In Havant Borough, the only document to be used to assess strategic significance is the Hampshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS).
The council strongly recommends that applicants submitting BNG assessments are familiar with the LNRS, or make sure their appointed ecologist is familiar with it.
The LNRS contains a series of maps showing areas of importance for biodiversity in Hampshire. One set of maps is called the Measures layer. This is the map that is important for BNG assessments.
The Measures layer of the LNRS provides the evidence to steer BNG measures so that the most appropriate habitats are delivered in the ‘right’ place. This is designed to reward proposals that match the LNRS Measures layer.
If you are proposing habitat creation or enhancement on off-site land as part of your BNG, the location of that land is important.
If the off-site land is mapped in the LNRS Measures map AND your proposed habitat creation or enhancement matches the listed Measures for that land, you can claim High strategic significance.
High Strategic Significance
Land identified as High strategic significance can claim a 15% uplift in biodiversity value. For applicants this means that you can purchase a smaller area of land to achieve your BNG units.
Low Strategic Significance
Any land not identified in the LNRS Measures layer achieves no uplift.
Further information on strategic significance for BNG is provided in the Statutory Biodiversity Metric User Guide.