Changes to Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) rules coming into force on 6th August 2026 will remove a significant planning hurdle for many agricultural developments.
The Government has confirmed a series of reforms designed to simplify the Biodiversity Net Gain process, with many smaller developments no longer required to undertake mandatory BNG assessments.
The most significant change for the farming sector is the introduction of a 0.2-hectare exemption, meaning many smaller agricultural developments, including buildings such as livestock sheds and slurry lagoons, will no longer require mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain, provided they do not impact priority habitats. These changes apply to new planning applications submitted from 6th August 2026.