Government response confirms it: BNG is settling. Off-site is now central
The latest government response to BNG consultations does something important. It brings clarity.
Not just on direction, but on how delivery will work in practice.
The 10% requirement remains. But delivery is becoming more practical, more flexible, and easier to plan for.
Key changes are being implemented through 2026. This includes updates to off-site delivery ahead of July 2026, and BNG applying to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) from November 2026.
This marks a clear change in how BNG is being delivered.
What’s changed?
Off-site on equal footing
The practical effect is a shift in how the mitigation hierarchy is applied. Off-site is no longer treated as a last resort. It can now be considered alongside on-site from the outset, particularly where it delivers better outcomes.
0.2 hectare exemption
Smaller schemes can move forward more easily. BNG effort can focus where it delivers the most meaningful outcomes.
Clearer rules for brownfield
Guidance on how brownfield sites are assessed is becoming more consistent, including how habitats like Open Mosaic Habitat are treated.
In practice, this gives developers more certainty on how sites will be measured from the outset and creates more viable options for how habitat mitigation is delivered.
The result is fewer delays, more predictable costs, and a clearer path through planning.
Wider off-site sourcing area
The spatial risk multiplier is still in place. This is the rule that increases requirements when off-site units aren’t in the local catchment.
What is changing is the area over which it is applied.
Moving forward, this will be based on Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) areas. These are 48 distinct, non-overlapping spatial areas covering all of England.
This replaces the current use of tighter Local Planning Authority (LPA) and National Character Area (NCA) boundaries.
In practice, this allows developers to source off-site units from a wider area without triggering the spatial risk multiplier, making it easier to secure units and move schemes forward.
NSIPs in scope from November 2026
Large infrastructure projects will introduce long-term, landscape-scale demand for off-site delivery.
What this means for the market
There are a few changes to take into account.
The 0.2 hectare exemption, alongside other flexibilities, reduces demand from smaller sites in the short term.
In practice, this removes some of the smaller, more fragmented transactions from the market.
At the same time:
Off-site is now a primary delivery route, not a fallback
NSIPs introduce new, large-scale demand from November 2026
Wider sourcing areas make off-site delivery easier to plan and deliver
Taken together, this changes how demand is distributed.
A greater share of BNG is expected to be delivered off-site over time, with demand becoming more consistent and easier to plan for.
We’re already seeing this reflected in how schemes are being brought forward, with off-site considered earlier in the process.
This also supports better outcomes for nature.
Instead of smaller, isolated areas of on-site mitigation, delivery can be focused on larger, connected habitats in the right locations.
What this means for you
For developers:
More flexibility in sourcing off-site units: wider sourcing areas reduce the likelihood of triggering the spatial risk multiplier, making it easier to secure suitable off-site units without redesign or delay
Faster, more predictable delivery: clearer brownfield rules and fewer sourcing constraints reduce delays and give greater certainty on cost and timelines
Focus on the development itself: with off-site now a credible primary route, you can focus on maximising site value and design rather than forcing on-site solutions that compromise schemes
For landowners:
This is where the opportunity strengthens. As off-site demand grows and sourcing areas widen:
More developers can access a broader pool of suitable land
Demand becomes more consistent and less constrained by local boundaries
Well-structured habitat banks are better placed to meet that demand
For most landowners already engaged in BNG, this is a positive shift. A wider sourcing area increases the number of schemes your land can support.
The LNRS maps also help show where habitat creation is most needed, helping ensure BNG delivery is aligned with local priorities for nature and guiding demand toward the right locations.
This is something we’re already factoring into how sites are assessed and prepared.
Our focus remains on matching the right land, in the right locations, with the right habitats to meet this growing demand.
The opportunity
This is where BNG works as intended. Building is unlocked where it makes sense. Nature is restored where it works best.
By enabling delivery at scale, off-site BNG supports more effective, more connected nature recovery.
Let’s make it work for your site
Every site, and every piece of land, sits differently within this updated framework.
These changes are already shaping how BNG is planned and delivered in practice.
Our focus is on helping you make the most of the opportunity this creates, in a way that works for your site or land.