Ecological Assessments Explained: The First Step to Selling BNG Units
Ecological assessments undertaken by qualified ecologists form the foundation of any biodiversity net gain (BNG) project. For landowners and land managers seeking to generate income through the sale of biodiversity units, understanding the ecological baseline of a site is the critical first step. Before habitat creation or biodiversity enhancements can be designed, the ecological value […]
BNG Off-Site Credits vs On-Site Biodiversity Net Gain
Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is now a central requirement within the English planning system, requiring most development projects to deliver at least a 10% increase in biodiversity value. While the principle is consistent, the delivery of biodiversity net gain can take two distinct forms: on-site biodiversity net gain within the development site or off-site biodiversity […]
How Does Biodiversity Net Gain Actually Work in Practice?
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is now a mandatory requirement for most development projects in England. Introduced under the Environment Act 2021 and embedded within Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act, it requires developers to deliver at least a 10% increase in biodiversity value compared to the baseline condition of a development site. […]
How Can Landowners Leverage BNG Credits to Generate New Income Streams?
The introduction of mandatory biodiversity net gain (BNG) under the Environment Act 2021 has reshaped the economics of land management in England. Developers must now deliver at least a 10% net gain in biodiversity for most new developments, creating a regulated BNG market for off-site biodiversity units. For farmers and landowners, this presents a significant […]
What Is the Process for Purchasing BNG Units to Meet Planning Requirements?
Since February 2024, most developments in England have been subject to mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) under the Environment Act 2021. For developers navigating planning permission, one of the most common questions is: What is the process for purchasing BNG units to meet planning requirements? Where a scheme cannot fully deliver biodiversity net gain on […]
How to Register Land for Biodiversity Credits or Nature Credits
As Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) becomes embedded within the planning system in England, many landowners are asking the same practical question: how to register land for biodiversity credits or nature credits in a compliant and commercially viable way. Under the Environment Act 2021, most developments in England are now subject to mandatory biodiversity net gain. […]
BNG units explained: what they measure and how they work
Under the Environment Act 2021, the UK government has introduced Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) as a legal requirement for most development projects in England. This policy ensures that all developments leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than before development, requiring at least a 10% net gain in biodiversity units. But what exactly […]
Biodiversity net gain benefits explained: from green spaces to flood reduction
Biodiversity Net Gain represents a significant shift in how development interacts with the natural environment. Introduced through the Environment Act, biodiversity net gain legislation requires most new development in England to deliver a minimum ten per cent increase in biodiversity value, measured using a statutory biodiversity metric. While biodiversity net gain requirements are often viewed […]
BNG mitigation hierarchy explained: on-site, off-site, and statutory credits
Biodiversity Net Gain is a mandatory requirement for most planning applications in England, fundamentally changing how development interacts with the natural environment. Introduced under the Environment Act, the BNG system requires developments to deliver a minimum ten per cent net gain in biodiversity, measured using biodiversity units. At the heart of this system sits the […]
Monitoring BNG: Ensuring Biodiversity Gains Are Delivered and Maintained
Biodiversity net gain is judged on delivery, not intention. Since mandatory biodiversity net gain became a legal requirement under the Environment Act 2021, developers must show that biodiversity value will increase by at least 10%, measured in biodiversity units using the statutory biodiversity metric. What often receives less attention is the other half of the […]
