Builders must provide ‘biodiversity net gain’

Developers will be forced to show planners they are improving wildlife habitats whenever they build new homes, Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, will say today.

Under plans that will go out for consultation next week, builders will be required to deliver a “biodiversity net gain” when building new housing or commercial development.

This means that wildlife habitats must be enhanced and left in a measurably better state than they were before development started.

Officials said the plans were the first step in the Government’s ambition to embed a principle of “environmental net gain” in development.