Data from: Using past planning practice to inform biodiversity net gain in residential developments

Urban growth is a major driver of biodiversity loss, as natural habitats
are destroyed or fragmented. To address this, nature-positive initiatives
aim to balance development with nature conservation. In the UK,
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) was introduced through the 2021 Environment
Act requiring developers to deliver a minimum 10% biodiversity increase
for new developments. Despite BNG's potential, doubts exist about
local planning authorities’ (LPAs) ability to implement and enforce BNG
effectively, due to resource limitations, inconsistent ecological
expertise, and ineffective monitoring. This study examined 44 residential
developments across two case studies where biodiversity measures were
mandated through prior planning policy and assessed i) how well ecological
advice was integrated into planning decisions, and ii) whether
biodiversity measures were effectively implemented. The study revealed
significant gaps between approved plans and actual implementation. The
ecological advice transposed into planning decisions and approved
documentation, was biased towards European protected species (EPS) or more
charismatic fauna. Additionally, many developments failed to properly
implement biodiversity measures, with frequent deviations from approved
plans for artificial and semi-natural habitats. Solution: Improved
awareness and knowledge of biodiversity, increased LPA resource, better
communication between planners, ecologists, and developers, stronger
enforcement, and improved monitoring are essential for BNG’s success.
Without these actions, BNG may fail to leave the natural environment in a
measurably better state.

城市扩张是生物多样性丧失的主要驱动因子，自然栖息地的破坏与碎片化正是其核心影响路径。为应对这一问题，以自然为导向的（nature-positive）倡议旨在平衡开发建设与自然保护之间的关系。在英国，《2021年环境法》（Environment Act 2021）正式引入了生物多样性净增益（Biodiversity Net Gain，BNG）制度，要求开发商为新建开发项目至少实现10%的生物多样性增幅。尽管BNG具备应用潜力，但由于资源受限、生态专业能力参差不齐以及监测机制失效，外界对地方规划主管部门（local planning authorities，LPAs）能否有效落实与执行BNG存在质疑。本研究针对两项案例研究中的44个住宅开发项目展开调研：这些项目的生物多样性保护措施均依据此前的规划政策强制推行，研究评估了两项核心内容：一是生态建议融入规划决策的程度，二是生物多样性保护措施是否得到有效落实。研究结果显示，获批规划方案与实际执行情况之间存在显著差距。被纳入规划决策与获批文件的生态建议，往往偏向于欧洲保护物种（European protected species，EPS）或更具吸引力的标志性动物类群。此外，多数开发项目未能妥善落实生物多样性保护措施，人工生境与半自然生境的实际建设频繁偏离获批规划方案。解决方案：提升生物多样性认知与专业知识水平、扩充地方规划主管部门的资源储备、加强规划师、生态学家与开发商之间的沟通、强化执法力度以及优化监测机制，是BNG取得成功的必要条件。若缺乏上述举措，BNG将无法实现自然环境可量化的改善目标。