County planning guidance / Warwickshire BNG
Biodiversity net gain in Warwickshire starts with the right council, a reliable habitat baseline and a workable delivery plan. Compare the five councils’ adopted policies, the published nature recovery map and the evidence your project may need.
ACP helps developers, architects, planners and landowners scope habitat surveys, calculate biodiversity units and prepare planning evidence. Share your red-line plan, planning stage and existing ecology reports to discuss the next step.
Reviewed 8 November 2026 · Warwickshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy
Site boundary / proposal type / current authority
Warwickshire has five councils that normally determine planning applications: North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Rugby, Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick.
Warwickshire County Council has a different role. It determines relevant minerals, waste and other county development applications. It also leads the Warwickshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy, but does not decide every residential planning proposal.
Always identify the authority using the actual red-line boundary. A nearby town, postcode or wildlife partnership name is not sufficient.
Use our practical Warwickshire planning-route finder to locate the correct council, current adopted plan and BNG evidence. It helps you prepare, without claiming to determine an exemption.
No. Coventry City Council and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council are different local planning authorities. They are not among Warwickshire's five district and borough councils.
Although the shared nature partnership includes Coventry and Solihull, the Warwickshire LNRS covers only the five Warwickshire districts. Coventry and Solihull fall under the separate West Midlands Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
This distinction matters when checking which published habitat map may support a proposed development or off-site habitat site.
Council / consent route / BNG rules / habitat evidence
Work through four questions using the true site boundary. Open each step to find the relevant official sources and evidence.
There are five authorities for ordinary applications, plus Warwickshire County Council for relevant county development, minerals and waste.
Do not treat nearby Coventry or Solihull as Warwickshire planning districts. They have separate planning authorities.
Ordinary schemes normally follow the relevant council's adopted Local Plan and live validation list. For minerals or waste proposals, check Warwickshire County Council's adopted Minerals Local Plan (2022) and Waste Core Strategy (2013) as applicable.
A nationally significant infrastructure project may follow a different consent and BNG route from an ordinary district planning application. For future permissions, an emerging plan or consultation does not become adopted policy merely because it has been submitted.
Check the planning application date, type and full red-line site area, plus impacts on any on-site priority habitat. Qualifying applications from 6 August 2026 on sites no larger than 0.2 hectares may be exempt if no on-site priority habitat is impacted.
The former general new self-build/custom-build exemption ended from 6 August 2026. Other householder, de minimis, temporary and transitional rules must be tested separately. An exemption does not remove local ecological and protected species obligations.
Check the authority's adopted policy and the latest local validation list for baseline habitat values, metric and proposed plans where applicable. Approval of the final Biodiversity Gain Plan usually occurs before commencement for permissions subject to the gain condition.
For land inside one of the five Warwickshire council areas, use the published Warwickshire LNRS (area 23). Coventry and Solihull use the separate West Midlands LNRS (area 22).
Match relevant mapped nature recovery measures to actual UKHab/condition surveys, soils, water and habitat management. An opportunity map cannot automatically assign a metric uplift or guarantee registered off-site units.
Document the correct statutory metric version, area/hedgerow/watercourse categories, legal allocation where needed, and any Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan. Consider protected species, HRA, restoration and water consents separately.
Five council areas / adopted and emerging plans
The relevant national statutory framework applies across Warwickshire. However, the adopted Local Plan and council validation list are not identical.
| Planning authority | Current adopted planning policy | Practical BNG and plan-status check |
|---|---|---|
| North Warwickshire | Local Plan adopted September 2021. LP16 Natural Environment, LP17 Green Infrastructure. | Council has dedicated guidance on 6 August 2026 BNG exemption changes. Review its actual application checklist and Nature Improvement Area policies where relevant. |
| Nuneaton and Bedworth | Borough Plan Review 2021–2039 adopted 10 December 2025. Current plan contains biodiversity and green/blue infrastructure policy. | The December 2025 review is adopted, not still under examination. A new-style successor plan started in June 2026 but remains emerging. |
| Rugby | Local Plan 2011–2031 adopted 4 June 2019, including NE1 biodiversity/geodiversity protection and NE2 green and blue infrastructure. | Replacement Rugby Local Plan 2025–2042 was submitted for examination 27 April 2026, but is not yet adopted. |
| Stratford-on-Avon | Core Strategy 2011–2031 adopted 11 July 2016, CS.6 Natural Environment. | Joint South Warwickshire replacement Local Plan is emerging. Check local ecological evidence and relevant neighbourhood or landscape policy. |
| Warwick District | Local Plan 2011–2029 adopted September 2017, NE3 Biodiversity, NE2 designated biodiversity assets. | Joint South Warwickshire replacement remains emerging. Warwick reviewed its local validation list in May 2026. |
Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils are preparing a joint plan for their two areas, intended to guide development to 2050.
The Regulation 19 consultation ended on 8 September 2026. Submission for examination was planned for December 2026, so it had not become an adopted plan on the review date.
A proposed 20% BNG requirement was reduced to 10% in the July 2026 committee record. Therefore, do not assume every project in South Warwickshire must meet an adopted 20% target.
For now, check the operative adopted Stratford or Warwick plan, the current national rules and the weight of any emerging policies relevant to your application.
Not necessarily. Warwickshire County Council adopted its Minerals Local Plan 2018–2032 in July 2022. Its Waste Core Strategy was adopted in July 2013.
These policies address county development functions and may interact with restoration commitments and ecological mitigation. They do not replace the five councils' normal Local Plans for every proposal.
For minerals and waste schemes, establish the actual planning authority and its requirements before calculating potential biodiversity gains.
For applications subject to statutory BNG, prepare the baseline metric, scaled habitat plans and any relevant earlier-date, degradation or irreplaceable-habitat information. If claiming an exemption, explain the basis and provide proportionate supporting evidence.
North Warwickshire’s submission guidance and Nuneaton and Bedworth’s validation checklist set out local application requirements. Rugby’s checklist varies the evidence by proposal type, scale and location.
For Warwick District, the May 2026 validation list separates BNG information from ecological appraisal and protected-species surveys. Stratford’s 2026 biodiversity duty report confirms baseline metric checks and evidence for claimed exemptions. Agree the relevant survey scope before submitting.
These application-stage requirements are separate from approval of the final Biodiversity Gain Plan before commencement.
Habitat baseline / statutory metric / gain plan
Biodiversity net gain compares a site's habitat value before and after development. The statutory metric measures habitat areas, hedgerows and watercourses using prescribed ecological information.
A suitable habitat survey establishes the baseline. The design team can then test habitat retention, creation or enhancement before the plans are fixed.
Where statutory BNG applies, a Biodiversity Gain Plan must normally be approved before the development starts. The initial planning application may require baseline habitat plans, metric information and other local evidence earlier.
No. Statutory exemptions and transitional arrangements matter.
For qualifying applications made from 6 August 2026, a development whose entire red-line site is 0.2 hectares or smaller can be exempt if it does not affect an on-site priority habitat.
There are separate householder, de minimis and qualifying temporary-development exemptions. However, new self-build and custom-build applications are no longer automatically exempt simply because of that building route.
An exempt scheme can still require ecology information under adopted local policy or protected-species rules. Therefore, establish the site, application date and relevant habitats before relying on an exemption.
The latest official Statutory Biodiversity Metric was updated to version 1.1.0 on 3 November 2026. The accompanying user guide also clarifies watercourse spatial risk where an impact spans multiple waterbody catchments.
Other valid statutory metric editions may still be usable. However, the older non-statutory Biodiversity Metric 4.0 is not the appropriate tool for a new statutory BNG submission.
A Small Sites Metric can be used only where its specific eligibility rules are met. Being a small planning application does not automatically make the simplified tool suitable. Equally, exemption from BNG and eligibility for the Small Sites Metric are different questions.
For detailed method advice, see our Statutory Biodiversity Metric guide and Small Sites Metric information.
April 2026 adoption / May launch / mapped habitat measures
Warwickshire's Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) was approved in April 2026 and launched publicly on 27 May 2026.
Warwickshire County Council led its preparation, working with the Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull Local Nature Partnership and other organisations. The published strategy includes biodiversity priorities, habitat and species information, delivery guidance and a Local Habitat Map.
Its aim is to identify meaningful ways to protect, restore and connect nature across Warwickshire. The map can support better landscape decisions and the ecological justification for some BNG proposals.
However, LNRS mapped opportunities are not automatic planning permissions, statutory unit allocations or instructions that landowners must follow.
A mapped opportunity should help you ask better ecological questions. It does not replace the field survey or guarantee that a proposed habitat can be delivered.
Official resource: Warwickshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy and Local Habitat Map.
Open the Warwickshire Local Habitat Map to review the published layers alongside your site boundary.
Arden / Dunsmore / Tame Valley / Avon
The county’s woodland, wetlands, river valleys, farmland and urban green networks require different ecological responses.
Arden landscapes include woodland, hedgerows and farmland habitats. Some sites contain mature trees, historic parkland or important wooded connections.
Retaining established features can be essential to an effective biodiversity strategy. However, a new woodland proposal must suit soils, available space and realistic establishment times.
The Dunsmore Living Landscape includes important ancient woodland clusters, meadows and connecting hedgerows between parts of Warwick, Rugby and the wider area.
The Nature Improvement Area provides useful landscape context. Nevertheless, it does not mean that every development within the area can achieve the same habitat target.
The Tame Valley Wetlands Nature Improvement Area includes parts of North Warwickshire and neighbouring areas. Former minerals sites and river corridors have created complex wetland habitats.
New wetland or floodplain proposals need water, land management and habitat-condition evidence. Existing minerals restoration obligations must also be kept distinct from additional BNG.
The River Avon and its tributaries connect habitat networks across the south of the county. In rural landscapes, grasslands, hedgerows and streams can be valuable.
Meanwhile, Rugby, Nuneaton, Bedworth and Warwick or Leamington contain urban green networks and potentially important brownfield habitats.
For all these locations, a metric percentage cannot replace checks for protected species, designated sites, flood risks, ancient woodland or ecological mitigation.
Habitat trading / legal security / 30-year management
BNG planning should begin with retaining valuable existing habitat. Next, consider feasible on-site enhancement and creation, with a design that fits drainage, ecology and long-term management.
Where the calculation reveals a shortfall, registered off-site biodiversity units can be considered under the applicable statutory rules. They must match the correct unit category, trading requirements, location factors and legal allocation process.
For qualifying non-major applications made on or after 6 August 2026, on-site creation or enhancement and registered off-site gains now have equal preference. Other development types and older applications may follow different rules. Statutory biodiversity credits remain a last resort.
Warwickshire County Council publishes information on habitat banking schemes and opportunities for landowners. It discusses possible enhancement projects such as species-rich meadow, woodland and mixed habitats.
For a proposed purchase, verify the available units and registration for the specific gain site.
For a real off-site proposal, confirm the entry in the national biodiversity gain sites register, the legal agreement, relevant habitat type and actual allocation to the development. Confirm the current price and availability with the provider.
Significant on-site and registered off-site gain habitats normally require at least 30 years of legally secured management.
A Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan can explain creation, establishment, management, monitoring, responsibilities and adjustments where the habitat does not develop as expected.
The plan needs to be practical. For example, a meadow proposal should account for soils, mowing, nutrient status and ongoing maintenance rather than rely solely on a predicted spreadsheet result.
See our off-site biodiversity units guidance and habitat management and monitoring plan service.
Prepare / survey / coordinate / secure delivery
Use these ten checks to prepare your project evidence before commissioning the metric or submitting an application.
Scope / habitat evidence / planning delivery
We review the site's location, proposed works, planning stage and any ecological evidence already prepared. This helps identify the likely survey requirements and BNG questions before further work is commissioned.
Where instructed, the project scope can cover suitable habitat mapping, condition surveys, statutory biodiversity metric calculations and reporting. We can help the design team compare reasonable habitat retention and creation options.
The agreed service may include a BNG report, Biodiversity Gain Plan information or habitat management and monitoring advice. Where off-site gains or third-party legal arrangements are required, these need separate confirmation.
For planning evidence, see our Biodiversity Net Gain report service and Biodiversity Gain Plan guidance.
Local planning questions / practical answers
For ordinary development, use North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Rugby, Stratford-on-Avon or Warwick District Council, depending on the actual site boundary. Warwickshire County Council has separate minerals, waste and relevant county development responsibilities. Check the planning route before using a Local Plan or validation checklist.
No. The five district and borough councils handle most ordinary planning applications within their areas. The County Council determines relevant county functions and leads the Warwickshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy. These distinct roles should not be confused.
Yes. Warwickshire County Council Cabinet adopted it on 16 April 2026, and it was launched on 27 May 2026. GOV.UK lists Warwickshire LNRS area 23 as published. The official strategy and map are available through the Warwickshire Coventry and Solihull Local Nature Partnership.
No. Despite the shared partnership's name, Coventry and Solihull fall under the separate West Midlands LNRS, not Warwickshire LNRS area 23. Warwickshire's strategy covers North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Rugby, Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick. Always choose the map for the real site location.
No. Strategic significance must be justified under the statutory metric using the relevant published measure, actual habitat proposal and site context. The LNRS map is not a habitat survey, permission or registered off-site gain site.
The Borough Plan Review 2021–2039 was adopted on 10 December 2025. A newer Local Plan preparation process began in June 2026, but it is not an adopted replacement. Applicants should use the December 2025 adopted framework and the council's current validation requirements.
No. Rugby adopted its Local Plan 2011–2031 in June 2019. The replacement Local Plan 2025–2042 was submitted on 27 April 2026 for independent examination. It had not been adopted by the 8 November 2026 review date.
Do not assume so. A proposed 20% target in the emerging joint South Warwickshire plan was reduced to 10% in July 2026 committee discussions. The joint plan had not been adopted on the review date. Most in-scope developments instead fall under the national statutory minimum of 10%, with local policy and ecological requirements considered separately.
A qualifying planning application made on or after 6 August 2026 can be exempt when the full red-line site is 0.2 hectares or smaller and the development does not impact on-site priority habitat. Other conditions and transitional rules still matter. Local ecology and protected-species duties may remain even when the mandatory BNG condition is absent.
Only if the application meets the tool's eligibility conditions. A small development is not automatically eligible, and Small Sites Metric eligibility is different from being exempt from mandatory BNG. A suitable survey and assessment should establish whether the full statutory metric is needed.
Eligible units may be available from a registered gain site. Warwickshire County Council provides information on habitat banking opportunities. Before buying, confirm current availability, habitat type, spatial factors, registration, allocation and legal arrangements for your development.
For planning permission subject to the statutory biodiversity gain condition, the Biodiversity Gain Plan generally needs approval before development commences. Relevant baseline survey, metric or ecological information may also be required at the planning application stage. Phased schemes and certain infrastructure permissions have separate rules.
Talk to ACP / Site enquiries
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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Warwickshire BNG
Reviewed 8 November 2026.
