Date: 5th November 2026

Time: 9:30am – 4:20pm

Location: Online

With major Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) reforms now rapidly approaching, the policy and delivery landscape is entering a critical new phase. Since the Environment Act 2021 introduced the mandatory 10% BNG requirement, further significant changes have continued to reshape the framework, including the implementation of the 0.2-hectare exemption for small sites at the end of July 2026 and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) being brought into BNG policy from November 2026. Although BNG is already delivering positive impacts, preventing between 6,000 to 10,000 hectares of habitat loss annually (DEFRA, 2026), upcoming reforms in July and November 2026 will have major implications for developers, local authorities and infrastructure providers, making this a critical moment to secure long-term biodiversity gains.

As mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain reshapes planning, land use and environmental investment, organisations face significant risks and new market opportunities. Success will depend on clearer guidance, stronger cross-sector partnerships and better collaboration across disciplines to avoid delays and ineffective delivery strategies. Now is the time for the public and private sectors to work together to balance development with environmental outcomes and avoid regulatory, financial and operational risks.

The Supporting Biodiversity Net Gain in Planning System Conference 2026 provides a critical platform for BNG specialists across sectors to share implementation strategies that improve BNG requirements and deliver nature-positive outcomes. This conference explores the full Biodiversity Net Gain lifecycle, from approval and design to long-term delivery, covering data use in local authority planning, collaboration between landscape architects and ecologists, and practical guidance on BNG policy.