1. What percentage biodiversity net gain does your local authority currently require?
At the moment we don’t have any local plan policies setting out a different percentage requirement to the mandatory 10% net gain.

2.
a) How many employees are currently directly employed by the authority to specifically/solely support the delivery of BNG requirements? None. We have two ecologist specialists that advise planning case officers so do cover BNG but that is not their sole focus.
b) Has the local authority created any new positions specifically to support the delivery of BNG requirements since 1 April 2023? No
c) If so, please provide the job titles and whether these roles are temporary or permanent. N/A

3.
a) Has your authority invested in specific training or upskilling for existing staff to manage BNG assessments, requirements, or policies since 1 April 2023? External training, no.
b) If so, how much money has been invested in specific training or upskilling for existing staff to manage BNG assessments, requirements, or policies in total since 1 April 2023? N/A

4.
a) Has your authority hired external consultants or third-party experts to assist with BNG implementation since 1 April 2023? No
b) If so, how much has been spent on external consultants or third-party experts to assist with BNG implementation since 1 April 2023? N/A

5.
a) Has any additional budget been allocated specifically for implementing or enforcing BNG requirements?
If so, please provide the total additional budget assigned for this purpose for:
b) 2024/25: WBC was in receipt of a Biodiversity Net Gain Grant from DEFRA to support with additional burdens of implementing and enforcing mandatory BNG. The grant funding for 2024/2025 was £26,807.00 and has contributed to Specialist Ecology support in delivering BNG.
c) 2025-2026: No confirmed additional budget / grant funding
d) 2026-2027: No confirmed additional budget / grant funding