Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is now mandatory in England under the Environment Act 2021. Developers are required to deliver at least 10% biodiversity net gain for new projects.
We offer high-quality, off-site habitat enhancements that help you meet the mandatory net gain requirements set out in the Environment Act.
These BNG units are available to developers who are unable to achieve sufficient on-site gains.
Our main services include:
Whether you need assistance with a small project or a large-scale initiative, our team has the expertise and experience to help you achieve your goals.
Our BNG units simplify compliance and are cost-effective. They are registered habitat banks with Natural England.
Our units meet the 10% gain requirements and feature 30-year management plans, which save you time on paperwork and planning.
Your purchase funds habitat restoration—grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands—helping nature thrive while fulfilling your legal obligations.
Our expert team can help with any of your questions big or small.
We can find the best units for you based on your individual needs.
Focus on your development, knowing you will fulfil the BNG 10% requirement.
Please reach us at info@biodiveristynetgainuk.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
BNG units (or biodiversity credits) are standardised "chunks" of habitat improvement that you can use to meet net-gain. Each unit represents a quantified amount of habitat creation or enhancement (measure by the official biodiversity metric). If you can't deliver the full 10% gain on your own site, you can buy these off-site units.
Buying one BNG unit means you pay a land manager to create or restore habitat elsewhere, which offsets your development impact. Essentially, each unit you purchase adds to your project's total biodiversity score so you still reach that 10% improvement goal.
Statutory biodiversity credits are a government-run backstop, while BNG units (sometimes called biodiversity credits) are sold on the private market. Under the Environment Act, if you can't meet the 10% BNG through your own site or by buying off-site units, you can buy statutory credits from Natural England. These credits guarantee compliance but come at a higher price than units.
Mandatory BNG requirements began on February 12, 2024, for most developments. For smaller sites, the requirement started in April 2024, allowing additional time for developers and planning authorities to adapt.
Small sites are defined as:
• Residential: one to nine dwellings on a site under one hectare
• Non-residential: Less than 1,000 m² of floor space or a site under one hectare
BNG under the Environment Act currently applies only in England. The provisions are set out in Schedule 14 of the Act. Other nations, such as Scotland and Wales, are developing their own approaches to biodiversity enhancement.
The Biodiversity Gain Sites Register is Natural England's official record of all off-site BNG projects and the units they can supply. The Register is public and prevents double counting - it shows which developers have already taken which units.