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FAQ

FAQ

What is Biodiversity Net Gain

Biodiversity Net Gain is a rule in England that says when new buildings are built, the area around them must have more types of plants and animals than before. This rule is part of the Environment Act. Builders in England will need to check the current state of nature, take steps to improve it, and show that they’ve made a positive difference to get permission to build. If they can’t improve nature on their building site, they can buy Biodiversity Units. These units are like certificates showing that someone else has improved nature somewhere else. This is a flexible and cost-saving way for builders to follow the rules.

What level of income can I expect from selling BNG units.

It is anticipated that some BNG units could fetch £40,000 though more in certain “High” and “Very High” distinctive habitats. You could potentially create 7 or 8 units per hectare though equally some habitats may create just 1 unit per hectare.

Keep in mind that the cost should be enough to create or enhance the habitat and take care of it for 30 years. This long-term view is key to the success of biodiversity net gain.

The number of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) units you can create depends on several things. These include how unique the habitat is, the current state of the habitat, whether it’s in an important local strategic area, how hard it is to improve that type of habitat, and a factor that lowers the value of habitats that are far from the development (Spatial Risk). This last factor means that the number of units needed and the number available can vary in different places creating differing supply and demands based on location.

Things can get tricky depending on the Local Planning Authority (LPA) area or National Character Area (NCA) you’re in. For example, you could be in the NCA of the North Downs in Guildford, and a development site two hours away in Dover might be in the same NCA. In this case, you wouldn’t face a penalty. However, if the development site is very close but just outside the LPA or NCA boundary, a developer will have to buy more units and this will affect price.

What are the options for selling biodiversity units

One option is to use Bio Net Gains Limited as a habitat bank operator.

Bio Net Gains Limited can lease your land and pays you a fixed fee on a regular basis, for example, monthly or yearly. We will find you a buyer and sell to the units; legally secure your land; register your gain site and record its allocation, so you would not need to follow these steps yourself.

Either Bio Net Gains Limited or yourself as the landowner may do the habitat creation, enhancement and management, as well as any reporting. We will need to agree all the details of who does what in your contract with Bio Net Gains Limited.

Alternatively you can carry out all the functions yourself and we can help with any part including the sale through BioNetGainExchange.com

What is the BNG metric ?

The biodiversity metric tool is used to calculate biodiversity value for the purposes of biodiversity net gain.

The biodiversity metric tool can be used throughout all stages of a project, from site selection to detailed design and delivery. The earlier it is applied, the greater the opportunity to design for biodiversity and wider ecological benefits.

What is the process for landowners to create BNG Units

  1. Engage Bio Net Gains to carry out a Baseline Habitat Study. Or try our pocket-sized report for £55 where an ecologist will visit and provide insights into the number of BNG units that could be generated in that area assuming it is uniform across your land.
  2. Use bionetgainexchange.com to agree the sale of Biodiversity Net Gain units at a price which will ensure costs are covered to monitor and maintain for 30 years.
  3. We will legally secure the land with a conservation covenant agreement or S106 agreement. This will commit the landowner to managing a habitat for 30 years.
  4. Agree a habitat management and monitoring plan to achieve the planned enhancements
  5. We will apply to your register your site as a Biodiversity Net Gain site and allocate units to a development. Natural England will ensure they meet eligibility and your site will be recorded on the National Register.
  6. Manage and Monitor habitats for 30 years in line with actions set out in the legal agreement and Habitat and Management Monitoring Plan.
  7. Report on the progress to the Local Authroity (If through an S106) or the responsible body if through a Conservation Agreement.

I have a site already rich in biodiversity. Is it enough just to protect it ?

We need to make the place better, not just protect it. To make the most of our resources, we need to increase the value of the place as much as we can. This will give us more units for each area. This is how we’ll help nature bounce back. We’re focusing on improving places, not just maintaining existing ones.

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