Infrastructure leaders gather to prepare for Biodiversity Net Gain requirements for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects

25 November 2025: Environment Bank, the leading off-site Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) provider, today hosted the UK’s first dedicated BNG Summit for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). With over 300 attendees, the event brought together senior figures from government, industry and the environmental sector as the countdown begins to mandatory BNG for NSIPs in May 2026.

The summit explored how major energy, transport, water and waste infrastructure projects can prepare for delivering a minimum 10% net increase in biodiversity, as required under the Environment Act.

Toby Perkins, MP for Chesterfield and Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee said: “This conference is timely and important ahead of the introduction of mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) for major infrastructure projects next May.

“BNG is an innovative and world-leading policy, with the potential to support the twin goals of nature restoration and economic growth.
“During our recent Sustainability and housing growth report, the Environmental Audit Committee, which I chair, found that nature restoration and recovery can go hand in hand with building the new homes and infrastructure Britain needs.

“Thus I am delighted that the Government is rightly forging ahead with applying BNG to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects next year and that industry and business are gathered here today to ensure that this important policy is implemented effectively so it works for both developers and the environment.”

BNG is already showing strong economic and environmental returns across England. Recent research from eftec[1], commissioned by The Wildlife Trusts, finds that a strengthened BNG market could grow to support £250 million in economic activity annually and sustain over 2,450 full-time jobs.

Catherine Spitzer, CEO of Environment Bank, said: “BNG is maturing quickly and industry appetite is growing. We are already seeing in infrastructure developers embrace BNG as a practical, workable way to deliver nature-positive growth.

“With more than 150 Habitat Banks now listed on the Biodiversity Gain Sites Register, the market is demonstrating clear readiness to support nationally significant development. Environment Bank and other providers are already working with major infrastructure developers including National Grid and Network Rail, as well as with large-scale regeneration projects such as the new Everton Stadium.

“This early activity underscores that BNG is functioning effectively across all levels of the planning system, and our focus now must be on maintaining consistency and supporting developers with the clarity they need to plan confidently and deliver long-term benefits for people and nature.”

The Summit explored how NSIPs, due to their scale and complexity, will need to factor BNG into early design to avoid delaying Development Consent Order (DCO) processes. Expert speakers from Natural England, Arup, WSP, Mott MacDonald, Balfour Beatty, Cornerstone Barristers, major utilities and leading consultancies examined the practical, legal and ecological considerations that will shape successful BNG delivery.