Greener growth in Herts: LNRS and the Council’s BNG matching tool

Hertfordshire has an ambitious and collaborative approach to nature recovery, ensuring that the protection and enhancement of its diverse natural landscapes and responsible development can go hand in hand.

Two key initiatives—Hertfordshire’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) and the County Council’s Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) site matching tool—are central to ensuring development and conservation can work alongside one another across the county.

Marc Wilcox, Hertfordshire County Council’s BNG &LNRS Project Manager held a recent webinar on sustainability with HIDB members. We caught up with Marc after the event to learn more about these significant initiatives…

What is the LNRS?

Underpinned by the Environment Act 2021, the LNRS is Hertfordshire’s legally mandated roadmap for restoring nature at scale. It brings together local councils, conservation experts, landowners and communities to identify priority habitats and species, as well as where and how nature recovery can best be delivered.

Key features include:

• A mapping tool that highlights where habitat creation and enhancement will have the greatest ecological impact
• A shortlist of “Flagship Species” and “Species with Targeted Actions” (such as hedgehogs, swifts and water voles) targeted for protection and recovery
• Urban and rural actions, from restoring our chalk grasslands and greening grey infrastructure to enhancing connectivity between fragmented habitats

Watch this space… Feedback is being actively sought, with public consultation due in summer 2025, and final publication expected in late autumn.

Spotlight on the Council’s BNG site matching tool

While the LNRS sets out ‘where’ and ‘why’ nature recovery should happen, the council’s biodiversity net gain (BNG) site matching tool helps with the ‘how’.

With 10% BNG now mandatory for most applications, the Council’s online tool links developers with landowners who can offer habitat creation or enhancement opportunities.

Why it matters

The new(ish) 10% minimum BNG mandate expects developers to deliver improvements on-site where they can, but when that isn’t possible, off-site opportunities come into play.

How the matching tool works

Hertfordshire’s tool provides a confidential, council-managed service to match demand (developers needing to deliver BNG) with supply (landowners able to provide habitat improvements).

• Landowners submit their sites via an online form
• Developers can express interest in finding off-site BNG locations
• The council assesses habitat types, site suitability and alignment with the LNRS to deliver high-quality matches

Key benefits:

• It promotes BNG delivery where it contributes most to county-wide nature recovery priorities
• Ensures a transparent, strategic approach that aligns with long-term ecological goals
• Supports landowners in unlocking potential income streams from their land

Why it’s relevant for HIDB members

For Herts’ businesses, landowners and planners, the LNRS and BNG matching tool offers:

• A clearer understanding of how to meet legal and planning obligations
• A proactive role in shaping and benefiting from nature recovery
• New routes for collaboration between public and private sectors

Whether you’re developing land, managing estates or contributing to environmental strategy, these tools are designed to bring clarity, opportunity and ecological coherence to a rapidly evolving policy landscape.

Members can contact localnaturerecovery@hertfordshire.gov.uk with any questions or site submissions.