Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Homes England, Homes England Nature Positive Plan, 26 August 2026, whether the allowable Biodiversity Net Gain exemptions for exempted sites have been applied to Homes England's policy on its new build sites.

The statutory Biodiversity Net Gain exemptions apply to Homes England developments where the relevant exemption criteria are met. Homes England prepares planning applications in accordance with the statutory framework and the relevant local plan and planning policies.

The Homes England Nature Positive Plan does not override statutory exemptions or require mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain to be delivered where a development is exempt. However, the Plan sets out wider goals to support nature recovery across Homes England’s activities.