BNG Market in Practice - Developing and Implementing Regulation - GMCA & North Northamptonshire

This session provided an inside look at the development of GMCA’s new Responsible Body Service, established to support a group of local authorities in regulating off-site gain sites. It focused on how the service had been structured, the functions it delivered, and the practical considerations involved in creating a consistent and robust regulatory approach. The discussion outlined the service model, including roles and responsibilities, governance arrangements, legal structures and resourcing. It also explained the rationale behind the charging approach, which was based on a subscription model designed to fund core service delivery over the next three years, alongside site-specific costs associated with ecological and legal inputs. The session also reflected on the experience of North Northamptonshire in operating with more limited internal capacity. This included how fee structures and workflow processes had been designed to remain deliverable within existing resources. Attendees gained insight into the practical nuances, challenges and lessons learned in establishing a process tailored to the needs of local planning authorities.