Understanding the Acceptance of Biodiversity Net Gain and its Implications for Social Licence to Operate

Stuart, Alice Dorothy (2025) Understanding the Acceptance of Biodiversity Net Gain and its Implications for Social Licence to Operate. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

We are in the midst of a global biodiversity crisis, to which economic growth and development are accepted to be significant contributors. In response, organisations and governments are increasingly introducing biodiversity net outcome policies, which promise ‘win-win’ solutions for nature and development. Mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in England is one such policy, requiring that the majority of new terrestrial developments demonstrate a 10% increase in biodiversity ‘value’ according to a habitat-based metric. However, net outcome policies have a controversial history, leading to concern from developers that BNG will negatively impact acceptance and projects’ Social Licence to Operate (SLO), thereby increasing operational risk. This thesis seeks to understand the acceptance of BNG in England and what this means for project-level SLO. A novel conceptualisation of SLO is derived to provide the conceptual framework for acceptance used within this PhD, finding that acceptance can be understood through the lenses of legitimacy and trust, with strong governance structures being important where trust is lacking. The historical context of BNG in England is addressed by creating a timeline of BNG in England, solidifying its existence as part of a neoliberal push for development-friendly biodiversity policy. To understand acceptance of BNG in England as a policy, a mixed-methods approach is adopted, using questionnaires to evaluate public opinions, and qualitative analysis of responses to an early government consultation to precipitate issues that may impact acceptance. This finds that BNG is widely accepted but a lack of trust, alongside the policy’s neoliberal aims, and multiple value conflicts, threaten acceptance in practice. Finally, the Norwich Western Link, a controversial proposed road project, is used as a case study to assess the impact of BNG on SLO, finding that BNG further polarises judgements of the project, and may negatively impact SLO where impacts are perceived to be unacceptable.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
Depositing User:	Chris White
Date Deposited:	20 Jan 2026 14:01
Last Modified:	20 Jan 2026 14:01
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/101659
DOI:

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