Conservative controlled Buckinghamshire Council has reached an important milestone in its Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) programme, securing its seventh habitat bank and helping to create more green spaces for residents while supporting local wildlife.
Through agreements with developers and landowners, more than 100 hectares of land across the county have now been committed to habitat creation and enhancement. This includes new and improved hedgerows, grassland and woodland, helping to boost biodiversity while creating greener, healthier places for local communities to enjoy.
Biodiversity Net Gain ensures that new development leaves nature in a better state than before. Where environmental improvements cannot be delivered on a development site, developers contribute towards habitat creation elsewhere in Buckinghamshire, with these areas protected for at least 30 years.
The habitat banks, located across the county from Steeple Claydon to Beaconsfield, will help support wildlife, improve the local environment and contribute to residents’ wellbeing for years to come.
Cllr Ade Osibogun, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Waste, welcomed the achievement, highlighting the benefits for both nature and local communities as the programme continues to grow.
The expansion of the habitat bank network demonstrates Buckinghamshire Council’s commitment to ensuring that growth is accompanied by meaningful environmental improvements, creating a lasting legacy for future generations.
