Clarity About New Biodiversity Net Gain Rules Welcomed by Small House Builders, Says FMB

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) welcomes clarity on the new biodiversity net gain rules which come into force in November, announced by Defra yesterday, but warns there is a great deal of work to be done to ensure small house builders are not adversely affected. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB said: “It’s good to finally have some clarity about the new biodiversity net gain regulations. Many small house builders have been worried about these new changes and the impact they could have on delivering new homes. The Government must ensure small house builders are supported to deliver it, especially on brownfield sites which could be particularly affected and are the traditional sites chosen by smaller developers. Small house builders already face a tranche of new rules and regulations, all upping cost and complexity to building new homes, so targeted support to help them deliver biodiversity net gain will be key.”