Biodiversity net gain - Find a freedom of information request

1a. What percentage biodiversity net gain does your local authority currently require on new developments?

2a. How many employees are currently directly employed by the authority to specifically/solely support the delivery of BNG requirements?

2b. Has the local authority created any new positions specifically to support the delivery of BNG requirements since 1 April 2023? (Yes/no)

2c. If so, please provide the job titles and whether these roles are temporary or permanent.

3a. Has your authority invested in specific training or upskilling for existing staff to manage BNG assessments, requirements, or policies since 1 April 2023? (Yes/no)

3b. If so, how much money has been invested in specific training or upskilling for existing staff to manage BNG assessments, requirements, or policies in total since 1 April 2023?

4a. Has your authority hired external consultants or third-party experts to assist with BNG implementation since 1 April 2023? (Yes/no)

4b. If so, how much has been spent on external consultants or third-party experts to assist with BNG implementation since 1 April 2023?

5a. Has any additional budget been allocated specifically for implementing or enforcing BNG requirements? (Yes/no)If so, please provide the total additional budget assigned for this purpose for:

5b) 2024/25,

5c) 2025-2026 and

5d) 2026-2027

I can confirm that the information requested is held by Lincolnshire County Council. I have detailed below the information that is being released to you.

1a. Lincolnshire County Council is the planning authority for minerals and waste developments and its own applications – other planning applications are dealt with by the district councils. For qualifying applications the BNG requirement is 10%.

2a. One employee specifically employed on BNG in the planning service covering NSIPs

b. Yes

c. N/a

3a. Yes

b. £53,846 – we spent this amount from the DEFRA BNG Preparedness funding – it delivered training and preparation documents – the cost of the work was as a whole – so this cost includes for training and the production of the report.

4a. Yes

b. £53,846 – see above

5a. Not beyond the DEFRA Preparedness funding – where we received £53k in 2023/24 and £23k in 2024/25