Oxfordshire is set to benefit from over 160 football pitches worth of biodiversity each year, according to a new study by a tech startup.

The research was carried out by Joe’s Blooms, a company that claims to offer a digital solution that helps property developers comply with the new ‘biodiversity net gain’ regulations.

The company claims that as a result of this biodiversity gain the South East of England will experience the highest increase in biodiversity across English regions, securing over 4,300 football pitches worth of natural habitat each year.

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As part of this net gain, Oxfordshire will itself see the creation of an additional 164 football pitches and avoid the loss of about 290 football pitches of natural habitat every year.

This increase in biodiversity is down to – the company claims - the Government’s new Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) law – a planning policy that will require property developers to invest in measures that increase the amount of plants and wildlife in the local area by 10 per cent.

Across England, BNG will lead to over 15,000 hectares, or 23,500 football pitches, worth of biodiversity being secured each year.

Dr Robin McArthur, chair of the Joe’s Blooms Advisory Board, said: “It is great to see the impact that Biodiversity Net Gain will have on the Oxfordshire community – it gives the housebuilding sector an opportunity to contribute to the UK’s biodiversity and support the reappearance of nature in and around Oxfordshire.”

An officer from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust pointed out that BNG guidance is already being adopted by certain Oxfordshire local authorities and so is only due to make a little change in January, when the government will introduce the policy.

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1