Data Insights: Priority Habitats Data For Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
OVERVIEW:
LandHawk’s data offering has been updated to include Priority Habitats data. This data is especially crucial as Priority Habitats form the basis of the 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) planning requirement introduced on 12th February 2024.
WHAT DATASETS HAVE BEEN ADDED / UPDATED?
● Priority Habitat Inventory (Total: 767,210)
● Priority Habitats – Lakes (Total: 32)
● Priority Habitats – Rivers (Total: 29,858)
● Priority Habitats – River Headwater Areas (Total: 1709)
● Priority Habitats – Living England Phase 4 (Total: 17,307)
WHY HAVE THESE DATA BEEN ADDED?
These data have been added to assist our users in risk assessment and compliance with the government regulations on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) which came into effect in February 2024.
Under the Environment Act 2021, all planning permissions granted in England (with a few exemptions) except for small sites will have to deliver at least 10% biodiversity net gain from 12 February 2024. BNG will be required for small sites from 2 April 2024. It will be measured using Defra’s biodiversity metric and all off-site and significant on-site habitats will need to be secured for at least 30 years. This sits alongside:
- A strengthened legal duty for public bodies to conserve and enhance biodiversity,
- New biodiversity reporting requirements for local authorities, and
- Mandatory spatial strategies for nature: Local Nature Recovery Strategies or ‘LNRS’.
WHO WILL BENEFIT?
As with most datasets accessed through LandHawk, all users will have full access to these new Priority Habitats Data. Furthermore, these data will form the basis of LandHawk’s new Biodiversity Net Gain risk assessment toll which is due for release in Spring 2024.
FURTHER DETAIL ABOUT THIS DATA
Below is a short explanation of what each data contains:
Priority Habitats – Inventory
Natural England Data. This is a spatial dataset that describes the geographic extent and location of Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (2006) Section 41 habitats of principal importance (those which will need enhancing under the new Biodiversity Net Gain Requirement).
Priority Habitats – Lakes
Natural England data which identifies priority habitats in lakes
Rivers Priority – Rivers
Natural England data which identifies priority habitats in and next to rivers
Priority Habitats – River Headwater Areas
Natural England data which identifies priority habitats in and next to river headwaters
Priority Habitats – Living England Phase 4
Natural England’s latest data which identifies habitats across England, derived from Earth Observation
HOW OFTEN ARE THE DATA UPDATED?
There are no defined dates from Natural England, but LandHawk will run automation weekly to pick up changes when they occur
To learn more about how these data were created, or to explore how we might create bespoke geospatial datasets for you, please contact geospatialdata@landhawk.uk