NatureScot is inviting people to share their thoughts on the Scottish Planning Biodiversity Metric, which will help developers work out the value of biodiversity before and following development.

It is required under National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) that large-scale developments extensively strengthen biodiversity.

After a preliminary survey of habitats including grassland, peatland or woodland, the tool will be used to work out the value of biodiversity prior to development going ahead. It will then let developers work out the extent to which habitat needs to be created or restored to replace and boost any biodiversity lost during development.

Nature restoration strategies might include creating pollinator-friendly green areas and connecting wildlife habitats and natural flood management methods such as creating wetlands and planting trees to slow down the flow of water or enhance drainage.

The consultation goes ahead from 31 August to 30 November. In Spring next year, the refined tool will be released.

People can participate in the consultation by visiting NatureScot’s website to provide feedback on the tool, user guide and habitat condition assessment.

NatureScot’s director of Green Economy, Robbie Kernahan, said: “Nature loss and climate change is everyone’s business and developers have an essential part to play in tackling the global crises.

“In Scotland, all large-scale development proposals need to show that they will leave biodiversity in a much better state than before. 

“This supports our ambition to restore and regenerate Scotland’s nature by 2045.”

Kernahan added: “Working closely with partners, we’ve produced a planning tool that allows developers to calculate the value of biodiversity before and after development takes place and provides a consistent way to demonstrate benefits.”

“We aim to publish a refined version of the tool in spring 2027, taking account of the consultation feedback.”