitats and development considerations
Merseyside contains important estuaries, wetlands, dunes, grasslands, woodland, parks and urban wildlife corridors. There is no single habitat-creation solution suitable for every site.
The Mersey and Dee estuaries
The Mersey and Dee estuaries support saltmarsh, intertidal mudflats and important bird populations.
Some areas have international or national nature conservation designations. Therefore, coastal development may need protected-site screening, habitat surveys and a separate assessment of effects on birds or aquatic environments.
Tidal and coastal habitats can be difficult to create or manage. Any proposed restoration needs to consider hydrology, coastal processes and the relevant consents.
Sefton Coast dunes, wetlands and grassland
The Sefton Coast includes dunes, grasslands and coastal wildlife habitats near Southport, Ainsdale, Formby and Crosby.
Existing habitats may already be high-value. In addition, some development may increase visitor pressure on protected sites.
For that reason, BNG planning needs to distinguish habitat gains from separate Habitats Regulations visitor mitigation. The legal tests cannot be replaced by a metric percentage alone.
Wirral's coast, woodland and hedgerows
Wirral has important coastal landscapes and established woodland, parks, hedgerows and farmland habitats.
The 2025 Wirral Local Plan addresses green and blue infrastructure, biodiversity and landscape protection. These considerations may affect both layout and ecological survey requirements.
For example, retaining established trees and hedgerows can help maintain habitat connections while a development incorporates new planting.
Liverpool, Knowsley and St Helens urban networks
Urban land can support valuable habitat in parks, railway corridors, river channels, gardens and some previously developed sites.
Knowsley's green infrastructure policy helps protect ecological networks. Meanwhile, St Helens has restored former industrial and mining landscapes.
A development on a brownfield site should not automatically assume that all existing land is low-value habitat. Proper survey evidence remains necessary.
Local planning guidance
Protected coastal sites and visitor mitigation are separate from BNG
Some developments near the Sefton Coast, the Mersey Estuary or Wirral's protected shores can require a Habitats Regulations Assessment.
For relevant residential or visitor-generating development, the concern may include additional recreation pressure on sensitive bird or dune habitats.
Sefton has used an interim visitor mitigation approach, while Wirral's adopted Local Plan also identifies protected-site and recreation mitigation requirements.
The precise scope can differ between councils, sites and development types. Confirm the applicable mitigation and current charges with the relevant council.
Can visitor mitigation count as biodiversity net gain?
Not automatically. Statutory BNG measures additional habitat value. Protected-site visitor mitigation addresses a separate obligation to avoid adverse effects on designated habitats and species.
A contribution to manage visitor pressure is not a registered off-site biodiversity unit.
Where a scheme proposes habitat works that also address another legal obligation, additionality and double-counting rules must be checked before any units are claimed.
Are there other ecological obligations?
Yes. Depending on the site, development can need protected-species surveys, tree assessments, flood and drainage review, coastal permitting, watercourse evidence or contaminated-land investigations.
Port, airport and major infrastructure proposals may have further environmental assessment and consent requirements.
For qualifying nationally significant infrastructure projects with Development Consent Order applications submitted from 2 November 2026, a separate statutory BNG process now applies. It includes relevant terrestrial and intertidal habitats up to mean low-water mark.
The appropriate consenting route and project boundary must be established before preparing the calculation.
Local planning guidance
On-site gains, off-site biodiversity units and long-term management
A good BNG scheme begins by understanding the habitats that can realistically be retained and protected.
The next step is to consider suitable enhancement or habitat creation within the development site. The statutory metric can help explore design options and any remaining shortfall.
Where additional gain is needed, appropriately registered off-site biodiversity units may be used under the relevant trading and allocation rules.
For qualifying non-major applications made from 6 August 2026, onsite habitat creation or enhancement and registered offsite gains share the same preference level. Major development and earlier applications can follow different hierarchy rules.
Statutory biodiversity credits are a separate last-resort mechanism. Coastal visitor mitigation contributions and legally required habitat compensation also need their own assessment.
Can a Merseyside landowner establish a habitat bank?
Potentially. A suitable habitat bank needs a credible baseline, appropriate habitat creation or restoration proposals, legal securing and long-term management.
Off-site gains normally require entry on the national biodiversity gain sites register before their units can be allocated to a particular development.
The Liverpool City Region LNRS can help investigate where proposals might support nature recovery. However, it does not make land automatically eligible for saleable units.
Actual registered site details, habitat categories, spatial factors and available allocations must be verified. Do not assume a price or current supply simply because an opportunity is mapped.
What are the management requirements?
Significant onsite and registered offsite biodiversity gains normally need at least 30 years of legally secured habitat management.
A Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP) can set out target conditions, establishment, maintenance, monitoring, responsibilities and corrective measures.
For example, a proposed meadow or wetland should account for soil condition, water management, access, maintenance and changing environmental risks.
Read our off-site biodiversity units guidance and Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan advice.
Local planning guidance
Merseyside BNG planning checklist
Use this checklist before submitting planning information. It helps organise the evidence but does not determine statutory exemption or guarantee validation.
The aim is a clear explanation of what habitats will remain, what will improve and how the gains will be maintained.
Local planning guidance
How ACP can support BNG projects in Merseyside
A useful Merseyside BNG assessment connects the site evidence with the planning route, design and long-term delivery. We agree the scope around your proposal and the information already available.
Clarify the council and planning stage
Identify Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens or Wirral and the applicable adopted policies. Halton has its own planning route within the wider Liverpool City Region strategy area.
Assess the site’s habitat value
Agree habitat and condition surveys suited to the proposal. Previously developed land, parks, hedgerows, woodland and coastal habitats can all need careful assessment before the design is fixed.
Use the Liverpool City Region LNRS
Match proposed habitats to the published nature recovery measures and their mapped locations. Document the metric assumptions and practical retention, enhancement or creation options.
Prepare a coordinated submission
Bring together habitat plans, metric calculations and the agreed planning report. Identify separate coastal or visitor-mitigation evidence and plan gain-plan approval, legal securing and long-term management.
For further detail, see BNG reporting service, Biodiversity Gain Plan guidance.
Local planning guidance
Merseyside biodiversity net gain FAQs
Which councils handle biodiversity net gain applications in Merseyside?
Merseyside has five metropolitan borough planning authorities: Liverpool City Council, Sefton Council, Knowsley Council, St Helens Council and Wirral Council. Each applies the national BNG rules together with its own adopted Local Plan and validation requirements. There is no single Merseyside County Council making ordinary planning decisions.
Is Halton part of the Merseyside BNG planning area?
Halton is a separate unitary planning authority, not one of Merseyside's five metropolitan boroughs. However, it is one of the six member councils in the Liverpool City Region and is covered by the published Liverpool City Region LNRS. Halton's adopted planning policies and validation process still apply independently.
Has the Liverpool City Region Local Nature Recovery Strategy been published?
Yes. The Combined Authority approved it on 6 March 2026, with the formal decision effective 14 March, and publicly launched it on 20 March 2026. The published strategy contains nature recovery priorities and a Local Habitat Map covering Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens, Wirral and Halton.
Does the LCR Local Habitat Map automatically increase BNG units?
No. An area shown on the map may help identify a suitable nature recovery measure. However, the proposed habitat, its location and the current statutory metric requirements must match. The map is not a biodiversity survey, planning permission, automatic strategic significance uplift or gain-site registration.
Has Wirral adopted its new Local Plan?
Yes. Wirral adopted the Local Plan 2022–2040 on 31 March 2025. Biodiversity and green infrastructure provisions include WS5 and WD3. Its separate Biodiversity and Nature Recovery SPD remains in preparation.
What new nature planning documents did Sefton adopt in 2026?
Sefton adopted the Bootle Area Action Plan on 15 January 2026, including BAAP9 Nature, and approved its Nature Supplementary Planning Document for adoption on 4 June 2026. These add local planning policy and guidance alongside Sefton's adopted 2017 Local Plan, including nature policies NH1–NH3.
Does a small Merseyside development always need 10% BNG?
No. For qualifying applications made from 6 August 2026, a development on a red-line site of 0.2 hectares or less can be exempt if it does not impact on-site priority habitat. Other statutory exemptions and transitional rules also need checking. Local ecology and protected-site obligations may remain.
Are new self-build houses exempt from BNG?
Not solely because they are self-build. The former general new self-build and custom-build exemption ended from 6 August 2026. Check the application date, applicable national rules and whether another exemption independently applies.
Can my development use the Small Sites Metric?
Only when it meets the tool's eligibility requirements. Small Sites Metric eligibility is different from exemption from mandatory BNG. Habitat complexity, particular features and the type of development can require the full statutory metric, even for a comparatively small proposal.
Are coastal visitor mitigation payments the same as biodiversity units?
No. Development that may affect the Sefton Coast, Mersey Estuary or Wirral protected sites can need separate Habitats Regulations evidence or visitor-impact mitigation. Such payments or measures are not automatically registered off-site biodiversity units, and statutory additionality rules still apply.
Can Merseyside habitat banks provide off-site BNG units?
Potentially, but actual availability must be verified. A proposal or LNRS opportunity area does not show the land is registered or has units available for allocation. Check the national gain sites register, legal agreement, habitat category, spatial factors and actual allocation to the development. Do not rely solely on a supplier advertisement.
When must the Biodiversity Gain Plan be approved?
For a planning permission subject to the statutory gain condition, the Biodiversity Gain Plan is generally approved before development commences. Councils may also request baseline habitats, a metric and draft information at the planning application stage. Phased schemes and some nationally significant infrastructure projects follow separate requirements.
Local planning guidance
Discuss your Merseyside BNG project
Tell us where the site is, which council is involved and what you plan to develop.
A red-line plan, draft layout, application stage and any existing ecology or habitat documents can help establish the appropriate next steps.
We can discuss BNG assessment, metric calculations, planning reports and long-term management requirements. Separate protected-site or coastal mitigation can be identified where relevant.
Discuss your Merseyside biodiversity net gain requirements
Alternatively, contact ACP directly.
Merseyside BNG
Sources and references
Reviewed 10 November 2026.
National BNG guidance
Talk to ACP / Site enquiries
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