CIVITY NGE Blog

For many private landowners, farmers and land managers, biodiversity net gain is creating a new way to think about land value. Under the Environment Act, most qualifying developments in England must now deliver at least a 10% measurable improvement in biodiversity value. Where developers cannot achieve enough biodiversity net gain on site, they may need to secure off-site biodiversity units from land elsewhere. That creates an opportunity for suitable landowners to generate biodiversity units through habitat creation and habitat enhancement, then sell those units into the growing BNG market. The key question is not simply whether you own land, but whether that land has the right ecological, planning and commercial characteristics to support a viable biodiversity gain site. What Is Biodiversity Net Gain? Biodiversity net gain BNG is a planning requirement designed to ensure that development leaves the natural environment in a measurably better state than before. Developers must assess the biodiversity value of a development site using the statutory biodiversity metric. The metric compares the ecological value before development with the proposed post-development value and calculates the number of biodiversity units gained or lost. Where the required net gain cannot be achieved through BNG on site, developers may need to purchase off-site biodiversity units. Statutory biodiversity credits are available through the government only as a last resort. This system creates demand for land that can support long-term habitat improvements and generate compliant biodiversity units. Could Agricultural Land Be Suitable for BNG? Agricultural land can be suitable for off-site BNG, but suitability depends on the existing ecological value and the realistic habitat enhancement opportunities available. Land that is already high-value habitat may offer less scope for creating additional biodiversity units because the starting biodiversity value is already high. By contrast, some lower-value agricultural land may have stronger potential for measurable improvement through habitat enhancement or creation. This does not mean every field should be converted into a biodiversity gain site. Landowners need to consider agricultural productivity, long-term land management, legal commitments, financial viability and how the proposed habitat fits within the surrounding natural ecosystems. A proper BNG assessment is therefore essential before making decisions about land use. What Makes a Good Biodiversity Gain Site? A strong biodiversity gain site usually combines ecological potential with commercial demand. Ecologically, the land must be capable of supporting meaningful habitat improvements that can be maintained over the long term. Commercially, demand is often stronger where land is located within or close to areas experiencing significant development pressure. Location matters because developers are incentivised to source units close to their development site. Land within the same local authority area and/or National Character Area can therefore be particularly valuable where there is strong demand for off-site BNG units.   Alignment with local nature recovery priorities can also strengthen the strategic significance of habitat improvements. This is why two pieces of similar agricultural land can have very different commercial potential within the BNG market. How Biodiversity Net Gain Can Affect Land Value Biodiversity net gain can create a potential additional income stream from land that may previously have generated income primarily through agriculture, grazing or other conventional uses. However, generating and selling biodiversity units should not be assumed to automatically increase the underlying value of the land. The financial implications of entering the BNG market will vary considerably depending on the individual site, the biodiversity units that can be generated, local demand, habitat type, management costs and the long-term legal obligations attached to the land. In some locations, particular biodiversity units may be in relatively short supply, creating commercial opportunities for landowners where there is demand from developers seeking suitable off-site BNG provision. This potential income needs to be considered alongside the long-term commitments associated with habitat creation, management and monitoring. Landowners should therefore look at BNG as one potential long-term land use and income opportunity rather than assuming it will increase the capital value of their land. Before committing land to BNG, it is advisable to consult an appropriately qualified land valuer or land agent who can assess the wider implications for the property and provide a more complete picture of its potential value and future use. The Importance of Local Demand Demand is one of the most important considerations when assessing whether land is commercially suitable for BNG. A habitat bank can generate technically valid biodiversity units, but those units still need buyers. Land close to major developments or areas with significant future development may be more commercially attractive because developers frequently prefer off-site units located within the same local planning authority or national character  area. Land agents and BNG providers therefore look not only at ecological potential but also at development pipelines and market demand. This commercial assessment is just as important as the initial ecological assessment when deciding whether to create a habitat bank. What Are the Long-Term Commitments? Selling biodiversity units creates long-term obligations. Off-site biodiversity gains need to be legally secured and managed for at least 30 years. This is achieved through conservation covenants or planning obligations, such as Section 106 (S106) agreements. A conservation covenant may be entered into with a responsible body, while a can involve the relevant local planning authority. These legal agreements secure the habitat improvements and set out how the land must be managed over the required period. For private landowners, this means BNG should be viewed as a long-term land management decision rather than a short-term sale. Habitat Management After Units Are Sold Creating or enhancing habitats is only the beginning. The land must continue to be managed in a way that supports the biodiversity value used to generate the units. This may involve grassland management, woodland establishment, wetland maintenance, grazing regimes, invasive species control or other habitat-specific actions. Monitoring will also be required to demonstrate that habitats are developing as intended. This ongoing land management needs to be factored into the commercial model from the outset because management costs continue long after biodiversity units have been sold. Can BNG Work Alongside Other Environmental Schemes? Potentially, but careful consideration is required. Some landowners may already participate in an agri-environment scheme or be exploring other environmental schemes such as nutrient credits or carbon-related projects. The same land cannot automatically be used to generate multiple environmental payments for the same ecological outcome. Any stacking or blending of environmental schemes needs to comply with the relevant rules and avoid double counting. Landowners should therefore seek specialist advice before combining biodiversity net gain with other environmental markets. What About Existing Habitats? Existing habitats are a critical part of the calculation. BNG rewards measurable improvement, so the starting ecological condition matters significantly. If land already contains high-quality or priority habitat, its potential to generate additional biodiversity units will depend heavily on its current ecological condition. Where a high-value habitat is already in good condition, there may be less scope to generate further units through enhancement. However, where a high-value habitat is in a poor state of ecological repair, it may be an excellent candidate for biodiversity net gain. Improving its condition can potentially generate substantial numbers of biodiversity units, provided the required habitat enhancements are practical, achievable and capable of being maintained over the long term. This is why both habitat type and condition need to be assessed when considering land for BNG. Existing ecological value does not necessarily mean limited BNG potential; in some cases, restoring degraded high-value habitats can present a significant opportunity. The biodiversity gain hierarchy prioritises protecting existing habitats, while the trading rules within the statutory biodiversity metric help prevent valuable habitats from being replaced with habitats of lower ecological value. This means habitat creation should not be viewed as a way to justify the loss of important existing natural features. How Developers Create Demand for Off-Site Units Developers are required to first consider how much biodiversity gain can be achieved on site. Where on-site measures are insufficient, they can then secure off-site biodiversity gains. This creates demand for registered habitat banks and biodiversity gain sites. If appropriate off-site units cannot be sourced, developers may buy statutory biodiversity credits, but these are designed as a last resort. This hierarchy supports the private market by encouraging developers to source biodiversity units from landowners before relying on government credits. As a result, landowners with well-located, legally secured and ecologically credible habitat banks can play an important role in helping development proceed while supporting nature recovery. Can Small Sites Generate Biodiversity Units? Small sites can potentially contribute to biodiversity gain, but commercial viability depends on scale, ecological potential and demand. The costs associated with ecological assessment, legal agreements, habitat management and long-term monitoring can make very small projects less commercially efficient. Larger habitat banks may offer stronger economies of scale because management and legal costs are spread across more biodiversity units. However, each site is different, so landowners should assess the opportunity based on the specific land rather than assuming size alone determines viability. What Should Landowners Do First? The first step is to understand both the ecological potential of the land and the likely market demand for the biodiversity units it could generate. Civity can support landowners throughout this process, helping to coordinate the ecological, commercial and delivery elements needed to assess whether a BNG opportunity is viable. Civity’s ecologists can undertake the ecological assessments needed to understand the existing habitats on site and identify realistic opportunities for habitat creation and enhancement. We can then assess the potential biodiversity units the land could generate and combine this ecological insight with our understanding of the wider BNG market, helping landowners evaluate both the ecological and commercial potential of their land. Civity can also assess potential demand within the relevant local authority area and/or National Character Area, considering the types of units being generated and their potential market. This helps establish whether a habitat bank is likely to be commercially viable before the landowner commits to long-term obligations. Once the ecological potential and commercial case are understood, Civity can support the landowner through the next stages of bringing the habitat bank forward, including coordinating the route towards appropriate legal agreements, habitat delivery, long-term management and ultimately connecting suitable biodiversity units with developer demand. How Civity Supports Landowners At Civity, we help landowners understand whether their land has the ecological and commercial potential to become a viable habitat bank within the off-site BNG market. For habitat bank sites, Civity can undertake and coordinate the ecological assessments needed to understand the land’s existing biodiversity value, identify appropriate habitat creation and enhancement opportunities, and establish the potential biodiversity units that could be generated. We can then assess local demand, commercial viability and the practical route to bringing those units to market. This differs from our role on the developer side. We do not undertake the developer’s biodiversity metric calculations. Instead, we interpret the completed metric outputs provided by the developer’s ecological team, identify their off-site biodiversity unit requirements and provide quotations for suitable off-site BNG units. Because we work with both landowners creating habitat banks and developers seeking biodiversity units, we have insight into the habitat types and locations where there is market demand. For landowners, this provides a clearer picture of whether creating a habitat bank is likely to be commercially viable before committing to long-term legal, habitat management and monitoring obligations. Conclusion So, could your land be worth more through biodiversity net gain? Potentially, yes. Land with the right ecological potential, location and long-term management strategy may be able to generate biodiversity units that can be sold to developers who cannot achieve their full BNG requirement on site. However, the opportunity depends on more than habitat creation alone. Biodiversity value, local demand, legal agreements, management costs and the number of units that can realistically be generated all determine whether a project is viable. At Civity, we help landowners and developers navigate the off-site BNG market, connecting habitat creation opportunities with genuine demand for biodiversity units and supporting practical, long-term nature recovery.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requires developers to understand the biodiversity value of a development site before development and compare it with the value expected after development. In England, this is calculated using the statutory biodiversity metric, which converts habitat information into standardised biodiversity units. The metric considers factors including habitat size, type, condition and strategic significance, alongside additional risk factors for habitats that will be created or enhanced. For developments subject to mandatory biodiversity net gain, the calculation must demonstrate the required uplift in biodiversity value. The statutory framework generally requires at least a 10% net gain, although developers must also comply with relevant trading rules and any applicable local planning requirements. The government’s guidance on calculating biodiversity value explains how the statutory biodiversity metric is used for development and land-management proposals. A robust biodiversity net gain assessment therefore begins with accurate ecological information. The calculation is only as reliable as the habitat data entered into the metric tool. What Is the DEFRA Biodiversity Metric? The DEFRA biodiversity metric is the standardised method used to measure the biodiversity value of habitats for statutory BNG in England. The current Statutory Biodiversity Metric was published by DEFRA in November 2023 and became part of the mandatory BNG framework in February 2024. It replaced the earlier Biodiversity Metric 4.0 for statutory calculations. The metric produces biodiversity units representing the relative ecological value of habitats. These units enable the pre-development biodiversity value of a site to be compared with its projected post-development biodiversity value. There are three separate categories of biodiversity units: area habitat units, linear units (such as hedgerows) and watercourse units. They are calculated separately and cannot simply be combined into a single overall figure. DEFRA publishes the Statutory Biodiversity Metric tools and guidance, including the calculation tool, condition assessments and user guide required to complete an assessment correctly. Why Biodiversity Net Gain Must Be Measured Biodiversity net gain means leaving biodiversity in a measurably better state than it was before development. The word “measurably” is important. Developers cannot simply state that landscaping, tree planting or habitat creation will improve biodiversity. The biodiversity gain must be quantified using the statutory metric where the mandatory BNG framework applies. The metric establishes the baseline biodiversity value and then calculates the projected value following development. It accounts for existing habitat that will be retained, lost or enhanced, as well as proposed habitats that will be created. For  developments subject to mandatory BNG, the post-development calculation must demonstrate at least a 10% increase in biodiversity units while also complying with the biodiversity gain hierarchy and statutory trading rules. From 6 August 2026, however, planning applications for developments on sites of 0.2 hectares or below are generally exempt from BNG, provided the relevant conditions are met and no important features, such as priority habitats, are within the application boundary. Other exemptions also continue to apply, so the scope of mandatory BNG should always be checked for the individual development. BNG Assessment Process A biodiversity net gain assessment typically follows a sequence beginning with understanding the existing ecological value of the proposed development site. The baseline habitat is identified and mapped before its size, habitat type, condition and strategic significance are assessed. This information is entered into the statutory biodiversity metric calculation tool to establish the site’s baseline biodiversity units. The proposed development is then assessed. Habitats being retained, enhanced, lost or created are entered into the metric, together with the relevant factors affecting their future value. The resulting post-development biodiversity value is compared with the baseline. Where the required net gain cannot be achieved through on-site gains, the assessment can establish how many off-site units may be required. This makes the biodiversity metric valuable throughout the planning process. Changes to site plans can alter the number and type of biodiversity units required, so repeated calculations can help a project team understand the biodiversity and financial implications of different layouts. Government guidance specifically recommends early and repeated use of the metric to compare different BNG proposals. Baseline Habitat Surveys Before you can calculate biodiversity net gain, you need to know what is already present. A baseline habitat survey identifies and maps the existing habitat across the development site. Depending on the scheme, this may include a range of habitat and features such as modified grassland, woodland, scrub, ponds, hedgerows, watercourses or other wildlife habitats and habitat features. The habitat assessment establishes the data needed for the pre-development side of the biodiversity metric. For the main statutory metric, a competent person such as an ecologist should undertake the assessment and use the metric tool. The government notes that a local planning authority may reject calculations where it does not believe they have been completed by a competent person. Accurate baseline surveys are particularly important because errors at this stage affect every subsequent calculation. If existing habitat is incorrectly classified or its condition is inaccurately assessed, the resulting baseline biodiversity value may also be incorrect. Habitat Distinctiveness Explained Distinctiveness reflects the relative ecological importance of a habitat. Within the statutory metric, habitat types are assigned distinctiveness values rather than developers choosing their own scores. Habitats with greater ecological importance generally have higher distinctiveness and therefore generate a higher number of biodiversity units. This has significant implications for development. Losing an area of low-value modified grassland will produce a very different biodiversity unit deficit from losing the same area of a high-distinctiveness habitat. The metric’s trading rules also restrict how losses can be compensated. In particular, high-distinctiveness habitats cannot simply be replaced with larger areas of lower-distinctiveness habitat. The framework encourages like-for-like or like-for-better compensation, with specific requirements applying to higher-value habitats. Irreplaceable habitats are treated separately from the standard 10% BNG calculation because their ecological importance means their loss cannot simply be represented through ordinary biodiversity unit trading. Habitat Condition Assessment Habitat type alone does not determine biodiversity value. Its condition also matters. Two parcels of the same habitat type and size can produce different biodiversity unit values if one is in significantly better ecological condition. Condition assessments use standard criteria relevant to the particular habitat. These assessments consider ecological characteristics that indicate how well the habitat is functioning. DEFRA provides statutory biodiversity metric condition assessments to create a standardised approach to collecting the habitat condition information entered into the metric. Condition becomes equally important when assessing proposed habitat enhancement. If a development proposes enhancing existing habitat from a lower condition to a higher condition, the projected improvement must be realistic and supported by appropriate habitat creation, enhancement and management measures. Strategic Significance and Spatial Risk Strategic significance considers whether a habitat is located in an area identified as locally important for nature recovery. This can be influenced by relevant local strategies, including Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs). Habitats that contribute to identified local ecological priorities may receive greater value through the strategic significance component of the metric. This helps encourage habitat creation and enhancement in places where it can contribute to wider ecological connectivity rather than creating isolated pockets of habitat. Spatial risk is particularly important for off-site habitats. The statutory biodiversity metric applies a spatial risk multiplier where off-site provision is located further from the development, encouraging biodiversity gains to be delivered on or close to the development where appropriate. This means the location of off-site biodiversity units can directly affect how many units are required. Using the DEFRA Metric for BNG The statutory biodiversity metric tool brings the ecological information together into a structured calculation. For existing area habitats, the calculation takes account of the size of the habitat parcel, its distinctiveness, condition and strategic significance to establish its biodiversity unit value. Proposed habitats introduce further considerations because the metric must account for the uncertainty associated with creating or improving habitat in the future. Difficulty considers how challenging the target habitat is to create or enhance successfully. Time to target condition accounts for the delay before a proposed habitat reaches the ecological condition being claimed. For off-site habitats, spatial risk reflects the relationship between the development site and the location where the biodiversity gain will be delivered. These factors negatively adjust the value of proposed gains compared with existing habitat. In practical terms, developers cannot assume that destroying an established habitat and recreating the same area elsewhere will produce an equivalent biodiversity outcome. The metric therefore provides a numerical incentive to retain existing habitats and enhance them where appropriate before relying on replacement habitat elsewhere. How Biodiversity Units Are Calculated At a simplified level, baseline area habitat biodiversity units are determined using the habitat’s area alongside its distinctiveness, condition and strategic significance. The post-development calculation then considers what happens to each habitat parcel. Existing habitats may be retained. Others may be enhanced. Some may be lost entirely, while new habitats may be created as part of the development. For created or enhanced habitats, the statutory metric applies the appropriate risk factors to reflect the difficulty and time associated with reaching the proposed condition. Off-site gains can additionally be affected by spatial risk. The calculation therefore compares the pre-development biodiversity value against the projected post-development value to establish the percentage change. For example, if a baseline contained 100 relevant biodiversity units, achieving a 10% net gain would require the relevant post-development calculation to reach at least 110 units, subject to the metric’s trading rules and separate treatment of area, hedgerow and watercourse units. If the required biodiversity gain cannot be achieved on site, compliant off-site units can contribute towards the remaining requirement. Statutory biodiversity credits are available only as a last resort when the necessary BNG cannot be delivered through on-site or off-site provision. A spatial risk multiplier applies to statutory biodiversity credits, meaning developers generally need to purchase two credits for every one biodiversity unit required. This can make statutory credits a significantly more expensive option than securing suitable off-site biodiversity units. What a BNG Assessment Includes A complete biodiversity net gain assessment involves more than a completed spreadsheet. Baseline Habitat Survey The baseline habitat survey establishes what habitats are present, their extent and their ecological condition before development. This provides the evidence required to establish the site’s current biodiversity value. DEFRA Metric Calculations The completed metric tool calculation records the baseline and proposed habitat information and determines biodiversity units before and after development. It also identifies whether the required net gain has been achieved and can reveal deficits in particular habitat categories. Biodiversity Gain Plan Where mandatory BNG applies, a Biodiversity Gain Plan explains how the development will meet its biodiversity gain objective. It draws together the relevant metric calculations and identifies how the required gain will be delivered through the biodiversity gain hierarchy, including on-site habitat measures, off-site provision and, only where necessary, statutory biodiversity credits. Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan Where habitats need long-term management, a Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP) sets out how the proposed habitat creation or enhancement will be delivered, maintained and monitored. The management assumptions should correspond with the outcomes claimed in the biodiversity metric. If a habitat is being valued on the basis that it will reach a particular condition, the proposed management must realistically support that outcome. GIS Mapping Accurate mapping helps establish the extent and location of habitat parcels and provides spatial evidence supporting the metric calculation. Metric Outputs and Planning Reports The final assessment should provide planning officers with a clear evidence trail explaining the baseline, proposed biodiversity enhancements, metric calculations and route to achieving the required net gain. This allows local planning authorities to understand not only the final percentage but also how that result has been reached. Why Independent Quality Assurance Matters Small changes within a biodiversity metric calculation can have substantial commercial implications. Incorrect habitat classification, condition scoring, parcel areas, strategic significance or proposed habitat assumptions can change the number of biodiversity units required. That can subsequently affect development design, off-site requirements and overall project costs. Quality assurance should therefore examine the evidence supporting the calculation rather than simply checking whether the spreadsheet produces a 10% figure. For developers, having a robust completed metric is particularly important before purchasing off-site units. Buying units against an incomplete or changing calculation can create a risk of purchasing the wrong habitat type or quantity. This is also why dynamic costing can be valuable during the planning process. As ecological assessments and development layouts evolve, updated metric outputs can be used to obtain revised prices for the likely off-site requirement. How Civity Supports DEFRA Metric Assessments Civity’s role should be distinguished from that of the ecological consultant undertaking the development site’s surveys and statutory metric assessment. Civity does not undertake pre-planning ecological surveys, preliminary habitat assessments or the developer’s statutory biodiversity metric calculation. These should be completed by an appropriately competent ecological professional where required. Instead, Civity’s qualified ecologists support developers once their ecological assessments and metric calculations are sufficiently advanced to identify a potential requirement for off-site biodiversity units. Reviewing Metric Outputs Civity can review the completed metric outputs provided by the developer’s ecological team to understand the likely off-site unit requirement. This provides an additional commercial sense-check around the habitat types and quantities that may need to be sourced. Dynamic Off-Site Unit Costing Development layouts frequently change as ecological, planning, architectural and commercial considerations are resolved. Each change can alter the post-development biodiversity value and therefore the number of off-site units required. Civity can provide fast quotations against updated metric calculations, allowing developers to understand how changes to the scheme affect the likely cost of off-site BNG provision. This gives project teams dynamic cost information as their plans develop rather than forcing them to wait until the design is completely finalised. Off-Site Biodiversity Unit Availability Once the required habitat categories and unit quantities are understood, Civity can advise on the availability and pricing of appropriate BNG units for sale. This can be particularly valuable where specific habitat units are in limited supply. Where appropriate, early engagement can allow developers to discuss availability and potential reservation arrangements before the planning process reaches its final stages. Supporting Off-Site BNG Delivery Where a scheme cannot achieve its entire requirement through on-site gains, Civity helps developers secure compliant off-site provision from suitable gain sites. For developers, this connects the ecological calculation completed by their consultant with the practical and commercial process of sourcing the units needed to satisfy the remaining BNG requirement. For landowners and land managers, Civity also supports the process of bringing suitable habitat creation and enhancement opportunities into the BNG market. Frequently Asked Questions How is biodiversity net gain calculated? Biodiversity net gain is calculated by establishing the biodiversity units associated with the pre-development baseline and comparing them with the projected post-development biodiversity value. The statutory metric considers factors including habitat size, type, condition and strategic significance, with additional risk factors applying to created, enhanced and off-site habitats. What is a biodiversity unit? A biodiversity unit is the standardised measure used by the statutory biodiversity metric to represent the relative biodiversity value of habitat. Area habitat, hedgerow and watercourse units are calculated and treated separately. Who should calculate biodiversity net gain? For developments using the main statutory biodiversity metric, government guidance says developers or land managers should use a competent person, such as an ecologist, to complete the metric and advise on its calculations. Different provisions apply where the Small Sites Metric can legitimately be used. What is the Small Sites Metric? The Small Sites Metric is a simplified statutory biodiversity metric available for qualifying small developments. It should only be used where the development meets the relevant criteria. From 6 August 2026, planning applications for developments on sites of 0.2 hectares or below are generally exempt from BNG, subject to conditions including rules around priority habitat. This should be considered before deciding whether a Small Sites Metric assessment is required. Does every development need 10% biodiversity net gain? No. Although a minimum 10% uplift applies to developments within the mandatory BNG regime, a number of exemptions exist. Current exemptions include certain householder developments and, from 6 August 2026, qualifying developments on sites no larger than 0.2 hectares. What happens if 10% BNG cannot be achieved on site? The biodiversity gain hierarchy prioritises appropriate on-site delivery, but developers can use registered off-site biodiversity units where the required gain cannot be achieved entirely within the development site. Statutory biodiversity credits are available as a last resort where the necessary biodiversity gain cannot be secured through on-site or off-site options. Does the location of off-site units affect the calculation? Yes. The statutory biodiversity metric includes a spatial risk multiplier for off-site provision. This creates an incentive to deliver gains on or close to the development where appropriate and means the location of off-site habitats can affect their effective value within the calculation. Does BNG apply to nationally significant infrastructure projects? The BNG regime for nationally significant infrastructure projects comes into effect from 2 November 2026. Specific biodiversity gain statements and guidance apply to NSIPs, including requirements relating to their baseline and use of the statutory biodiversity metric. Speak to Civity About Your BNG Requirements Understanding how biodiversity net gain is calculated using the DEFRA metric is essential because the final calculation determines whether a development can achieve its required uplift on site or needs additional biodiversity units elsewhere. The ecological assessment and statutory biodiversity metric should be completed by an appropriately competent professional. Once those calculations begin identifying an off-site requirement, developers can benefit from understanding the likely commercial implications as early as possible. At Civity, we work alongside developers and their ecological teams by reviewing completed metric outputs, providing fast quotations for off-site biodiversity units and updating those costs as development layouts and biodiversity requirements evolve. Where off-site provision is required, we can help identify suitable units, advise on availability and provide a clear route towards securing the biodiversity units needed for the development. Early visibility of off-site costs can help developers make better-informed design and planning decisions while ensuring their BNG strategy remains commercially realistic as the project progresses.

Biodiversity Net Gain does not end when biodiversity units are allocated or planning permission is secured. For significant on-site gains and off-site provision, long-term habitat management and monitoring are fundamental to demonstrating that promised biodiversity improvements are actually being delivered. Under England’s statutory biodiversity net gain (BNG) framework, qualifying habitat enhancements must generally be secured for at least 30 years. The relevant legal agreement must establish responsibilities for creating or enhancing habitats and for their ongoing management, maintenance and monitoring. For developers, land managers, private landowners and habitat bank providers, this makes BNG monitoring and reporting an important long-term obligation. Monitoring provides evidence that habitat creation and habitat enhancement are progressing towards the target condition used to calculate biodiversity units in the statutory biodiversity metric. This guide explains who is responsible for BNG monitoring, what evidence should be collected, how reporting intervals work and how monitoring integrates with a Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP). What Is BNG Monitoring and Reporting? BNG monitoring is the process of assessing whether habitats created, retained or enhanced as part of a biodiversity gain commitment are progressing towards their agreed ecological objectives. Reporting turns those findings into documented evidence that can be reviewed by the relevant local planning authority (LPA) or responsible body. The exact monitoring requirements depend on the habitat type, legal agreement and HMMP. Monitoring may involve ecological surveys, habitat condition assessments, fixed-point photography, mapping, records of habitat management and evidence of remedial works. The purpose is not simply to demonstrate that habitat still exists. Monitoring should show whether it is developing towards the condition and biodiversity value upon which the original biodiversity metric calculation was based. For example, where species-rich grassland has been created, monitoring should assess whether the habitat is developing towards its intended condition rather than simply recording that grassland remains present. Why Long-Term Monitoring Is Required Biodiversity gains are based on predicted future habitat outcomes. When the statutory biodiversity metric calculates the value of proposed habitat creation or enhancement, the resulting biodiversity units can depend on assumptions about the condition that habitat will achieve over time. Creating habitats therefore does not automatically mean the predicted ecological value has been delivered. Long-term monitoring provides the evidence needed to assess progress. It can identify whether habitat management is working, whether undesirable species are becoming established and whether intervention is needed to keep the habitat on its intended trajectory. This is particularly important for off-site biodiversity units, because those units may have been allocated to development projects on the basis of biodiversity improvements that need to remain secure for decades. Government guidance requires legal agreements securing relevant BNG habitat enhancements to specify responsibility for habitat creation or enhancement and subsequent maintenance, management and monitoring. The 30-Year Statutory Monitoring Period Explained The Environment Act framework establishes long-term requirements for biodiversity net gain. Significant on-site enhancements and off-site gains must generally be maintained for at least 30 years. For off-site gains, the legal agreement must last for at least 30 years from completion of the habitat enhancement works. The same minimum period applies where significant on-site gains are legally secured. This distinction matters because the management period does not simply begin when a developer purchases off-site units or when planning permission is granted. The legal agreement, HMMP and associated documentation should establish when the relevant period begins and how habitat delivery will be monitored throughout it. Thirty years is a minimum statutory period rather than an indication that habitat should cease to be valuable afterwards. Well-designed habitat banks can contribute to longer-term nature recovery, ecological networks, ecosystem services and priorities identified through a Local Nature Recovery Strategy. For landowners considering whether to sell biodiversity units, this long-term commitment should be considered alongside financial viability, legal costs, land management requirements and any interaction with Countryside Stewardship or other agri-environment schemes. Who Is Responsible? Developers, Landowners, Habitat Banks and LPAs Responsibility for BNG monitoring depends on where the biodiversity gain is being delivered and how it has been legally secured. Developers For on-site gains, developers may retain responsibility for ensuring significant habitat enhancements are delivered and managed, depending on the arrangements established through the Biodiversity Gain Plan and associated legal mechanisms. Where developers buy off-site units from a separate landowner or habitat bank, the landowner’s legal agreement can secure the off-site gain. Government guidance confirms that a developer does not need to enter a separate legal agreement for that off-site land where the gain has already been secured by the landowner. This is one of the advantages of purchasing units from established, high-quality habitat banks: responsibility for delivering and managing the off-site habitat can be clearly established through the provider’s existing arrangements. Landowners and Land Managers For off-site BNG, the landowner or qualifying leaseholder enters into the relevant legal agreement and commits to creating or enhancing and managing the habitats. The agreement should identify who is responsible for maintenance, monitoring and reporting. The landowner may undertake aspects of the work directly or appoint suitably qualified land managers and ecological consultants. Anyone planning to register land and generate biodiversity units should therefore understand that selling units involves ongoing management obligations rather than a one-off land transaction. Habitat Bank Providers A habitat bank provider may coordinate habitat creation, ongoing management, ecological monitoring and reporting across the gain site, depending on the ownership and contractual structure. This can include coordinating ecological expertise, maintaining records, monitoring habitat units and demonstrating progress against the HMMP. The site’s legal arrangements remain crucial. A habitat bank must have the appropriate long-term legal security before its off-site gains can be used within the statutory BNG system. Local Planning Authorities and Responsible Bodies Where off-site gains are secured through a Section 106 planning obligation, the LPA is responsible for monitoring the agreement and can take enforcement action if obligations are not met. Where a conservation covenant is used instead, the relevant responsible body performs the corresponding monitoring and enforcement role. The agreement should establish how monitoring will take place, how the land can be accessed and what happens if habitat enhancement does not progress as intended. What Evidence Needs to Be Collected? Evidence should correspond to the habitat objectives, monitoring methodology, legal agreement and HMMP. A strong evidence record will commonly include dated habitat surveys and condition assessments showing how habitats are progressing against their targets. Fixed-point photographs can provide a consistent visual record, while maps and GIS information can demonstrate the location and extent of the habitats being monitored. Records of management activities are equally important. These might document cutting or grazing regimes, establishment works, invasive species control, planting, water management or other interventions relevant to the habitat. Where monitoring identifies underperformance, reports should document the issue, explain its likely cause and record the remedial management being undertaken. The original baseline surveys, statutory biodiversity metric calculation and agreed habitat objectives provide the reference point against which progress can be assessed. Government guidance for HMMPs specifically expects information about planned management, when and how monitoring will occur, when results will be reported, how management proposals will be reviewed and how biodiversity value will be restored if the site fails to achieve its target condition. BNG Reporting Intervals and Compliance Requirements There is an important distinction between the 30-year management requirement and the frequency of reporting. BNG does not impose one universal annual reporting timetable for every site. Monitoring and reporting intervals should be established within the HMMP and legal agreement and agreed with the LPA or responsible body. Different habitat types may require different frequencies, particularly during establishment. Newly created habitats may need closer attention in their early years, while monitoring can change as habitats become established. An HMMP should therefore state clearly when ecological monitoring will occur, when reports will be submitted and when the management strategy will be formally reviewed. Where annual monitoring is appropriate, reports should be structured consistently so progress can be compared over time. However, developers and landowners should follow the specific reporting schedule secured for their site rather than assuming an annual report is always legally required. For off-site BNG, the legal agreement should also establish access arrangements, monitoring schedules, funding arrangements and what action will be taken if habitat enhancement does not proceed as intended. How Monitoring Links to Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans (HMMPs) The Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan is the practical framework connecting habitat objectives with long-term delivery. An HMMP does not replace the legal agreement. Instead, it provides the detail needed to explain how the habitat will be created, enhanced, managed, monitored and, where necessary, corrected over time. The HMMP will be referenced extensively within the legal agreement and is likely to be appended to it as a key supporting document. For off-site gains, the HMMP should be agreed with the LPA where the land is secured through a Section 106 planning obligation or with the responsible body where a conservation covenant is used. The plan should establish the intended habitat outcomes, management actions, monitoring methodology, reporting schedule and responsibilities throughout the management period. For example, an HMMP covering species-rich grassland might specify establishment methods, cutting or grazing regimes, control of undesirable species, target habitat condition, monitoring methodology and remedial measures if the grassland does not develop as anticipated. This creates a direct relationship between the ecological assumptions used to calculate site biodiversity units and the practical management needed to deliver them. Common BNG Monitoring Mistakes One of the biggest mistakes is treating monitoring as something that can be designed after the habitat has already been created. Monitoring requirements should be considered alongside habitat creation and management planning so that suitable baseline evidence and repeatable methodologies are available from the outset. Another problem is collecting evidence inconsistently. Photographs taken from different locations, ecological surveys using incompatible methods or incomplete management records make it harder to demonstrate long-term trends. A further risk is documenting problems without adapting management. Monitoring should inform action. If a habitat is failing to reach its target condition, the management strategy should respond and the remedial measures should be recorded. Finally, developers and landowners should avoid assuming that registration on the Biodiversity Gain Site Register replaces long-term monitoring. Registration establishes information about the gain site and allocated habitats, while the legal agreement and HMMP govern the long-term delivery and management obligations. Natural England’s register records information including gain-site location, habitat creation or enhancement and allocations to developments. BNG Monitoring Checklist Use this practical checklist alongside the site’s legal agreement and HMMP rather than as a substitute for professional ecological advice. Confirm the baseline habitats, biodiversity value and statutory biodiversity metric calculation. Identify every habitat type, target condition and associated biodiversity units. Confirm who is responsible for habitat creation, enhancement, management, monitoring and reporting. Check the Section 106 planning obligation or conservation covenant and its management obligations. Confirm the start and end dates of the minimum 30-year management period. Agree monitoring and reporting intervals with the LPA or responsible body. Establish repeatable habitat survey and condition-assessment methods. Create fixed photographic monitoring points. Maintain dated records of habitat management activities. Record changes in habitat condition and ecological value. Document problems, corrective actions and subsequent outcomes. Compare monitoring results against HMMP objectives and target conditions. Retain copies of ecological surveys, photographs, maps and management records. Review the management plan at the intervals established within the HMMP. Keep responsibilities and contact details current if ownership or management arrangements change. How Civity Supports Long-Term BNG Monitoring and Reporting At Civity, our role is focused on the delivery and management of the off-site biodiversity gains provided through our habitat banks rather than providing developers with standalone ecological surveys or pre-planning biodiversity assessments. For developers purchasing Civity’s off-site BNG units, the long-term habitat delivery associated with those units sits within the legally secured gain-site arrangements. This provides a clear distinction between the developer’s development site and the off-site provision being delivered through the habitat bank. For landowners working with Civity, long-term BNG delivery means establishing clear management obligations from the outset, documenting habitat enhancement and maintaining the evidence required throughout the management period. The legal agreement, statutory biodiversity metric and HMMP provide the framework against which that progress can be recorded. Civity’s approach to Biodiversity Net Gain therefore considers more than the initial sale of biodiversity units. Off-site BNG depends on habitats being created or enhanced, appropriately managed and documented over the long term so that the ecological outcomes supporting those units can be demonstrated. For developers, this provides greater confidence that off-site provision is backed by a structured long-term delivery framework. For landowners and habitat bank partners, it provides a clear route for turning habitat creation and enhancement into biodiversity units while understanding the ongoing responsibilities that accompany participation in the BNG market. Conclusion BNG monitoring and reporting is what turns a calculated biodiversity gain into a demonstrable long-term ecological outcome. The statutory framework requires relevant gains to be secured for at least 30 years, but successful BNG delivery depends on more than simply reaching that minimum period. Clear responsibilities, good baseline evidence, appropriate habitat management, repeatable monitoring and consistent reporting all contribute to demonstrating that biodiversity value is being delivered as intended. For developers purchasing off-site units, choosing a provider with robust arrangements for long-term habitat delivery can reduce uncertainty around the off-site element of the Biodiversity Gain Plan. For landowners, understanding the monitoring and management commitment before creating or selling units is essential to building a viable habitat bank. Through Civity, developers and landowners can access off-site BNG solutions that include long-term habitat delivery and documentation to turn biodiversity commitments into measurable outcomes.

An approved Biodiversity Gain Plan cannot simply be amended under the current Biodiversity Net Gain framework. If the approach to meeting the biodiversity gain objective changes after the plan has been approved but before development begins, a new Biodiversity Gain Plan can be submitted to the relevant planning authority for approval. Changes to a development layout, post-development habitats or off-site biodiversity provision may also affect the Biodiversity Metric, meaning the project’s calculations may need to be reviewed before a replacement plan is submitted. For developers, identifying these changes early is important. Starting development without the required Biodiversity Gain Plan approval, or proceeding in a way that does not comply with the approved BNG arrangements, can create planning and compliance risks. Can an Approved Biodiversity Gain Plan Be Amended? No. Government Biodiversity Net Gain planning guidance states that there is no mechanism for amending an approved Biodiversity Gain Plan. If the way a development will meet its biodiversity gain objective changes after the plan has been approved but before development commences, a new Biodiversity Gain Plan can instead be submitted to the planning authority for approval. For example, the government specifically identifies a change between registered off-site biodiversity gains and statutory biodiversity credits as a situation where a new plan could be required. Developers should therefore avoid treating an approved Biodiversity Gain Plan as a document that can simply be edited and reissued. Why Might a Biodiversity Gain Plan Need to Change? A new Biodiversity Gain Plan may be necessary where changes affect how the development will achieve its required biodiversity gain. This could arise because the development design changes, the proposed on-site habitat creation or enhancement is altered, or the project’s planned off-site biodiversity gains are no longer available. Changes affecting the development footprint are particularly important because the statutory Biodiversity Metric compares pre-development biodiversity value with post-development biodiversity value. If the approved layout changes which habitats will be retained, lost, created or enhanced, the post-development biodiversity calculation may also change. The project team should therefore review the Biodiversity Metric alongside any material design changes rather than assuming the original BNG strategy remains valid. Does the Biodiversity Metric Need to Be Recalculated? The Biodiversity Metric should be reviewed where a proposed change affects information used in the approved calculation, including the post-development biodiversity value or the project’s off-site unit requirement. The statutory Biodiversity Metric measures biodiversity value using factors associated with habitats, including their type, size, condition and strategic significance. Changes to the development footprint or proposed habitat creation and enhancement can therefore alter the post-development calculation. Importantly, once the pre-development biodiversity value has been established through an approved Biodiversity Gain Plan, that value does not change for that planning permission. This means recalculation following a design change is not an opportunity to establish a different baseline. Instead, the project team needs to assess the revised proposals against the established pre-development value and determine whether the biodiversity gain objective continues to be met. What Happens If the Development Layout Changes? A development layout change should trigger a review of the approved BNG strategy where it affects habitats, biodiversity enhancements or the development’s post-development biodiversity value. For example, a revised layout could increase the amount of habitat lost within the red line boundary, reduce space previously allocated for on-site habitat creation or alter a significant on-site habitat enhancement. Any resulting change in post-development biodiversity value could affect how many biodiversity units are needed to maintain the required net gain. The updated development may therefore need a revised biodiversity metric calculation and, where the approved approach to meeting the biodiversity gain objective has changed before commencement, a new biodiversity gain plan. BNG should consequently be considered alongside design revisions rather than reviewed only after the wider planning changes have been agreed. Can Off-Site BNG Units Be Changed After the Plan Is Approved? Changing off-site BNG units after they have been purchased, registered and allocated to a development can be difficult. In practice, developers should treat an allocation as effectively final once it has been made, rather than assuming biodiversity units can easily be swapped or reallocated later. The Biodiversity Gain Plan records the registered off-site biodiversity gains allocated to the development. Those units must correspond with the development’s biodiversity metric and satisfy the relevant habitat trading requirements. Natural England’s guidance on amending an allocation of off-site biodiversity gains provides only limited circumstances in which an allocation can be changed. An application can be made to reduce the area or length of an allocated habitat or remove a recorded allocation entirely. However, an allocation cannot be amended while it relates to an existing condition of planning permission. Evidence must be provided showing that the planning permission conditions connected with the allocation are no longer in place before Natural England can consider the amendment. The process also requires supporting information, including the statutory Biodiversity Metric for the allocated development reviewed by the approving local planning authority. Natural England advises that an allocation amendment application can take up to six weeks. This means developers should be confident that the units they are purchasing are suitable before they are formally allocated. Habitat type, trading rules, spatial risk, the development’s Biodiversity Metric requirements and the availability of the units should all be considered before the allocation is finalised. Securing appropriate off-site BNG units early can provide greater certainty over availability and cost, but the allocation itself should be approached carefully. Once units have been formally allocated to a development and are tied to its planning permission, reversing that decision is highly restricted rather than a straightforward administrative change. What Happens If a New Biodiversity Gain Plan Is Required? Where a new Biodiversity Gain Plan is required before commencement, it must be submitted to the relevant planning authority and approved before the development can begin under that permission. The plan should reflect the updated approach to meeting the biodiversity gain objective and be supported by the appropriate completed biodiversity metric calculation and evidence. Government guidance states that planning authorities normally have eight weeks to approve or refuse a Biodiversity Gain Plan unless a different timescale is agreed. This makes the timing of revisions important. Discovering shortly before the intended commencement date that a design or BNG delivery change requires a new plan can affect the development programme while the revised documentation is prepared and determined. Developers should therefore identify potential changes as early as possible and discuss the appropriate route with the relevant planning authority. What Happens If Planning Permission Is Varied Under Section 73? A Section 73 application can introduce additional BNG considerations because permission granted under Section 73 is a new planning permission linked to the original permission. Current Planning Practice Guidance contains specific provisions explaining how Biodiversity Net Gain applies to Section 73 permissions. In some circumstances, an earlier Biodiversity Gain Plan can effectively carry across to the new permission. However, where conditions attached to a new Section 73 permission affect the post-development biodiversity value, a Biodiversity Gain Plan for the new permission must be submitted and approved before development under that permission commences. The statutory biodiversity gain condition itself cannot be varied or removed through a Section 73 application. Developers changing an approved scheme should therefore consider BNG at the same time as the planning variation rather than assuming the existing Biodiversity Gain Plan automatically remains suitable. What Are the Rules for Phased Developments? Phased developments have a different Biodiversity Gain Plan process. They require an Overall Biodiversity Gain Plan for the development and individual Phase Biodiversity Gain Plans before each relevant phase begins. The government’s phased development guidance reflects the fact that large developments may evolve over a long period, and full details of later phases may not be known when planning permission is originally granted. The Overall Biodiversity Gain Plan establishes the framework for achieving at least the required biodiversity gain across the development. Each Phase Biodiversity Gain Plan then establishes how that individual phase contributes towards the overall objective. This structure provides greater flexibility for long-term schemes, but changes still need to be assessed carefully against the approved overall BNG strategy, relevant phase plan and statutory Biodiversity Metric. Can a Biodiversity Gain Plan Change After Development Has Started? The government’s specific route for submitting a new Biodiversity Gain Plan where the BNG approach has changed applies to changes made after approval but before commencement. Once development has commenced under an approved Biodiversity Gain Plan, developers should not assume the same process can be used to retrospectively replace the approved arrangements. The approved plan forms part of the framework through which compliance with the statutory biodiversity gain condition is demonstrated. Other planning obligations and legal agreements may also secure habitat delivery and long-term management. Where a change becomes necessary after commencement, the appropriate route will depend on the planning permission, the nature of the proposed change, any legal agreements and whether on-site or registered off-site gains are affected. The developer should therefore engage with the relevant planning authority and appropriate ecological and planning professionals before departing from the approved BNG arrangements. Do Habitat Management Agreements Need to Reflect BNG Changes? Changes affecting significant habitat creation or enhancement may also have implications for the documents and legal mechanisms securing those habitats. Significant on-site biodiversity gains and registered off-site biodiversity gains generally need to be secured for at least 30 years through the appropriate planning or legal mechanism. For off-site habitat banks, this can include a conservation covenant or planning obligation such as a Section 106 agreement. The Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan sets out how habitats will be established, managed and monitored over the required period and is likely to be referenced extensively within the legal agreement and appended as a key supporting document. If the proposed habitat delivery changes, the project team should therefore consider whether the relevant management arrangements and legal documentation also need to change. What Is the Planning Risk of Getting BNG Changes Wrong? Proceeding without the necessary Biodiversity Gain Plan approval can create a compliance issue because the biodiversity gain condition is a pre-commencement condition. For developments subject to mandatory BNG, planning permission is deemed to include the biodiversity gain condition. Development cannot begin until the Biodiversity Gain Plan has been approved. Local planning authorities also have an ongoing role in ensuring that developers and land managers meet their BNG commitments. Government guidance confirms that failure to meet BNG requirements can lead to enforcement action where a developer is in breach of planning conditions, planning obligations or a legal agreement. Failure to meet BNG requirements can lead to enforcement action where a developer is in breach of planning conditions, planning obligations or a legal agreement. There is also a practical commercial and administrative risk. If a revised biodiversity metric creates a larger or different off-site requirement late in the process, developers may need to secure additional biodiversity units at short notice. Amending biodiversity units that have already been formally allocated is considerably more complicated. Changes to an original allocation can require approval from the relevant local planning authority and an application to Natural England to amend the allocation on the Biodiversity Gain Sites Register. Natural England will not amend an allocation while it remains connected to an existing condition of planning permission, so the relevant planning position must first be resolved and appropriate evidence provided. Developers should therefore treat a formal allocation as effectively final and make sure the habitat type, number of units, trading rules and spatial requirements are correct before the allocation is completed. Early review of the Biodiversity Metric and off-site requirements can help avoid the need to unravel an existing allocation later in the planning process. How Can Developers Reduce the Risk of BNG Changes? Developers can reduce planning and commercial risk by reviewing the Biodiversity Metric whenever a material change to the development could affect habitat loss, retention, creation or enhancement. The ecological team should establish whether the change affects post-development biodiversity value and whether the existing BNG strategy still achieves the required outcome. Where off-site units are involved, developers should also check whether the type and quantity of units required have changed. Early communication between the developer, ecological consultant, planning team, local planning authority and off-site unit provider can help identify these issues before they affect the construction programme. If the project is still evolving, obtaining updated off-site quotations as the metric changes can also provide a more accurate picture of the financial implications of different design options. How Civity Supports Developers When BNG Requirements Change At Civity, we help developers understand the off-site implications of changes to their Biodiversity Metric. We do not undertake the developer’s biodiversity metric calculations. Instead, we interpret completed metric outputs supplied by the developer’s ecological team to establish the habitat types and number of off-site biodiversity units required. If a development layout changes and the ecological team produces an updated metric, we can quickly interpret the revised requirement and provide an updated quotation for suitable off-site units. We can also consider unit availability, habitat type, trading rules and location when identifying appropriate options. Where suitable units are in short supply or favourable pricing is available, developers may also be able to reserve units or secure them with a deposit before the final requirement is confirmed. This dynamic approach helps developers understand how changes to their scheme could affect off-site BNG costs without waiting until the Biodiversity Gain Plan is ready for final submission. Managing Biodiversity Gain Plan Changes Before They Become Delays An approved Biodiversity Gain Plan cannot simply be edited after approval. Where the approach to achieving the biodiversity gain objective changes before development starts, a new Biodiversity Gain Plan may need to be submitted and approved. Changing the details surrounding existing off-site biodiversity allocations is also not straightforward, particularly once units have been formally allocated and linked to the planning permission. Developers should therefore make sure proposed allocations are suitable before they are finalised. The key is identifying changes early. Development layouts, habitat proposals and off-site requirements can evolve throughout the planning process. Reviewing the Biodiversity Metric alongside those changes helps developers understand whether the required biodiversity gain is still being achieved and whether additional off-site units are needed. At Civity, we work with developers and their ecological teams to interpret changing off-site requirements and provide fast, updated quotations for suitable biodiversity units. If your project’s metric has changed or you need to understand the cost and availability of revised off-site BNG requirements, speak to Civity about your development biodiversity metric.

Strategic significance is a factor within the Biodiversity Metric that considers whether post-development habitat creation or enhancement is being delivered in locations identified as priorities for nature recovery. Where a published Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) identifies a mapped measure and the proposed habitat delivers that measure, the habitat can receive higher strategic significance within the statutory biodiversity metric. For developers, landowners and habitat bank providers, this means where and what habitat is created can influence its biodiversity value. Understanding the relationship between the Biodiversity Metric, LNRS mapping and local nature recovery priorities can therefore help inform both development design and off-site BNG delivery. What Does Strategic Significance Mean in the Biodiversity Metric? Strategic significance describes the local importance of a habitat based on its location and habitat type. Within the statutory biodiversity metric, it is used to encourage habitat creation and enhancement in locations where those interventions can contribute to wider nature recovery priorities. The metric does not simply measure the number of hectares being created or enhanced. Biodiversity units are influenced by several factors, including habitat distinctiveness, condition and strategic significance. For post-development habitats, strategic significance can therefore affect the number of biodiversity units generated by a proposed habitat creation or enhancement project. This applies to both on-site and off-site biodiversity gains, making strategic significance relevant to developers as well as landowners establishing habitat banks. What Is a Local Nature Recovery Strategy? A Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) is a statutory spatial strategy that identifies priorities and opportunities for nature recovery within a defined area of England. There are 48 LNRS areas covering England. Each strategy is led by an appointed responsible authority and contains two core components: a written statement of biodiversity priorities and a local habitat map. The government’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy guidance explains that these strategies identify where actions could make a particular contribution to nature recovery. An LNRS might identify opportunities to restore grassland, create wetlands, improve woodland, establish hedgerows, increase ecological connectivity between existing habitats, and/or deliver other relevant measures considered appropriate to the land in question. The aim is to encourage but not obligate individual habitat projects to contribute towards a wider, connected network for nature rather than operating as isolated biodiversity enhancements. How Does an LNRS Affect Strategic Significance? Where an LNRS has been published, its mapped measures are used to determine whether relevant post-development habitats can qualify for high strategic significance within the statutory biodiversity metric. A habitat does not receive a higher score simply because it sits somewhere inside an LNRS area. The proposed habitat must be in a location identified for the relevant mapped measure, and the nature recovery action associated with that location must be delivered. For example, if an LNRS identifies a particular area for species-rich grassland creation, creating the appropriate grassland in that mapped location may qualify for high strategic significance. If woodland planting were proposed in that same area instead, high strategic significance would not apply because the proposed habitat does not align with the measure identified by the LNRS. The statutory biodiversity metric then reflects that strategic alignment within the biodiversity unit calculation. This creates a direct relationship between local nature recovery priorities and the value generated through BNG. Can Strategic Significance Increase Biodiversity Units? Yes. High strategic significance can increase the biodiversity units generated by qualifying post-development habitat. Under the current statutory metric, high strategic significance has a multiplier of 1.15, compared with 1.0 for low strategic significance. In practical terms, qualifying habitat creation or enhancement can therefore receive a 15% uplift through this component of the metric. For example, if a qualifying post-development habitat would otherwise generate 10 units before strategic significance is applied, a 1.15 strategic significance multiplier could increase that component to 11.5 units, subject to the rest of the statutory biodiversity metric calculation. However, strategic significance cannot be used simply to make an otherwise unsuitable BNG proposal work. Habitat distinctiveness, condition, trading rules and other relevant metric factors still apply. How Do Local Plans Affect Strategic Significance? As of 27 August 2026, 43 of England’s 48 Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) have been published, meaning most areas now have a formal LNRS that can be used when determining strategic significance within the statutory biodiversity metric. Where an LNRS has been published, it becomes the relevant strategic framework for determining high strategic significance for post-development habitats in accordance with the statutory metric guidance. Developers and ecological consultants should therefore review the published LNRS for the relevant area and establish whether proposed habitat creation or enhancement aligns with the measures identified within it. For the remaining areas where an LNRS has not yet been published, locally relevant plans and strategies may still need to be considered when assigning strategic significance. The current status of LNRS publication across England can be checked using the government’s map of LNRS areas and responsible authorities. Does Strategic Significance Affect Baseline Biodiversity Value? Where an LNRS has been published, baseline habitats are assigned low strategic significance under the current statutory metric approach. High strategic significance is instead available to qualifying post-development habitat creation and enhancement that delivers an appropriate mapped LNRS measure. This distinction helps create an incentive for new BNG delivery to support strategic nature recovery priorities. The baseline biodiversity value still depends on other important factors, including habitat type, size, distinctiveness and condition. Strategic significance does not replace those ecological assessments. Accurate baseline habitat information therefore remains essential when calculating pre-development biodiversity value. How Does Strategic Significance Affect Off-Site BNG? Strategic significance can affect the biodiversity value generated by an off-site habitat bank where habitat creation or enhancement aligns with a mapped LNRS measure. For landowners, this makes LNRS mapping an important consideration when assessing the potential of land for off-site BNG. Land that falls within a mapped opportunity and can practically and appropriately deliver the relevant habitat measure may be capable of generating additional biodiversity value through the strategic significance multiplier. However, that does not automatically make the land a commercially viable habitat bank. Existing habitats, ecological condition, achievable habitat enhancement, long-term management costs, local demand and the statutory metric’s trading rules all need to be considered. At Civity, we assess habitat bank opportunities from both an ecological and commercial perspective, helping landowners understand the potential biodiversity units that could be generated and whether there is likely to be developer demand for those units. Is Strategic Significance the Same as Spatial Risk? No. Strategic significance and spatial risk are separate elements of the statutory biodiversity metric. Strategic significance considers whether habitat creation or enhancement supports identified local nature recovery priorities. Spatial risk considers the geographic relationship between off-site biodiversity gains and the development site they are being used to compensate for. A habitat bank could therefore qualify for high strategic significance because it delivers a mapped LNRS priority while still being subject to a spatial risk adjustment when its units are allocated to a particular development. Developers purchasing off-site units need to consider both factors. For more detail on location, read our guide to the BNG Spatial Risk Multiplier and how the location of off-site units affects their effective value.