Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs written question – answered at on 11 June 2026.
David Simmonds
Opposition Whip (Commons), Shadow Minister (Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the departmental blog entitled Biodiversity Net Gain: what's changing and what it means for you, published 20 April 2026, for what reason the existing exemption for small scale self-build and custom-build development is being removed.
Mary Creagh
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Government consulted on removing the exemption for small scale self-build and custom build development in the 2025 consultation on Improving the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain for minor, medium and brownfield development.
Most respondents supported its removal due to implementation challenges and the burden it places on local planning authorities. Removing it also simplifies the BNG framework for developers.
Government expects that most small scale, single dwellings will be covered by the new 0.2 hectare area based exemption, being introduced in the coming months.
Further detail on the full package of BNG reforms is set out in the Government consultation response published on 15 April: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-the-implementation-of-biodiversity-net-gain-for-minor-medium-and-brownfield-development/outcome/government-response-and-summary-of-responses.
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