Metric Summary Table
The Metric Summary Tables condense the information contained across up to 20 tabs of the biodiversity metric spreadsheet into a set of clear, high-level tables. This allows assessors to quickly understand what is happening in the metric before diving into detailed habitat-level data.
Learn about using the metric summary table in this video.
How the tables are structured
Each summary table has three rows, one for each habitat category:
- Area habitats
- Hedgerows
- Watercourses
The columns show the key stages of the metric:
- Pre-intervention - the baseline biodiversity value
- Losses - biodiversity units lost through development
- Post-intervention - the biodiversity value after proposed habitat creation or enhancement
- Net change - the difference in biodiversity units and the percentage net gain
Checking the 10% requirement
The net change column is where you assess whether the mandatory 10% biodiversity net gain has been met. This is calculated independently for each habitat category - area habitats, hedgerows, and watercourses must each meet the 10% threshold on their own.
On-site, off-site, and combined tables
What you see depends on the metric type:
- Small Sites Metric - shows on-site tables only
- Main Metric - shows on-site tables, off-site tables, and combined tables
For applications using the Main Metric, the combined table is the key reference point. This is where you confirm whether the overall 10% net gain requirement has been achieved across on-site and off-site provision together.
Alert triangles
You may see alert triangles next to some headline figures. These indicate that the numbers shown may not include all records - for example, where habitat records are incomplete or certain entries have been excluded from the calculation. Hover over the triangle for more detail.
Where it fits in the workflow
The Summary Tables are Level 2 of the Assessment workflow. Review them after clearing any Metric Errors (Level 1) and before moving into detailed habitat-level assessment. They give you the big picture - whether the headline numbers stack up - so you know where to focus your detailed review.