National Infrastructure Commission to Incorporate Environmental Net Gain Into Development Principles

The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) today published a discussion paper stating all infrastructure developments in England should aim to leave the environment in a measurably better condition than before.

The NIC intends to put the Environmental Net Gain approach “at the heart of a new set of natural capital principles… to help guide future infrastructure developments.”

The Commission has also pledged to consider the importance of natural capital as an integral part of its next National Infrastructure Assessment.

The current Environmental Bill includes provisions for biodiversity net gain but major infrastructure is exempted from this, however, the government’s 25 year environment plan does include an ambition for environmental net gain requirements on all future major development, including infrastructure.