Will the Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government’s plans to make biodiversity net gain a feature of the Welsh planning system?
Answered by Minister for Climate Change | Answered on 20/03/2024
Welsh Government policy in Planning Policy Wales (PPW) is a net benefit for biodiversity, based on the Section 6 Duty of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 (securing biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem resilience). The approach is place-based, focused on improved outcomes for the environment. It is more robust than net gain as it seeks to secure on site benefits in preference to financial contributions for offsite projects; it is not about the commodification of our habitats and species.