Isle of Wight BNG advice
Biodiversity Net Gain on the Isle of Wight
Plan your Isle of Wight 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 Isle of Wight site.
Local planning guidance
What does biodiversity net gain mean for island development?
Most planning applications in scope must achieve at least 10% biodiversity gain under national law.
An ecologist first identifies the existing habitats, often through UKHab mapping and a condition survey. They then calculate the habitat baseline using the statutory biodiversity metric.
Next, the proposed development is assessed for habitat retention, creation and enhancement. The calculation considers habitat type, condition, size, distinctiveness and delivery risks.
Biodiversity value is not just the percentage of a site left as green space.
Furthermore, area habitats, hedgerows and watercourses have separate unit calculations. Extra grassland cannot automatically replace the loss of an important hedge or stream.
On the island, existing chalk grassland, woodland, wetlands and coastal habitats can carry high ecological value. Some also qualify as priority habitat.
Therefore, early ecological advice can improve site layouts and reduce avoidable losses before the design becomes fixed.
Read about ACP's BNG assessment services and statutory biodiversity metric calculations.
Local planning guidance
Which planning authority and Local Plan apply on the Isle of Wight?
Isle of Wight Council is the island's unitary local planning authority. It deals with most housing, commercial, rural and minerals or waste applications.
It is not divided into separate English district planning authorities. However, the location and type of development affect which policies and assessments apply.
| Site or development context | Responsible planning route | Key evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Newport, Ryde, Cowes, East Cowes and surrounding development | Isle of Wight Council | Adopted 2026 Interim Island Planning Strategy (IPS); EV2 biodiversity and other applicable policies |
| Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor and southern island development | Isle of Wight Council | IPS EV2, tree/coastal/landscape policies, erosion/flood and designated-site screening |
| West Wight, freshwater/coastal sites and rural communities | Isle of Wight Council | IPS EV2/EV5/EV11, habitat assessment and National Landscape issues where relevant |
| Housing within the mapped Solent SPA 5.6km recreation zone | Isle of Wight Council | Separate EV3 Bird Aware Solent recreational disturbance/Habitats Regulations assessment |
| Qualifying development draining within the mapped island Solent nitrate-neutrality catchment | Isle of Wight Council | Separate EV4 nitrogen budget, drainage and Habitats Regulations evidence as relevant |
| Minerals, waste, coastal regeneration or other locally consented specialist proposals | Isle of Wight Council | IPS and relevant saved 2012 SP8, SP9 and MA1–MA6 policies where applicable |
| Nationally significant infrastructure with statutory development consent | Relevant national consenting authority | Separate national infrastructure route and BNG rules from 2 November 2026, where in scope |
The Isle of Wight National Landscape is a protected landscape, not another planning authority.
Likewise, the UNESCO Isle of Wight Biosphere Reserve does not create a second planning council or a blanket BNG exemption.
Local evidence worksheet
Original island planning aid
Which Isle of Wight biodiversity evidence does your project need?
Check these three separate routes against the actual red-line site. The worksheet guides the evidence you collect; it does not decide BNG eligibility, calculate nitrogen or approve a development.
Is it in scope? Which habitat baseline, metric and EV2 ecology evidence apply?
Will net new accommodation fall within the mapped 5.6km Solent SPA recreation zone?
Is the site inside the separate nitrogen-neutrality catchment, with a drainage impact pathway?
Choose the questions that fit your application
Which adopted Local Plan should I use?
Isle of Wight Council adopted its Interim Island Planning Strategy on 16 September 2026. Current ordinary applications use EV2 biodiversity, EV3 recreation, EV4 nitrates and EV5 trees where relevant. Some older SP8, SP9, MA1–MA6, DM19 Waste and DM20 Minerals policies remain expressly saved.
Is my site small enough to be exempt from statutory BNG?
For qualifying new applications from 6 August 2026, a whole red-line site of 0.2 hectares or less may be exempt, but not if the works adversely affect onsite priority habitat. Householder and de minimis tests have different conditions. The specific self-build exemption was removed for new applications from that date.
Could there be priority chalk grassland, woodland, hedgerows or coastal habitat?
Yes, these habitats occur on the island. A site may also contain open mosaic priority habitat on previously developed land. However, habitat presence and condition need real site evidence. Qualifying priority habitat impacts can prevent some BNG exemptions, so obtain proportionate UKHab and ecology assessment first.
Is Bird Aware Solent mitigation relevant to my housing scheme?
Relevant net additional homes in the mapped 5.6km Solent SPA recreation zone may need a Bird Aware contribution or approved alternative mitigation. This includes parts of northern Isle of Wight, not the whole island. 2026 base fees vary with bedrooms. Payments do not buy BNG habitat units.
Bird Aware current fees and strategy · Isle of Wight Council guidance
Could EV4 Solent nitrate neutrality be required?
The council publishes a separate mapped nitrate-neutrality catchment. A site inside it with a relevant wastewater/nutrient pathway may need a budget and Habitats Regulations mitigation. The council says land outside the shaded catchment does not need this nitrate-neutrality test. The nitrate map and Bird Aware zone are different.
Can an LNRS recovery area or habitat bank solve these obligations?
Not automatically. The April 2025 Isle of Wight LNRS may inform strategic significance where the proposed habitat and mapped measure qualify. Offsite BNG units need legal security, national registration and allocation. Neither can be assumed to discharge Bird Aware or nitrogen mitigation.
Ten records to prepare before submitting
Local planning guidance
A new adopted Local Plan: the Interim Island Planning Strategy 2026
The Interim Island Planning Strategy (IPS) was adopted on 16 September 2026. Planning decisions use its policies from 17 September 2026.
The plan covers 2025–2037. It replaces most of the previous Island Plan Core Strategy, adopted in March 2012.
However, selected older policies remain saved. These include SP8, SP9, MA1–MA6, DM19 Waste and DM20 Minerals.
Use adopted IPS Policy EV2 as the current biodiversity policy, alongside the national BNG requirements.
Prepare the application evidence required by the council’s current validation guidance and the adopted Island Planning Strategy.
EV2 — Ecological assets and opportunities for enhancement
Policy EV2 provides the island's current adopted context for habitats, ecological networks, biodiversity improvements and the published LNRS.
Qualifying development still needs the national statutory 10% BNG objective, while applicable local ecology policies can also seek improvements in exempt proposals.
The strategy supports integrating wildlife habitats, maintaining ecological networks and taking the LNRS into account.
Adopted EV2 requires a metric demonstrating at least 10% gain for development subject to mandatory BNG. It also addresses protected habitats, ecological networks and alignment with the island’s LNRS.
For applications, use the adopted EV2 policy and the current statutory metric, not an older unmodified draft.
EV3 — Recreation impact on the Solent marine sites
Policy EV3 concerns the additional effects that new homes and visitors can have on protected Solent bird habitats.
Its practical route is often through Bird Aware Solent, where the site and proposal fall within the relevant mitigation area.
This is separate from statutory BNG, and it does not use biodiversity unit calculations.
EV4 — Water quality impact on Solent marine sites: nitrates
Policy EV4 addresses harmful nitrogen loading and water-quality effects in relevant protected Solent catchments.
Where development has a real nutrient impact pathway, it may require wastewater and drainage information, a nutrient budget and suitable mitigation.
The council's nitrate map identifies where island proposals need to demonstrate nitrate neutrality. It is not one island-wide obligation without a catchment test.
EV5, EV11 and other environmental policies
EV5 covers trees, woodlands and hedgerows. Isle of Wight Council confirms a minimum 15-metre buffer to ancient woodland in its adopted plan summary.
EV11 provides a dedicated policy for the Isle of Wight National Landscape.
Other policies address green/open space, flood risk, coastal management and ground instability. These may influence whether proposed habitats can be maintained successfully.
Local planning guidance
Is the 2012 Island Plan Core Strategy still applicable?
Most of its policies were replaced when the new IPS took effect in September 2026.
However, the council explicitly retained SP8, SP9, MA1–MA6, DM19 Waste and DM20 Minerals pending their future replacement. These are linked from the adopted IPS webpage.
The new plan remains the main reference for current applications. Relevant saved policies and made neighbourhood plans may also apply to a particular site.
Some older planning forms refer to DM12 Landscape, Seascape, Biodiversity and Geodiversity. That was the previous ecology policy, not the main current EV2 policy.
Therefore, the application should refer to adopted IPS EV2, alongside current statutory BNG rules and applicable saved policies.
Local planning guidance
Isle of Wight Local Nature Recovery Strategy: approved April 2025
Isle of Wight Council is responsible for the island's Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS).
The council's Cabinet approved the final strategy on 24 April 2025, following approval by Defra and Natural England earlier that month.
The Isle of Wight was one of the first areas in England to publish its strategy.
The LNRS is already published, not a 2026 plan still awaiting consultation.
Importantly, the Isle of Wight has its own statutory LNRS, distinct from neighbouring Hampshire's LNRS. The two areas share coastal ecosystems but not one combined strategy.
The final island strategy comprises a description of the island, biodiversity priorities and measures, priority species and assemblages, technical methods and a Local Habitat Map.
For an applicant, the strategy can support ecological design, but it does not replace a UKHab field survey or automatically award habitat units.
Using the island's Local Habitat Map
The map distinguishes existing important habitats from opportunities where restoration or creation could improve nature recovery.
Start by checking the actual red-line site, mapped layers, priority habitats and potential measures.
Next, consider the proposed habitat action in the context of the written strategy. Some ecological opportunities require more detailed site evidence.
An opportunity polygon does not guarantee that a site is suitable for a particular woodland, pond, meadow or wetland.
Does LNRS mapping automatically increase BNG units?
No. The statutory metric can assign a 1.15 strategic-significance factor only if the actual location, eligible measure and habitat action satisfy the current rules.
The island's LNRS map is strategic, not a substitute for habitat classification, condition scoring or other ecological constraints.
For example, restoring chalk grassland should reflect the existing habitat, soil, management and mapped recovery objective.
An LNRS measure is also not automatically a legally secured offsite gain site or evidence that units can be purchased.
Local planning guidance
Island habitats that matter for development
The Isle of Wight has distinctive habitats from chalk downs and ancient woodland to saltmarsh, coastal lagoons, rivers and seagrass.
Not every planning site contains these features. However, they help identify suitable early ecological checks.
Chalk grassland, downland and butterflies
The island's chalk ridge supports important grassland, including priority habitat in some locations.
Long-term management often depends on grazing, appropriate cutting and preventing scrub encroachment.
Consequently, a proposed gain in chalk grassland needs realistic soils, establishment methods and ongoing habitat management.
Woodland, veteran trees and hedgerows
Northern island woodland, wood pasture, parkland trees and hedgerows can provide important ecological networks.
Existing ancient woodland and veteran trees require protection beyond a simple replacement planting calculation.
The adopted IPS EV5 minimum 15m ancient woodland buffer may influence development layouts.
Rivers, marshes and coastal lagoons
Rivers, floodplain meadows, reedbeds and coastal wetlands support wildlife and provide wider environmental functions.
Protected lagoons, saltmarshes and other coastal features can also require Habitats Regulations screening.
Watercourse units and area habitat units have different metric and trading requirements.
Coastal brownfield and priority habitat
Some previously developed land can support open mosaic habitats and valuable invertebrate communities.
Consequently, an unused or small site is not automatically low value.
The council identifies chalk grassland, traditional orchards, hedgerows, coastal grazing marsh, wetlands, woodland and other priority habitats as relevant exemption-screening features.
Local planning guidance
Protected coastal sites and ecological duties separate from BNG
The island's coast includes internationally important SACs, SPAs and other protected habitats.
For example, the Solent and Isle of Wight Lagoons SAC protects coastal lagoon habitat. The wider Solent system also supports important protected birds.
A relevant development may need separate Habitats Regulations evidence, even when it achieves a positive biodiversity metric.
Protected species such as bats, red squirrels, water voles or nesting birds may also require suitable surveys and mitigation when an actual impact pathway exists.
The need for these assessments depends on the proposal and site. A postcode or county name cannot establish an automatic survey requirement.
The same principle applies to coastal erosion, flooding and changes to shoreline habitat.
Local planning guidance
Bird Aware Solent: recreation mitigation is not BNG
Bird Aware Solent addresses recreational disturbance to protected Solent birds caused by additional homes and associated visitors.
The relevant zone extends 5.6km from designated Solent Special Protection Areas, covering parts of the northern Isle of Wight.
It does not automatically cover every site across the entire island.
For eligible housing within the zone, Isle of Wight Council may require a developer contribution or an acceptable alternative mitigation scheme.
Published 2026 Bird Aware contributions
Bird Aware Solent published the following base rates from 1 April 2026 for all-year dwellings:
| Bedrooms | Bird Aware base contribution per net additional dwelling |
|---|---|
| One | £501 |
| Two | £723 |
| Three | £942 |
| Four | £1,108 |
| Five or more | £1,299 |
| Unspecified bedrooms, where eligible | £836 flat rate |
These charges are dated, index-linked recreational mitigation contributions, not BNG biodiversity unit prices.
Summer-only and winter-only use categories have different rates. Larger or sensitive developments may need separate, bespoke mitigation.
Confirm the actual location, development type, occupancy and latest council payment requirements before relying on a tariff.
A Bird Aware payment does not automatically deliver 10% BNG. It also does not satisfy every other protected-site impact.
Local planning guidance
Solent nitrate neutrality: a different island catchment map
The Solent's internationally protected marine habitats are sensitive to nutrient enrichment.
Some developments can increase nitrogen loading through wastewater and drainage. In affected catchments, the planning authority may require a nutrient budget and suitable mitigation.
The adopted Island Planning Strategy contains EV4, Water Quality Impact on Solent Marine Sites (Nitrates).
Importantly, Isle of Wight Council publishes a map of the nitrate-neutrality catchment on the island.
The council states that land outside the mapped catchment does not need to demonstrate this Solent nitrate neutrality. That does not waive any other protected-site duty.
A project's wastewater treatment works, drainage route, land use and actual catchment location therefore matter.
How does nitrate mitigation differ from BNG?
A nitrate mitigation credit or legally secured drainage solution seeks to avoid damaging water-quality effects on protected sites.
A statutory BNG unit instead measures habitat biodiversity value through the biodiversity metric.
Similarly, Bird Aware Solent deals with recreational disturbance.
BNG, Bird Aware and nitrate neutrality are three distinct planning processes. A project can trigger one or more, depending on its real effects.
A council list of possible wastewater treatment works or third-party nitrate credits does not prove a scheme's nutrient neutrality, price or available allocation.
Local planning guidance
A quick comparison of the three requirements
| Planning question | Statutory BNG | Bird Aware Solent | Nitrate neutrality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Measurable habitat biodiversity improvement | Reduce recreation pressure on protected birds | Prevent harmful additional nitrogen loading |
| Typical trigger | A planning application in scope, considering exemptions | Relevant new accommodation within SPA 5.6km zone | A relevant proposal within mapped Solent nitrate catchment, with loading pathway |
| Main evidence | UKHab baseline, statutory metric, habitat plan and Gain Plan | Site/bedroom/use, SPA zone and contribution or bespoke mitigation | Wastewater/drainage pathway, nutrient budget and HRA evidence |
| What it is not | Not a Solent recreation payment or nitrogen budget | Not a registered BNG unit | Not automatically a BNG habitat unit or Bird Aware payment |
| What to do first | Check application date, red-line size and priority habitat | Check actual mapped 5.6km zone and proposal type | Check official catchment map and wastewater destination |
This comparison is a scoping aid, not a legal determination. Some schemes need additional HRA evidence beyond these three routes.
Local planning guidance
Does the 0.2-hectare BNG exemption apply on the Isle of Wight?
From 6 August 2026, qualifying new applications with a whole red-line site of 0.2 hectares or less may be exempt from statutory BNG.
However, the exemption does not apply where the development adversely impacts onsite priority habitat.
This matters on an island with chalk grassland, hedgerows, ancient woodland, coastal marsh and other priority habitats.
Other categories include householder applications, the distinct de minimis habitat-impact test and qualifying wholly temporary developments.
The previous specific self-build or custom-build exemption was removed for new applications made from 6 August 2026. Earlier permissions and some variations may retain transitional rules.
A small site, private garden or self-build label is not by itself proof of exemption.
Even when statutory BNG does not apply, adopted IPS EV2 and protected species or Habitats Regulations duties may still require ecological enhancement or mitigation.
For current rules see ACP's BNG exemptions guide and GOV.UK exempt-development guidance.
Local planning guidance
What BNG documents does Isle of Wight Council require?
The council's BNG guidance and 2025 Local Validation List identify the information needed for applications subject to BNG.
The national/local baseline evidence can include:
- A statement confirming whether mandatory BNG applies or a lawful exemption is claimed.
- A completed, dated statutory metric Excel workbook, or eligible Small Sites Metric, not a PDF-only calculation.
- The pre-development biodiversity value and date, with reasons for any earlier reference date.
- A scaled pre-development habitat plan showing the entire red-line site.
- Evidence of habitat degradation or irreplaceable habitats where relevant.
- Additional ecology reports, protected species surveys, tree or landscape information when the proposal requires them.
The council may ask for draft habitat management and monitoring information or evidence that high-distinctiveness habitat gain can actually be delivered.
This is different from the formal Biodiversity Gain Plan, which is normally submitted for approval after planning permission and before development starts.
For a real site, check the most recent validation list against the adopted 2026 EV2 policy. The 2025 list's old DM12 reference predates the plan change.
Local planning guidance
Significant onsite gains, legal security and island monitoring fees
The Isle of Wight Council has published local tests for when onsite habitat creation or enhancement counts as significant.
Its definition, introduced on 12 August 2025, includes gains of at least 0.5 biodiversity units and/or 500m² of newly created/enhanced area habitat, or 50m of linear habitat.
It excludes certain private garden and private green-roof gains from these local threshold calculations. Exceptions can apply, so this is not an automatic determination for every site.
Significant onsite and registered offsite gains generally need at least 30 years of secured management.
The council currently publishes onsite BNG monitoring fee tiers called Bronze, Silver and Gold, with different report-review and site-visit schedules.
These are monitoring fees, not the cost of buying BNG habitat units. Actual levels can be revised each April.
Before agreeing legal terms, check the relevant monitoring level, section 106 obligations and the final Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan.
Local planning guidance
Offsite biodiversity units and island habitat banks
Sometimes a development cannot achieve its statutory habitat gain within the red-line site.
Where legally appropriate, the developer may use registered offsite biodiversity units, with statutory biodiversity credits as the final option.
Any offsite units must satisfy the metric's habitat trading rules, be legally secured, registered and formally allocated to the development.
The Isle of Wight Council names Kings Manor Farm as a registered island gain site. However, this does not confirm particular units remain available, suitable or priced for an individual applicant.
A September 2026 island nature partnership update also reported several other registered island habitat banks. Those are dated counts, not a live sales inventory.
For eligible non-major new applications made from 6 August 2026, onsite enhancement/creation and registered offsite gains can sit at the same statutory hierarchy priority. Statutory credits remain last.
For major applications, avoidance and suitable onsite measures generally have priority before offsite delivery.
For more detail, see ACP's offsite biodiversity units guidance and the national biodiversity gain sites register.
Local planning guidance
Six steps towards a suitable Isle of Wight BNG submission
1. Confirm the application date and adopted planning policy
Identify the full red-line site and correct authority. Use the Interim Island Planning Strategy adopted September 2026, relevant saved policies and applicable neighbourhood plans.
2. Establish whether mandatory BNG applies
Check the current August 2026 exemptions, application history and any priority habitats. An exempt scheme may still need protected-species or local EV2 enhancement evidence.
3. Survey the existing habitats and ecological constraints
Obtain proportionate UKHab classification, habitat condition, hedgerow and watercourse data. Check trees, ancient woodland, coastal habitats and protected wildlife as relevant.
4. Review the LNRS and calculate the metric
Use the final April 2025 Isle of Wight LNRS, its Local Habitat Map and an eligible statutory metric.
The latest statutory metric tool is v1.1.0, updated 3 November 2026, although earlier published statutory versions remain acceptable.
5. Check Bird Aware and nitrate requirements separately
Determine whether the proposal falls in the 5.6km Solent SPA recreation area, the mapped nitrate-neutrality catchment, or both.
Prepare the respective evidence and mitigation only where the actual proposal and impact pathways require them.
6. Confirm gain delivery and long-term management
Test suitable onsite and legally registered offsite BNG options. Where BNG applies, the formal Gain Plan usually needs approval before development begins.
Significant onsite and registered offsite habitat gains generally require at least 30 years of legally secured management.
Read ACP's Biodiversity Gain Plan guidance and Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans.
Local planning guidance
Isle of Wight BNG planning checklist
Not sure which Isle of Wight ecology requirements apply?
Local planning guidance
How ACP Consultants can support your island development
A useful BNG assessment should help the design team make decisions early, not simply produce a percentage.
ACP can help scope habitat surveys, calculate biodiversity units and compare realistic onsite or registered offsite delivery options.
Where a project involves coastal habitats, protected species, the Solent SPA recreation area or nitrate-sensitive drainage, other evidence may be necessary.
The right work depends on the actual site and planning stage. Not every island development requires the same surveys or mitigation.
For wider assistance, see ACP's BNG process guide and BNG consultant services.
Local planning guidance
Frequently asked questions about BNG on the Isle of Wight
Which planning authority handles BNG applications on the Isle of Wight?
Isle of Wight Council is the unitary local planning authority for most island planning applications. The Isle of Wight National Landscape and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve are not separate councils.
Has the Isle of Wight's new Island Planning Strategy been adopted?
Yes. Full Council adopted the Interim Island Planning Strategy on 16 September 2026, with new policies used from 17 September. Most 2012 Core Strategy policies were replaced, although some are saved.
Which adopted policy covers biodiversity net gain on the island?
IPS Policy EV2, Ecological Assets and Opportunities for Enhancement, connects biodiversity protection, BNG and the island's LNRS. The national statutory minimum is generally 10% for qualifying development.
Does the island require 20% BNG?
No. Adopted EV2 requires at least 10% gain for development subject to mandatory BNG. Other ecological enhancement, protected-site and species requirements may also apply.
When was the Isle of Wight Local Nature Recovery Strategy published?
The final LNRS was approved by the council's Cabinet on 24 April 2025, following Defra and Natural England approval. It is separate from Hampshire's LNRS.
Does land inside an LNRS opportunity area automatically gain extra units?
No. Strategic significance depends on a proposed eligible habitat action, the actual mapped location and current statutory metric rules. A general opportunity polygon is not a habitat survey or registered gain site.
Can a small island development of 0.2 hectares or less be exempt?
From 6 August 2026, a qualifying new application may be exempt where the whole red-line site is no larger than 0.2 hectares and no onsite priority habitat is adversely affected. Other legal criteria and saved cases matter.
Are self-build homes automatically exempt from BNG?
No. The former specific self-build and custom-build exemption was removed for new applications made from 6 August 2026. Another exemption might apply if its separate criteria are satisfied.
Is Bird Aware Solent the same as buying BNG units?
No. Bird Aware reduces recreational pressure on protected Solent birds from relevant housing within a 5.6km SPA zone. BNG units measure habitat biodiversity value and follow separate legal rules.
Does every Isle of Wight development need nitrate neutrality?
No. The council publishes a mapped Solent nitrate-neutrality catchment. Whether a proposal needs a budget depends on that location, development and wastewater pathway. Separate ecological effects may still require HRA.
How long must significant habitat gains be managed?
Significant onsite and registered offsite biodiversity gains generally require at least 30 years of legally secured management. Isle of Wight Council may also require monitoring reports and fees based on its local significance tests.
What should I send ACP for an Isle of Wight BNG quotation?
Provide the site address or red-line plan, development description, current drawings, planning stage and existing ecological reports. Include any known Bird Aware, nitrate, woodland or designated-site constraints.
Local planning guidance
Discuss biodiversity net gain for your Isle of Wight development
Whether you are preparing a housebuilding, commercial, coastal or rural scheme, the most useful starting point is the site and the proposed works.
Tell ACP about your development. We can help scope the habitat baseline, statutory metric evidence, potential biodiversity gain options and separate ecological planning constraints.
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
Start with the information you have. We ask for your email, site location and enquiry, with a telephone number at the final step.
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Isle of Wight BNG
Sources and references
Reviewed 10 November 2026.
National BNG guidance
Local planning and nature recovery
- Adopted Island Planning Strategy and saved-policy map
- Council's island priority habitat and validation guidance
- Bird Aware current fees and strategy
- Isle of Wight Council guidance
- Council Solent nitrate catchment map and position statement
- Published island LNRS
- September 2026 practitioner policy summary
- Island Nature habitats
- JNCC Solent and Isle of Wight Lagoons SAC
- 2025 Local Validation List
- 2026 IPS adoption announcement
- Adopted September 2026 Island Planning Strategy
- Saved Core Strategy policies DM19 Waste and DM20 Minerals