Off-site Biodiversity Net Gain
We can help you meet your off-site BNG requirements, so you can get spades in the ground.
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) became a statutory requirement in 2024.
Most developments in England now need to demonstrate they will deliver a measurable 10%* increase of biodiversity on completion compared to original on-site biodiversity. Developers are obliged to demonstrate how this will be achieved before work can start on-site. If you can’t deliver BNG on-site you have to deliver off-site.
The Natural England Statutory Metric is used to identify what type of units you will require and incentivises sourcing of units from the local area.
Working with Nature Based Farming at an early stage can provide you and the local planning authority with the reassurance that reliable, quality and high integrity BNG off-site units are available and ready in your area. This allows you and the LPA to move forwards, confident in delivery of the long term enhancement of nature and biodiversity as a direct consequence of your development.
Why deliver off-site BNG
Developers are familiar with ecology surveys, BNG means you now also need to survey and measure habitats and their condition on your site before undertaking any works. You must now improve the level of biodiversity by 10% (20% in some areas) on completion of your development - the BNG. Planning authorities require a BNG plan to be submitted pre-commencement with details of how you will achieve this, without this you will not receive permission to commence works.
You are expected to ensure you mitigate any biodiversity losses and if possible ensure gains are made on-site. If you decide to deliver your BNG on-site there are a few key issues to consider;
How does putting land into natural habitat fit with your margins? After all, land down to wildflower meadow or woodland is not bricks and mortar.
BNG, whether off-site or on-site, has to be delivered and maintained for 30 years or more. The landowner has to sign a legal agreement to deliver this and is responsible for it’s maintenance and replacing it if it fails - for 30 years. Are you comfortable taking on this responsibility - or will your customers want to take this on when they buy their property?
This is where we can help. We have a ‘Habitat Bank’ of BNG units which you can purchase to satisfy the planning conditions and we take responsibility for the 30 year liabilities. Plus, as experienced farmers and land managers, you, the planning authority and your customers can have confidence that we will care and preserve the habitats and biodiversity concerned for the long term.
