A National Character Area, or NCA, is a natural subdivision of England, defined by a combination of landscape, biodiversity, geodiversity and economic activity, meaning they follow broadly natural (or demographic) rather than administrative boundaries, and are therefore far more useful to decision-making frameworks as would apply to biodiversity net gain. There are 159 NCAs in England, as defined by Natural England, the UK government’s advisors on the natural environment.
Examples of NCAs include the Tees Lowlands, the Durham Magnesium Limestone Plateau, Rockingham Forest, the Low and High Wealds, the New Forest and the Cotswolds.
Impact of the Spatial Risk Multiplier
So why are NCAs important to landowners and developers (or any other buyers of BNG units)? The Spatial Risk Multiplier is a calculation function used to determine the cost or value of each biodiversity net gain unit when offsite BNG units are sourced from outside the Local Planning Authority (LPA) where the development work is taking place.
In general terms, the effect of the Spatial Risk Multiplier is to devalue BNG units, the further the location the offset unit is from the development site. In other words, a newly created wetland giving rise to a BNG unit which located two miles down the road from a prospective development, will be more valuable than an identical wetland located twenty or two-hundred miles away. The reason for this is to prioritise local offsets and ensure that BNG is spread consistently around the country, rather than creating barren regions whose natural destruction is counterbalanced only at a national level by BNG projects in some far flung corner of the country.
However, the Spatial Multiplier for BNG does not apply when the offsite BNG unit site and the development site sit within the same National Character Area, even if they do sit within different LPAs, reflecting the fact that nature and biodiversity do not recognise administrative boundaries.
Take home message for landowners and developers
By integrating NCAs into the planning and implementation of BNG, developers and landowners can ensure that new developments contribute positively to the natural environment and local communities. This approach can help achieve a balance between economic growth and environmental conservation, ultimately leading to more sustainable and resilient landscapes. By thinking beyond only LPA boundaries, landowners and developers may also find they have far greater latitude in terms of pairing up to promote BNG benefits and monetise land.
