BNG: Do you need Biodiversity Units for your development?
What are Biodiversity (BNG) Units?
Since 12 February 2024, development projects in England are subject to mandatory biodiversity net gain (BNG) legislation. For every project, they must restore any impacted habitats plus an additional 10% to create a net gain for nature.
Currently, only small-scale, self-build, and custom-build developments of fewer than 10 dwellings on a site no larger than 0.5 hectares are exempt.
The guidance outlines that developers must avoid, minimise, and compensate for any habitats on-site. After doing so, they can compensate for loss and generate a net gain off-site by purchasing Biodiversity Units1 from a supplier like Environment Bank2.
Meet your BNG requirements with off-site Biodiversity Units
Environment Bank3 has established a network of nature-recovery sites called Habitat Banks across England to create a ready supply of Biodiversity Units, providing viable and affordable options for developers to meet their BNG planning obligations.
These units are legally secured through either an s106 agreement or a conservation covenant and provide a clean break from all long-term liabilities from day one through a single transaction.
Environment Bank offers multiple purchase options to work with your development time frames and provides planning, ecological, and legal support to best ensure units meet local planning requirements.
We provide Biodiversity Units for all types of development:
- https://environmentbank.com/biodiversity-units/?utm_campaign=BNG%20National&utm_source=Planning%20Portal%20page%20BNG
- https://environmentbank.com/biodiversity-units/?utm_campaign=BNG National&utm_source=Planning Portal page EB
- https://environmentbank.com/biodiversity-units/?utm_campaign=BNG%20National&utm_source=Planning%20Portal%20page%20EB
SME house builders
With often limited options to deliver BNG on-site, we provide fractional units to help SME developers to meet requirements easily.
Biodiversity Unit request (https://environmentbank.com/biodiversity-units/biodiversity-unit-request-pp-smes/?utm_campaign=BNG%20National&utm_source=Planning%20Portal%20page%20SMEs)
Biodiversity Unit requestLarge housing developers
Multiple ready-made unit types are available nationwide, providing supply, cost, ecological certainty, and a clean break from all liability.
Biodiversity Unit request (https://environmentbank.com/biodiversity-units/biodiversity-unit-request-pp-large-housing-developers/?utm_campaign=BNG%20National&utm_source=Planning%20Portal%20page%20-%20Large%20housing%20dev)
Biodiversity Unit requestCommercial developers
Through our network, we can provide unit delivery to match your development program, removing all long-term liability for habitat creation.
Biodiversity Unit request (https://environmentbank.com/biodiversity-units/biodiversity-unit-request-pp-commercial-developers/?utm_campaign=BNG%20National&utm_source=Planning%20Portal%20page%20-%20Commercial%20dev)
Biodiversity Unit requestNSIPs and Utility developers
Understand your off-site BNG options ahead of time for major developments and how they can meet your compliance and ESG/nature targets.
Biodiversity Unit request (https://environmentbank.com/biodiversity-units/biodiversity-unit-request-pp-nsips-and-utilities/?utm_campaign=BNG%20National&utm_source=Planning%20Portal%20page%20-%20NSIPs)
Biodiversity Unit requestAbout Environment Bank
As the leading provider of off-site Biodiversity Units, our ecology, planning, and legal professionals have helped provide a frictionless route through the BNG planning process for a wide range of clients.
We have thousands of acres of habitat creation underway and are dedicated to tackling biodiversity loss through nature restoration. We work closely with Natural England, Defra, and other national and local stakeholders to shape BNG policy that delivers the best outcomes for development and nature. We are members of the Future Homes Hub, House Builder Federation and Planning Futures.
To find out more, visit environmentbank.com1
- https://environmentbank.com/biodiversity-units/?utm_campaign=BNG National&utm_source=Planning Portal page EB
Case studies
Explore how our high-integrity Habitat Bank network provides highly effective off-site BNG solutions for our clients across all built environment sectors.
Explore (https://environmentbank.com/biodiversity-units/bng-case-studies/?utm_campaign=BNG%20National&utm_source=Planning%20Portal%20Page%20-%20Case%20studies)
ExploreThe content on this page is provided by Environment Bank1 and any links will take you to their website.
- https://environmentbank.com/