What the flags mean.

'Completed by' and 'Date of metric completion' fields must be filled in ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at Start!E8

Raised when: Start!F16 (Completed by) or Start!F17 (Date of metric completion) is empty. This is the only Start-page field the tool enforces.

To clear it: Fill both. Use the name of the person who takes responsibility for the metric; put their qualifications in the report, not here.

Also covered by the statutory metric user guide, troubleshooting Table F.

Target set below 10% ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at Start!I22

Raised when: Start!F22, the target % net gain, is below 10%.

To clear it: The statutory minimum is 10%. Only a lower figure agreed in writing with the LPA can stand, and that agreement goes in the report.

You must specify if irreplaceable habitats are on-site at baseline ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at Headline Results!F2

Raised when: The Start-page question about irreplaceable habitat at baseline has not been answered (Start!I23).

To clear it: Answer it on the Start page; the Irreplaceable Habitats sheet must agree with the answer.

Unacceptable loss of irreplaceable habitat recorded - no bespoke compensation for lossess has been agreed ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at Headline Results!F2

Raised when: A baseline row loses irreplaceable habitat and the bespoke-compensation column does not say the compensation is agreed.

To clear it: Either the loss goes, or the bespoke compensation agreed with the consenting body is recorded on the row (Y column on A-1, AB on D-1) and evidenced in the report.

Errors flagged below - please investigate further ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at Headline Results!F2

Raised when: Headline Results!F2: one or more of the four summary flags in B56–B59 is set.

To clear it: Read B56–B59 and clear each.

Error

Statutory metric 1.0.4 and Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at Headline Results!H16, Detailed Results!D21, D-1 Off-Site Habitat Baseline!X259 and 13 more · written in the cell as Error ▲ or Error ▲

Raised when: A bare error: the tool tried to subtract or multiply cells that contain text (an upstream flag) or, on a baseline sheet, an irreplaceable individual tree was marked as enhanced.

To clear it: Follow the cell references: the text in a numeric cell upstream is the real problem. On A-1/D-1 column V, do not enhance irreplaceable individual trees.

Error - gain sites must be positive ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at Headline Results!B19, Off-site gain site summary!M7

Raised when: An off-site gain site on the Off-site gain site summary shows a negative unit change: its post-intervention units are below its baseline.

To clear it: A gain site must gain. Check the off-site baseline against its creation and enhancement rows for that reference.

Error - off-site gain sites must be postive ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at Headline Results!B19

Raised when: An off-site gain site on the Off-site gain site summary shows a negative unit change: its post-intervention units are below its baseline.

To clear it: A gain site must gain. Check the off-site baseline against its creation and enhancement rows for that reference.

Total net gain achieved is less than target set ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at Headline Results!J51

Raised when: Headline Results!J51: the total % change (on-site plus off-site) is below the target on the Start page.

To clear it: More units are needed: retained or enhanced habitat, off-site units, or as a last resort statutory credits. The report must show which.

No ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 and Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at Headline Results!F55, Trading Summary Area Habitats!G5, Trading Summary Hedgerows!F5 and 23 more

Raised when: Trading rules not satisfied: on a trading summary, units lost in a distinctiveness band are not replaced by units of the same or higher band (G column negative).

To clear it: Open the trading summary the flag names. The band with the negative balance shows what must be created or enhanced at that distinctiveness or above.

Also covered by the statutory metric user guide, troubleshooting Table F.

No - Check Trading Summaries

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at Headline Results!F55, A-1 On-Site Habitat Baseline!L5, A-2 On-Site Habitat Creation!K5 and 4 more · written in the cell as No - Check Trading Summaries ▲ or No - check trading summaries ▲

Raised when: Trading rules not satisfied: on a trading summary, units lost in a distinctiveness band are not replaced by units of the same or higher band (G column negative).

To clear it: Open the trading summary the flag names. The band with the negative balance shows what must be created or enhanced at that distinctiveness or above.

Also covered by the statutory metric user guide, troubleshooting Table F.

Any Loss Unacceptable

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error or ⚠ attention · raised at Headline Results!B58, A-1 On-Site Habitat Baseline!X11, D-1 Off-Site Habitat Baseline!AA11 and 2 more · written in the cell as Any Loss Unacceptable ▲ or Any Loss Unacceptable ⚠ or Any Loss Unacceptable ⚠

Raised when: The row is a very-high-distinctiveness or irreplaceable habitat with area lost, and bespoke compensation is not recorded as agreed.

To clear it: Avoid the loss, or record the agreed bespoke compensation on the row and evidence it in the report.

Bespoke compensation must be agreed

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at Headline Results!B58, A-1 On-Site Habitat Baseline!X11, D-1 Off-Site Habitat Baseline!AA11 and 2 more · written in the cell as Bespoke compensation must be agreed ▲ or Bespoke compensation must be agreed ▲

Raised when: Bespoke compensation is marked Pending for a loss of very-high-distinctiveness habitat.

To clear it: Pending is not agreed. Get the agreement, then set the cell to Yes.

Unacceptable loss of irreplaceable habitat recorded - no bespoke compensation for losses has been agreed ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at Headline Results!B58

Raised when: A baseline row loses irreplaceable habitat and the bespoke-compensation column does not say the compensation is agreed.

To clear it: Either the loss goes, or the bespoke compensation agreed with the consenting body is recorded on the row (Y column on A-1, AB on D-1) and evidenced in the report.

Error - Area created does not equal area lost ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at Headline Results!B59, A-2 On-Site Habitat Creation!K6, D-2 Off-Site Habitat Creation!L6

Raised when: The A-2 (or D-2) total area created differs from the A-1 (or D-1) area lost by more than the tolerance in A-2!G2 (0.01 ha).

To clear it: The post-development habitats must cover the whole site: every hectare lost is created as something. Reconcile the areas; the difference is usually a parcel missing from the creation sheet.

Also covered by the statutory metric user guide, troubleshooting Table F.

Area created must match area lost for both onsite and offsite ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at Headline Results!B59

Raised when: The A-2 (or D-2) total area created differs from the A-1 (or D-1) area lost by more than the tolerance in A-2!G2 (0.01 ha).

To clear it: The post-development habitats must cover the whole site: every hectare lost is created as something. Reconcile the areas; the difference is usually a parcel missing from the creation sheet.

Also covered by the statutory metric user guide, troubleshooting Table F.

A bare ▲ with no text

Statutory metric 1.0.4 and Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at Headline Results!B94, Trading Summary Area Habitats!H13, Trading Summary Hedgerows!F14 and 7 more

Raised when: A bare ▲ on a trading summary or on Headline Results!B94: the trading balance in that band is negative (summary), or a ▲ exists somewhere in the metric (B94).

To clear it: On a trading summary, read the band. B94 is the master switch: every other ▲ on this page must go before it will.

Input errors/rule breaks present in metric ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at Headline Results!B94

Raised when: Headline Results!B94 searches every data-entry sheet for a ▲. This is the one line most LPA validation checklists read.

To clear it: Clear every other ▲ listed above; this one clears itself.

Also covered by the statutory metric user guide, troubleshooting Table F.

ERROR - This metric still includes losses of very high distinctiveness habitat. Losses of very high distinctiveness units must be compensated for through this metric or through bespoke compensation ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at Credits Summary!C15, Credits calculations!E16

Raised when: Credits Summary: the area or watercourse trading summary still has a negative balance in the very-high-distinctiveness band. Statutory credits cannot buy these units.

To clear it: Very-high-distinctiveness losses must be compensated in the metric (like for like) or by bespoke compensation agreed with the consenting body.

Irreplaceable habitat lost, bespoke compensation must be agreed with concenting body ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at Irreplaceable Habitats!BK10

Raised when: Irreplaceable Habitats sheet: a habitat with an area lost and no Yes ✓ in the bespoke-compensation column.

To clear it: Record the agreed bespoke compensation, or remove the loss.

Irreplaceable habitat ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at A-1 On-Site Habitat Baseline!I11, D-1 Off-Site Habitat Baseline!I11

Raised when: The habitat chosen is irreplaceable in the lookup (G-1) but column G says No.

To clear it: Set Irreplaceable habitat to Yes, or choose the correct habitat.

Cannot be Irreplaceable ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at A-1 On-Site Habitat Baseline!I11, D-1 Off-Site Habitat Baseline!I11

Raised when: Column G says Yes but the habitat is not irreplaceable in the lookup.

To clear it: Set it to No, or choose the correct habitat. An irreplaceable habitat is defined in regulations, not by judgement.

Spatial Data Missing

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error or ⚠ attention · raised at A-1 On-Site Habitat Baseline!O11, A-3 On-Site Habitat Enhancement!AB12, D-1 Off-Site Habitat Baseline!N11 and 14 more · written in the cell as Spatial Data Missing ▲ or Spatial Data Missing ⚠

Raised when: A location multiplier could not be resolved: the strategic significance cell (or, on the off-site sheets, the spatial risk category cell) holds a value whose multiplier the lookup table returns as zero. The lookup is G-3 L3:N6 for strategic significance (G-7 for watercourses) and G-3 S3:T10 for spatial risk. In the published 1.0.4 every listed multiplier is non-zero, so the string appears only when the lookup resolves to an empty cell; a value that is not in the list at all shows #N/A in the multiplier cells instead, and the row's units cell then reads Check Data ▲ (baseline sheets) or stays blank (creation and enhancement sheets).

To clear it: Re-select the category from the drop-down (the list is G-3 L4:L6: formally identified in local strategy, location ecologically desirable but not in local strategy, area/compensation not in local strategy) so the cell holds one of the listed strings exactly. A pasted value is the usual way a cell ends up outside the list.

Confirm irreplaceable habitat status ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at A-1 On-Site Habitat Baseline!Q11, D-1 Off-Site Habitat Baseline!T11

Raised when: A habitat is entered but the Irreplaceable habitat column (G) is blank.

To clear it: Answer Yes or No on every baseline row.

Error - you cannot enhance irreplaceable individual trees ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at A-1 On-Site Habitat Baseline!Q11, A-3 On-Site Habitat Enhancement!AN12, D-1 Off-Site Habitat Baseline!Q11 and 1 more

Raised when: A row of individual trees marked irreplaceable has an enhanced area.

To clear it: Irreplaceable trees are retained, not enhanced. Move the area to retained.

Error - ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at A-1 On-Site Habitat Baseline!V11, D-1 Off-Site Habitat Baseline!Y11

Raised when: A bare error: the tool tried to subtract or multiply cells that contain text (an upstream flag) or, on a baseline sheet, an irreplaceable individual tree was marked as enhanced.

To clear it: Follow the cell references: the text in a numeric cell upstream is the real problem. On A-1/D-1 column V, do not enhance irreplaceable individual trees.

Error in Areas ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at A-1 On-Site Habitat Baseline!W11, D-1 Off-Site Habitat Baseline!Z11

Raised when: Area (or length) retained plus enhanced exceeds the parcel's total area (or length).

To clear it: Retained + enhanced ≤ total, always. The rest is lost. Check the three cells on the row.

Also covered by the statutory metric user guide, troubleshooting Table F.

Error -both advance and delayed habitat creation ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at A-2 On-Site Habitat Creation!R11, A-3 On-Site Habitat Enhancement!AG12, D-2 Off-Site Habitat Creation!R11 and 9 more

Raised when: The row has both a value in 'created in advance' and a value in 'delay in starting'.

To clear it: A habitat is created early or late, not both. Clear one.

Not Possible

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at A-2 On-Site Habitat Creation!S11, A-3 On-Site Habitat Enhancement!AH12, D-2 Off-Site Habitat Creation!S11 and 13 more · written in the cell as Not Possible ▲ or Not possible ▲

Raised when: The habitat cannot take the condition, the time to target, or the enhancement chosen — the lookup (G-4/G-5/G-8) says so.

To clear it: Choose a condition or intervention the habitat allows. The lookup sheets show which.

Error - Trading rules not satisfied

Statutory metric 1.0.4 and Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at A-3 On-Site Habitat Enhancement!T12, D-3 Off-Site Habitat Enhancment!T12, 6. Hedges & Lines of Trees!E97 and 1 more · written in the cell as Error - Trading rules not satisfied ▲ or Error - Trading Rules Not Satisfied ▲

Raised when: An enhancement row breaks the trading rules: the required action in column O (same distinctiveness / same broad habitat / same habitat / bespoke) is not met by the proposed habitat and distinctiveness.

To clear it: Read the Required Action to Meet Trading Rules cell on the row and choose a proposed habitat that satisfies it.

Also covered by the statutory metric user guide, troubleshooting Table F.

Error Trading Down ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at A-3 On-Site Habitat Enhancement!T12, D-3 Off-Site Habitat Enhancment!T12, C-3 On-Site WaterC' Enhancement!O12 and 1 more

Raised when: The proposed habitat has lower distinctiveness than the baseline habitat on the same row.

To clear it: Enhancement cannot reduce distinctiveness. Choose a habitat at the same band or higher.

Error - Enhancement not possible ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at A-3 On-Site Habitat Enhancement!T12, D-3 Off-Site Habitat Enhancment!T12

Raised when: The baseline habitat has no enhancement route to the proposed habitat in the lookup.

To clear it: Choose an enhancement the lookup allows, or treat it as loss plus creation.

Error you cannot replace an irreplaceable habitat ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at A-3 On-Site Habitat Enhancement!U12, D-3 Off-Site Habitat Enhancment!U12, F-3 Off-Site WaterC Enhancement!P12

Raised when: An irreplaceable baseline habitat is proposed to become a different habitat.

To clear it: Irreplaceable habitat stays what it is.

Error - Not like for like ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at A-3 On-Site Habitat Enhancement!U12, D-3 Off-Site Habitat Enhancment!U12, B-3 On-Site Hedge Enhancement!O12 and 3 more

Raised when: A high-distinctiveness baseline is enhanced to a different habitat (High → High must be like for like).

To clear it: Enhance to the same habitat type, or justify a bespoke route agreed with the LPA.

Error - Can not reduce condition ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at A-3 On-Site Habitat Enhancement!U12, D-3 Off-Site Habitat Enhancment!U12, B-3 On-Site Hedge Enhancement!O12 and 3 more

Raised when: The proposed condition is lower than the baseline condition on an enhancement row.

To clear it: Enhancement must improve or keep condition. If condition really falls, that is a loss, not an enhancement.

Error - No enhancement ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at A-3 On-Site Habitat Enhancement!U12, D-3 Off-Site Habitat Enhancment!U12, B-3 On-Site Hedge Enhancement!O12 and 1 more

Raised when: Distinctiveness and condition are unchanged, or the post-intervention units are not above baseline — nothing is enhanced.

To clear it: Either raise condition or distinctiveness, or move the parcel to retained.

Error - condition cannot be reduced ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at A-3 On-Site Habitat Enhancement!U12, D-3 Off-Site Habitat Enhancment!U12

Raised when: The proposed condition is lower than the baseline condition on an enhancement row.

To clear it: Enhancement must improve or keep condition. If condition really falls, that is a loss, not an enhancement.

Error - Area of habitat enhancement must match the area from sheet A1 ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at A-3 On-Site Habitat Enhancement!V259

Raised when: Total area enhanced on the -3 sheet differs from the area marked enhanced on the -1 sheet.

To clear it: Every hectare marked enhanced on the baseline must appear once on the enhancement sheet, and vice versa.

Off-site reference required ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at D-1 Off-Site Habitat Baseline!T11, D-2 Off-Site Habitat Creation!AB11, D-3 Off-Site Habitat Enhancment!AQ12 and 6 more

Raised when: An off-site row has a spatial risk category but no off-site (gain site) reference.

To clear it: Enter the gain site reference on every off-site row. It ties the units to the register entry.

Error - you cannot enhance an irreplaceable tree ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at D-1 Off-Site Habitat Baseline!AA11

Raised when: A row of individual trees marked irreplaceable has an enhanced area.

To clear it: Irreplaceable trees are retained, not enhanced. Move the area to retained.

Error - Area of habitat enhancement must match the area from sheet D1 ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at D-3 Off-Site Habitat Enhancment!V260

Raised when: Total area enhanced on the -3 sheet differs from the area marked enhanced on the -1 sheet.

To clear it: Every hectare marked enhanced on the baseline must appear once on the enhancement sheet, and vice versa.

No - check trading summary ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at B-1 On-Site Hedge Baseline!J5, B-2 On-Site Hedge Creation!I5, B-3 On-Site Hedge Enhancement!O5 and 9 more

Raised when: Trading rules not satisfied: on a trading summary, units lost in a distinctiveness band are not replaced by units of the same or higher band (G column negative).

To clear it: Open the trading summary the flag names. The band with the negative balance shows what must be created or enhanced at that distinctiveness or above.

Also covered by the statutory metric user guide, troubleshooting Table F.

Error in lengths

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at B-1 On-Site Hedge Baseline!N10, E-1 Off-Site Hedge Baseline!Q10, B-1 On-Site Hedge Baseline!T10 and 3 more · written in the cell as Error in lengths ▲ or Error in Lengths ▲

Raised when: Area (or length) retained plus enhanced exceeds the parcel's total area (or length).

To clear it: Retained + enhanced ≤ total, always. The rest is lost. Check the three cells on the row.

Also covered by the statutory metric user guide, troubleshooting Table F.

Split retained and enhanced into separate entries ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at C-1 On-Site WaterC' Baseline!R10, F-1 Off-Site WaterC' Baseline!R10

Raised when: A watercourse row has both a retained and an enhanced length whose sum exceeds the row length.

To clear it: Enter retained and enhanced lengths as separate rows.

Error - No enhancement - units less than baseline ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at C-3 On-Site WaterC' Enhancement!AM6, F-3 Off-Site WaterC Enhancement!AQ6

Raised when: Distinctiveness and condition are unchanged, or the post-intervention units are not above baseline — nothing is enhanced.

To clear it: Either raise condition or distinctiveness, or move the parcel to retained.

Error you cannot replace and irreplaceable habitat ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at C-3 On-Site WaterC' Enhancement!P12

Raised when: An irreplaceable baseline habitat is proposed to become a different habitat.

To clear it: Irreplaceable habitat stays what it is.

Spatial risk category missing ▲

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ▲ input error · raised at F-1 Off-Site WaterC' Baseline!AC10

Raised when: An off-site watercourse row has no spatial risk category.

To clear it: Choose the spatial risk category (inside the LPA, neighbouring, or beyond) for every off-site row.

Caution - % target reduced below default ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 2. Site Details!E13

Raised when: Small sites metric, Site Details: a target below 10% has been entered.

To clear it: 10% is the statutory minimum. Only a written LPA agreement changes it.

ERROR- Site too large for metric - USE MAIN METRIC ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 3. Desktop Assessment!D7

Raised when: Desktop Assessment: the site fails the small sites metric's limits — area at or above 10,000 m² (5,000 m² for a residential site with an unknown number of dwellings), "Over 9 dwellings" on a residential or mixed site, or a designated site, priority habitat or European protected species on site (D7, D9, D11, D12, D16).

To clear it: Use the main statutory metric. The cell the string sits in names the cause; the LPA will not accept the small sites metric for this site.

ERROR- Not required ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 3. Desktop Assessment!D9

Raised when: The dwellings question is answered when it does not apply, or left blank when it does.

To clear it: Answer the dwellings question only for residential or mixed development, and always for those.

ERROR- Number of dwellings too large for metric - USE MAIN METRIC ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 3. Desktop Assessment!D9

Raised when: Desktop Assessment: the site fails the small sites metric's limits — area at or above 10,000 m² (5,000 m² for a residential site with an unknown number of dwellings), "Over 9 dwellings" on a residential or mixed site, or a designated site, priority habitat or European protected species on site (D7, D9, D11, D12, D16).

To clear it: Use the main statutory metric. The cell the string sits in names the cause; the LPA will not accept the small sites metric for this site.

ERROR - You must specify number of dwellings ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 3. Desktop Assessment!D9

Raised when: The dwellings question is answered when it does not apply, or left blank when it does.

To clear it: Answer the dwellings question only for residential or mixed development, and always for those.

ERROR- Site too complex for metric - USE MAIN METRIC ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 3. Desktop Assessment!D11

Raised when: Desktop Assessment: the site fails the small sites metric's limits — area at or above 10,000 m² (5,000 m² for a residential site with an unknown number of dwellings), "Over 9 dwellings" on a residential or mixed site, or a designated site, priority habitat or European protected species on site (D7, D9, D11, D12, D16).

To clear it: Use the main statutory metric. The cell the string sits in names the cause; the LPA will not accept the small sites metric for this site.

Walkover date required ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 3. Desktop Assessment!D20

Raised when: Desktop Assessment: the site walkover date is blank.

To clear it: Enter the walkover date. The tool prints the date the survey stays valid (six months).

Input Errors Present On Sheet - Red Cells Or ▲ Highlight Errors

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 5. Area Habitats!J2, 6. Hedges & Lines of Trees!J2, 7. Watercourses!J2

Raised when: Small sites metric: a ▲ exists somewhere in rows 7–101 of the sheet.

To clear it: Find the red cell or ▲ on the sheet and clear it; this line clears itself.

Technical Errors On Sheet ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 5. Area Habitats!J2, 6. Hedges & Lines of Trees!J2, 7. Watercourses!J2

Raised when: The sheet's own error search failed — a formula on the sheet returned an Excel error.

To clear it: Look for #VALUE!, #N/A or #REF! on the sheet. Usually a hand-typed value where a drop-down was expected.

Area Error ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 5. Area Habitats!M11

Raised when: Retained plus enhanced exceeds the row's total area or length.

To clear it: Retained + enhanced ≤ total.

This intervention is not permitted within the SSM ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 5. Area Habitats!N11, 6. Hedges & Lines of Trees!L11, 7. Watercourses!L11

Raised when: The habitat and intervention chosen have no multiplier in the small sites tables.

To clear it: Choose a habitat and intervention the small sites metric supports, or use the main metric.

Error - Site exceeds areas appropriate for the small sites metric ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 5. Area Habitats!I33

Raised when: 5. Area Habitats I33: the baseline area total (I32, excluding trees, green walls and hard structures) is not acceptable for the development type on the Desktop Assessment — 10,000 m² or more, 5,000 m² or more with an unknown number of dwellings, a footprint of 1,000 m² or more on a commercial or mixed site, "Over 9 dwellings", or a blank development type with any area entered.

To clear it: Fill in the Desktop Assessment's development type, dwellings and footprint first; if the site still fails, use the main statutory metric.

Error - Areas Retained and Enhanced Exceed Total Area ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 5. Area Habitats!I34

Raised when: A sheet-level reconciliation failed: areas or lengths do not add up against the site area, the total, or the area lost.

To clear it: Reconcile the totals in the sheet's summary rows; the flag names which pair disagree.

Error - Areas Entered Does Not Match Stated Site Area ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 5. Area Habitats!I35

Raised when: A sheet-level reconciliation failed: areas or lengths do not add up against the site area, the total, or the area lost.

To clear it: Reconcile the totals in the sheet's summary rows; the flag names which pair disagree.

Error - Area of habitat creation must match area lost ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 5. Area Habitats!I62

Raised when: A sheet-level reconciliation failed: areas or lengths do not add up against the site area, the total, or the area lost.

To clear it: Reconcile the totals in the sheet's summary rows; the flag names which pair disagree.

Error - trees retained and lost is greater than number of pre-development trees ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 5. Area Habitats!E100

Raised when: A sheet-level reconciliation failed: areas or lengths do not add up against the site area, the total, or the area lost.

To clear it: Reconcile the totals in the sheet's summary rows; the flag names which pair disagree.

Error - Trading Rules Not Satisfied - Insufficient Units Created Within Habitat Groups ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 5. Area Habitats!E108

Raised when: Small sites metric: units created within a habitat group, or in total, are below the units lost there.

To clear it: The table below the flag shows the group in deficit. Create or enhance within that group.

Error - Trading Rules Not Satisfied - Insufficient Biodiversity Units Created ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 5. Area Habitats!E109

Raised when: Small sites metric: units created within a habitat group, or in total, are below the units lost there.

To clear it: The table below the flag shows the group in deficit. Create or enhance within that group.

Length Error ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 6. Hedges & Lines of Trees!M11, 7. Watercourses!M11

Raised when: Retained plus enhanced exceeds the row's total area or length.

To clear it: Retained + enhanced ≤ total.

Error - Lengths Retained and Enhanced Exceed Total Length ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 6. Hedges & Lines of Trees!I32, 7. Watercourses!I32

Raised when: A sheet-level reconciliation failed: areas or lengths do not add up against the site area, the total, or the area lost.

To clear it: Reconcile the totals in the sheet's summary rows; the flag names which pair disagree.

Length Exceeds Length Appropriate for Small Sites Metric ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 6. Hedges & Lines of Trees!I33, 7. Watercourses!I33

Raised when: Total hedgerow or watercourse length is 5 km or more.

To clear it: Use the main metric.

BNG Targets Not Met ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 8. Headline Results!D5

Raised when: Small sites Headline Results: a module (area, hedgerow, watercourse) ends below its target.

To clear it: More units in that module, on-site or off-site.

Trading Rules Not Satisfied ▲

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ▲ input error · raised at 8. Headline Results!D7

Raised when: An enhancement row breaks the trading rules: the required action in column O (same distinctiveness / same broad habitat / same habitat / bespoke) is not met by the proposed habitat and distinctiveness.

To clear it: Read the Required Action to Meet Trading Rules cell on the row and choose a proposed habitat that satisfies it.

Also covered by the statutory metric user guide, troubleshooting Table F.

Yes ⚠

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention · raised at Start!F23

Raised when: Start!F23: the Irreplaceable Habitats sheet contains an irreplaceable habitat at baseline (any of its four totals is non-zero).

To clear it: Not an error. It tells the reviewer that irreplaceable habitat is present and that bespoke compensation is needed for any loss — the metric does not compensate for it.

Only acceptable in exceptionally rare circumstances, ensure any deviations have been agreed with the consenting body ⚠

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention · raised at Start!I27

Raised when: Start!F27 says the metric contains deviations from the statutory metric.

To clear it: Deviations are only acceptable when agreed with the consenting body. Attach the written agreement; without it, expect a refusal.

This metric contains deviations from the statutory metric - these deviations are only acceptable in extremely rare circumstances and must be agreed with the consenting body ⚠

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention · raised at Headline Results!F2

Raised when: Headline Results repeats the Start-page deviation answer (Start!F27 = Yes).

To clear it: Same as above: written agreement from the consenting body, cited in the report.

Check Data

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention or ▲ input error · raised at Headline Results!H8, Detailed Results!H10, A-2 On-Site Habitat Creation!S11 and 27 more · written in the cell as Check Data ⚠ or Check Data⚠ or Check Data ▲ or Check data ⚠ or Check data ▲

Raised when: A lookup or a sum could not be completed for this row or total: an input is blank, a combination is not in the lookup tables, or an upstream cell already carries an error. On the Headline Results it means a parcel sheet total could not be read.

To clear it: Go to the parcel sheet the cell points at and find the row with the blank or impossible combination — usually a habitat with no condition, or a condition the habitat cannot take.

On-site net gain is less than target set ⚠

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention · raised at Headline Results!K16

Raised when: Headline Results!K16: the on-site % change is below the Start-page target — but off-site units may still carry the scheme.

To clear it: A warning, not a refusal: the total in row 51 is what counts. Explain in the report how the shortfall is met.

Ensure bespoke compensation has been agreed where stated ⚠

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention · raised at Headline Results!B44

Raised when: At least one baseline row says bespoke compensation is agreed (Yes) for a loss the metric cannot compensate.

To clear it: Attach the agreement. The reviewer will ask for it.

A bare ⚠ with no text

Statutory metric 1.0.4 and Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ⚠ attention · raised at Trading Summary Area Habitats!L12, Trading Summary Hedgerows!J13, Trading Summary WaterC's!J12 and 1 more

Raised when: A bare ⚠ on a trading summary: a habitat group's project-wide change, or a band's balance before surplus from a higher band is counted, is negative (the L and H columns; off-site units are already in the figure).

To clear it: Attention, not an error. Check the band.

A 'Fairly' Category has been used - check evidence to ensure this is appropriate ⚠

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention · raised at A-1 On-Site Habitat Baseline!Q2, A-2 On-Site Habitat Creation!S2, A-3 On-Site Habitat Enhancement!V2 and 3 more

Raised when: Any row on the sheet uses the condition Fairly Good or Fairly Poor (a whole-sheet check in row 2).

To clear it: Fairly grades exist for a handful of habitats only and reviewers query them: make sure the condition sheet supports the grade and say so in User comments.

Please ensure the watercourse details for any watercourse footprints recorded are included in the watercourse tabs ⚠

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention · raised at A-1 On-Site Habitat Baseline!I6, A-2 On-Site Habitat Creation!H7, A-3 On-Site Habitat Enhancement!R6 and 3 more

Raised when: A row on an area sheet is a watercourse footprint.

To clear it: Enter the watercourse itself on the C (or F) sheets; the area row only holds its footprint.

Irreplaceable habitat - no units generated ⚠

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention · raised at A-1 On-Site Habitat Baseline!Q11, D-1 Off-Site Habitat Baseline!T11, F-1 Off-Site WaterC' Baseline!BA10

Raised when: The row is an irreplaceable habitat; the metric generates no units for it by design.

To clear it: Nothing to clear. The habitat's value is handled outside the metric, by bespoke compensation.

Check details - Is there evidence that habitat has reached target condition? ⚠

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention · raised at A-2 On-Site Habitat Creation!R11, A-3 On-Site Habitat Enhancement!AG12, D-2 Off-Site Habitat Creation!R11 and 9 more

Raised when: One of four strings the status cell writes when an advance has been entered, in the order the formula tests them: 'reached target condition?' when the years in advance are at least the standard time to target; 'started and the threshold for Poor condition reached?' (area creation sheets only) when they are at least the habitat's years to Poor; 'creation in place?' for any other advance on the area creation sheets; 'started/in place?' for any other advance on the enhancement, hedgerow and watercourse sheets. The workbook applies the shorter time to target either way and asks for the evidence.

To clear it: Evidence in the report: dated photographs, monitoring or the previous condition assessment, and the phasing plan the guide asks for (p. 37). Reviewers query advance-creation claims routinely. The 'reached target condition' string also switches the difficulty multiplier to Low.

Check details - Is there evidence habitat creation started and the threshold for Poor condition reached? ⚠

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention · raised at A-2 On-Site Habitat Creation!R11, D-2 Off-Site Habitat Creation!R11

Raised when: One of four strings the status cell writes when an advance has been entered, in the order the formula tests them: 'reached target condition?' when the years in advance are at least the standard time to target; 'started and the threshold for Poor condition reached?' (area creation sheets only) when they are at least the habitat's years to Poor; 'creation in place?' for any other advance on the area creation sheets; 'started/in place?' for any other advance on the enhancement, hedgerow and watercourse sheets. The workbook applies the shorter time to target either way and asks for the evidence.

To clear it: Evidence in the report: dated photographs, monitoring or the previous condition assessment, and the phasing plan the guide asks for (p. 37). Reviewers query advance-creation claims routinely. The 'reached target condition' string also switches the difficulty multiplier to Low.

Check details - Is there evidence habitat creation in place? ⚠

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention · raised at A-2 On-Site Habitat Creation!R11, D-2 Off-Site Habitat Creation!R11

Raised when: One of four strings the status cell writes when an advance has been entered, in the order the formula tests them: 'reached target condition?' when the years in advance are at least the standard time to target; 'started and the threshold for Poor condition reached?' (area creation sheets only) when they are at least the habitat's years to Poor; 'creation in place?' for any other advance on the area creation sheets; 'started/in place?' for any other advance on the enhancement, hedgerow and watercourse sheets. The workbook applies the shorter time to target either way and asks for the evidence.

To clear it: Evidence in the report: dated photographs, monitoring or the previous condition assessment, and the phasing plan the guide asks for (p. 37). Reviewers query advance-creation claims routinely. The 'reached target condition' string also switches the difficulty multiplier to Low.

Check details- Delay in starting habitat in required condition? ⚠

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention · raised at A-2 On-Site Habitat Creation!R11, A-3 On-Site Habitat Enhancement!AG12, D-2 Off-Site Habitat Creation!R11 and 9 more

Raised when: A delay in starting habitat creation or enhancement has been entered, which lengthens time to target.

To clear it: Confirm the delay is right; it lowers the units delivered.

Check details - Is there evidence habitat creation started/in place? ⚠

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention · raised at A-2 On-Site Habitat Creation!R11, A-3 On-Site Habitat Enhancement!AG12, D-2 Off-Site Habitat Creation!R11 and 9 more

Raised when: One of four strings the status cell writes when an advance has been entered, in the order the formula tests them: 'reached target condition?' when the years in advance are at least the standard time to target; 'started and the threshold for Poor condition reached?' (area creation sheets only) when they are at least the habitat's years to Poor; 'creation in place?' for any other advance on the area creation sheets; 'started/in place?' for any other advance on the enhancement, hedgerow and watercourse sheets. The workbook applies the shorter time to target either way and asks for the evidence.

To clear it: Evidence in the report: dated photographs, monitoring or the previous condition assessment, and the phasing plan the guide asks for (p. 37). Reviewers query advance-creation claims routinely. The 'reached target condition' string also switches the difficulty multiplier to Low.

Low Difficulty - only applicable if all habitat created before losses ⚠

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention · raised at A-2 On-Site Habitat Creation!V11, A-3 On-Site Habitat Enhancement!AK12, D-2 Off-Site Habitat Creation!V11 and 8 more

Raised when: The years entered as created (or enhanced) in advance are at least the standard time to target, so the status cell reads 'reached target condition?' and the Applied difficulty cell writes this string; the final difficulty is then Low (multiplier 1) and the time to target multiplier is 1. The condition in the words — all habitat created before any loss — is not tested by any cell. F-2 writes it with a 'No - ' prefix.

To clear it: If the habitat was not all created before the losses, reduce the years in advance so they fall below the standard time to target: the standard difficulty then applies. Otherwise evidence it in the report.

Note; Habitat selected has a time to target condition greater than 30 years. Non standard agreement may be required

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention · raised at A-3 On-Site Habitat Enhancement!AD2, B-3 On-Site Hedge Enhancement!X2, D-2 Off-Site Habitat Creation!O2 and 7 more · written in the cell as Note; Habitat selected has a time to target condition greater than 30 years. Non standard agreement may be required ⚠ or Note; Habitat selected has a time to target condition greater than 30 years. Non standard agreement may be required. ⚠

Raised when: A note cell in the sheet's header rows (A-2 N2, A-3 AD2, B-2 M3, the others in row 2) counts '30+' in the standard and the final time-to-target columns and writes this when either count is above zero. One note per sheet, not a mark on the row; the 30+ multiplier (0.3198) is applied regardless. On A-2 and F-2 the string is written without the ⚠.

To clear it: Find the row whose final time to target reads 30+. Habitats secured for 30 years may not reach target condition inside the agreement; expect the LPA to ask for a longer legal agreement (the guide says so for woodland, p. 19) or a different target condition.

Change in broad habitat type detected. Check compliance with guidance ⚠

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention · raised at A-3 On-Site Habitat Enhancement!AD5

Raised when: An enhancement row changes the broad habitat type (say, grassland to heathland).

To clear it: Enhancement normally keeps the broad habitat; a change may need to be entered as loss plus creation. Check the user guide's enhancement rules and justify.

CheckData ⚠

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention · raised at D-3 Off-Site Habitat Enhancment!AH12

Raised when: A lookup or a sum could not be completed for this row or total: an input is blank, a combination is not in the lookup tables, or an upstream cell already carries an error. On the Headline Results it means a parcel sheet total could not be read.

To clear it: Go to the parcel sheet the cell points at and find the row with the blank or impossible combination — usually a habitat with no condition, or a condition the habitat cannot take.

A 'Fairly' Category has been used for ditches - check evidence to ensure this is appropriate ⚠

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention · raised at C-1 On-Site WaterC' Baseline!L2, C-2 On-Site WaterC' Creation!V5, C-3 On-Site WaterC' Enhancement!S2 and 3 more

Raised when: Any row on the sheet uses the condition Fairly Good or Fairly Poor (a whole-sheet check in row 2).

To clear it: Fairly grades exist for a handful of habitats only and reviewers query them: make sure the condition sheet supports the grade and say so in User comments.

Check Lengths ⚠

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention · raised at C-1 On-Site WaterC' Baseline!U5, F-1 Off-Site WaterC' Baseline!X4

Raised when: A watercourse row's retained plus enhanced length does not match the baseline length.

To clear it: Reconcile the lengths on the row.

Enrcoachment Data Missing ⚠

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention · raised at C-2 On-Site WaterC' Creation!Y12, F-2 Off-Site WaterC' Creation!Y12

Raised when: Riparian or watercourse encroachment has been chosen but resolves to no multiplier — the selection did not match the lookup.

To clear it: Re-select the encroachment extent from the drop-down. (The tool's own spelling.)

No - Low Difficulty - only applicable if all habitat created before losses ⚠

Statutory metric 1.0.4 · ⚠ attention · raised at F-2 Off-Site WaterC' Creation!S12

Raised when: The years entered as created (or enhanced) in advance are at least the standard time to target, so the status cell reads 'reached target condition?' and the Applied difficulty cell writes this string; the final difficulty is then Low (multiplier 1) and the time to target multiplier is 1. The condition in the words — all habitat created before any loss — is not tested by any cell. F-2 writes it with a 'No - ' prefix.

To clear it: If the habitat was not all created before the losses, reduce the years in advance so they fall below the standard time to target: the standard difficulty then applies. Otherwise evidence it in the report.

Caution -Target increased above default ⚠

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ⚠ attention · raised at 2. Site Details!E13

Raised when: A target above 10%, or an extra unit target, has been entered on Site Details.

To clear it: Fine if the LPA's policy or agreement says so; cite it in the report.

Unit increase Targets must be agreed with LPA ⚠

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ⚠ attention · raised at 2. Site Details!E17

Raised when: A target above 10%, or an extra unit target, has been entered on Site Details.

To clear it: Fine if the LPA's policy or agreement says so; cite it in the report.

Site area limited by unknown number of dwellings ⚠

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ⚠ attention · raised at 3. Desktop Assessment!E6

Raised when: Residential development with an unknown number of dwellings: the small sites limit drops to 5,000 m².

To clear it: State the number of dwellings if it is known; otherwise keep the site under 5,000 m² or use the main metric.

Consider using main metric tool ⚠

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ⚠ attention · raised at 3. Desktop Assessment!D11

Raised when: A priority habitat or designated site lies within 500 m of the boundary.

To clear it: A warning: the small sites metric may still be acceptable, but say in the report why it is.

Check for input errors/rule breaks present in the metric ⚠

Small sites metric 1.2.3 · ⚠ attention · raised at 8. Headline Results!D9

Raised when: Small sites Headline Results D9: the standing 'next steps' line shown whenever targets and trading rules pass.

To clear it: Not an error. Check the three data sheets for red cells before submitting.