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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 (measured 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.