Guidance

Statutory biodiversity metric tools and guides

Tools and guides for measuring the biodiversity value of habitat for biodiversity net gain (BNG).

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Published
29 November 2023
Last updated
12 February 2024 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Statutory biodiversity metric: user guide

PDF, 1.84 MB, 78 pages

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Statutory biodiversity metric calculation tool (macro enabled)

4.1 MB

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Statutory biodiversity metric calculation tool (macro disabled)

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 4.03 MB

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Small sites metric (statutory biodiversity metric): user guide

PDF, 825 KB, 55 pages

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Small sites metric (statutory biodiversity metric): calculation tool

868 KB

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Statutory biodiversity metric condition assessments

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 366 KB

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Transferring data from 4.0 to the statutory biodiversity metric calculation tool

HTML

Details

Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is mandatory from 12 February 2024.

You can view all of the BNG guidance in the BNG collection.

The statutory biodiversity metric tool and user guide

The tool allows the calculation of biodiversity value for the purpose of BNG for developments.  The user guide has the information needed to use the statutory biodiversity metric tool.  

Statutory biodiversity metric condition assessments

These provide condition assessment criteria for all relevant metric habitats. This allows a standard approach to collecting and inputting the correct data for habitat condition.  

Small sites statutory biodiversity metric calculation tool and user guide 

The small sites biodiversity metric tool allows the calculation of biodiversity value for the purpose of BNG for small developments.  The user guide provides all the information needed to use the small sites biodiversity metric tool. 

Moving from older versions of the biodiversity metric

‘Transferring data from 4.0 to the statutory biodiversity metric calculation tool’ explains how to copy over from previous versions of the biodiversity metric. There is information on the changes since 4.0 and more tools, case studies and technical detail available from Natural England.

Published 29 November 2023
Last updated 12 February 2024 + show all updates

  1. Updated box at top of page to state that biodiversity net gain (BNG) is mandatory from 12 February 2024 and removed the 'draft guidance' label. Added information on transferring data from 4.0 to the statutory biodiversity metric. Updated user guides to provide further detail and clarifications, including the assessment of strategic significance and when to record individual trees. Updated calculation tools to correct some labelling errors, minor formula errors and expand width of columns. Updated condition assessments to remove redundant references, reflect the inclusion of sea buckthorn as an invasive coastal species and align the assessment of individual trees to the clarified approach in the user guide.

  2. Amended the statutory biodiversity metric calculation tool to fix an error in the irreplaceable habitats dropdown and minor changes to the working of the tool such as ensuring the rows auto populate correctly and cells adjust their height so error messages can be read.

  3. First published.

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