About this event
In this Sustainability Delivery Group Expert Talk, we’ll reflect on the first year of mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in England, examining how the transition has impacted consultants, developers, and Local Planning Authorities, as well as the growing Biodiversity Unit market. The talk will consider how to apply the lessons learned from this first year to maximise biodiversity on future development projects and ease the planning process.
Victoria Newlove, BNG and Natural Capital Lead at Lucion, will provide an overview of the background to BNG and legislation driving it, giving context to how the process is being implemented on a wide range of developments. The talk will explore the impact BNG is having on the planning process and the positive changes it’s driving, as well as some of the challenges being encountered. We’ll also discuss the evolving biodiversity unit market with insight from Ian Hambleton, Founder of Biodiversity Units UK, on market growth over the past year, emerging trends in the purchase of Biodiversity Units, and how the process of buying units from a third-party provider can be streamlined.
Finally, we’ll consider the implications of shifting government policy on development, how this impacts BNG delivery, and offer practical recommendations for smoothly integrating biodiversity into projects.
Hosted by
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Guest speaker
Ian Hambleton Founder @ Biodiversity Units UKG
Ian Hambleton is the founder of Biodiversity Units UK, a leading provider of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) solutions that help developers meet planning requirements while supporting ecological regeneration. With expertise in delivering scalable, compliant solutions, Ian has supported numerous projects across the UK. Beyond BNG, Ian is a passionate advocate for Natural Capital, focusing on unlocking the value of ecosystems to drive sustainable development. As a co-founder of Ecologi, Ian contributed to creating one of the most impactful platforms for businesses and individuals to fund environmental restoration projects globally. His work bridges economic growth and environmental stewardship.
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Guest speaker
Vicky Newlove BNG & Natural Capital Lead @ Lucion GroupG
Victoria joined Lucion as Biodiversity Net Gain and Natural Capital Lead in 2024. With over twelve years of experience in the consultancy sector and previous roles in conservation, she is passionate about designing biodiversity into plans and projects for the benefit of people and wildlife. Victoria supports Lucion’s Ecology team in delivering a wide range of ecological assessments to inform proposed development, planning submissions, environmental compliance and corporate biodiversity reporting. She offers comprehensive advice to clients to ensure that biodiversity is considered throughout the life cycle of plans and projects, maximising the wide-ranging benefits delivered by healthy, natural environments. Victoria is a BNG training provider on behalf of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) facilitating a deep understanding of the varied challenges and solutions to achieving biodiversity gains.
