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Discharging the statutory biodiversity gain condition

The biodiversity gain condition has a separate statutory basis as a planning condition.

The condition automatically applies to most planning permissions granted for development in England (unless exemptions or transitional arrangements apply).

Development must not commence until the biodiversity gain condition has been formally discharged by Cheltenham Borough Council. 

When to submit your biodiversity gain plan

To discharge the condition, you must submit a biodiversity gain plan to us:

  • in writing
  • after planning permission has been granted
  • before development commences

The biodiversity gain plan must demonstrate that the biodiversity gain objective (minimum 10 percent net gain) has been met.

Visit GOV.UK for biodiversity gain plan templates

What you must submit

To enable the council to determine whether the biodiversity gain objective has been achieved, you must submit the following: