Leeds LPA BNG

Leeds is a metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, comprising a major urban centre surrounded by green belt land, farmland, woodlands, river valleys, and post-industrial landscapes. Covering approximately 1,115 square kilometres, Leeds includes the city itself along with numerous towns and villages such as Otley, Wetherby, and Garforth.

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Leeds City Council requires most developments to deliver a minimum of 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in line with the Environment Act 2021. Developers are expected to use the statutory biodiversity metric to demonstrate measurable habitat improvements, either on-site or via off-site biodiversity units secured through local or national schemes.

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The district is located primarily within National Character Areas Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire Coalfield, and Southern Magnesian Limestone. These areas contain key habitats including broadleaved woodland, neutral and calcareous grasslands, rivers, wetlands, and restored brownfield land. Species of interest include great crested newt, otter, skylark, dingy skipper, and numerous pollinators.

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Effective BNG planning in Leeds must account for its urban–rural interface, focusing on habitat connectivity, enhancement of existing greenspaces, woodland planting, and integration with Leeds’ Nature Recovery Network.

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We offer full BNG support in Leeds, including UKHab surveys, metric calculations, offset sourcing, and strategic ecological advice for developments of all scales.