At Biodiversity Net Gain, we help developers, planners, and landowners across the UK meet the growing environmental requirements for sustainable development.

With the UK Environment Act now mandating measurable biodiversity improvements, our expert ecologists work to ensure your project delivers at least a 10% gain while satisfying planning authority expectations.

From site assessments to strategic habitat creation, we combine ecological expertise with a pragmatic, development-friendly approach that keeps your plans on track while enhancing the local environment.

Why Is Biodiversity Net Gain Important for Developments?

Biodiversity Net Gain, or BNG, is a planning approach that ensures new developments leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than before. 

This concept has become legally significant as part of national policy, meaning most developments must demonstrate compliance to gain planning consent. In practice, BNG creates opportunities to restore degraded land, introduce diverse planting schemes, and contribute to the long-term health of local ecosystems.

Which Types of Projects Must Comply With Biodiversity Net Gain Legislation?

Biodiversity net gain requirements apply to a wide range of developments, including:

• Residential developments – From small housing schemes to large-scale estates, especially on greenfield or ecologically sensitive land.
• Commercial builds – Offices, retail units, warehouses, and mixed-use developments.
• Infrastructure projects – Roads, railways, bridges, and utilities that may affect habitats or wildlife corridors.
• Major refurbishments – Large-scale renovations or redevelopments with significant ecological impact.
• Agricultural projects – Land-use changes, new farm infrastructure, and drainage schemes.
• Renewable energy installations – Solar farms, wind farms, and associated works.
• Industrial expansions – New facilities or site enlargements within or near sensitive ecological areas.

How Much Does Implementing Biodiversity Net Gain Measures Cost?

The cost of implementing biodiversity net gain measures ranges from £5,000 to over £50,000, depending on the site’s current biodiversity value, the scale of enhancements required, and whether measures are delivered on-site or through off-site habitat creation.

Costs are primarily influenced by factors such as the type of habitat creation or restoration needed, the complexity of planting and landscaping works, the requirement for specialist ecological monitoring, and any long-term management commitments.

Contact Biodiversity Net Gain to get customised prices for delivering BNG measures at your property.

How Do Ecologists Assess a Site’s Current Biodiversity Value?

Our ecologists conduct a detailed baseline survey for biodiversity net gain using the DEFRA Biodiversity Metric. This involves mapping and categorising existing habitats, evaluating their condition, and recording the species they support.

Each habitat type is assigned a score based on size, quality, and distinctiveness. This baseline figure becomes the reference point for calculating the required biodiversity uplift to achieve compliance. Gathering this data accurately is critical, as it directly influences the scale of measures needed.

Can Biodiversity Improvements Be Delivered Both On-Site and Off-Site?

You can achieve biodiversity net gain either on-site by enhancing or creating habitats, or off-site by investing in improvements elsewhere.

Some projects adopt a hybrid approach, delivering certain elements on-site while funding or securing credits for off-site works through accredited providers. This flexibility helps developments with space constraints or specific design limitations still meet their BNG obligations.

How Do Biodiversity Net Gain Plans Align With Local Planning Authority Requirements?

We prepare biodiversity net gain plans to meet both national DEFRA standards and the specific criteria set by the local planning authority, which includes submitting clear habitat maps, metric calculations, and management schedules.

By aligning our work with local priorities, such as enhancing designated wildlife corridors or supporting specific conservation goals, we improve the likelihood of smooth planning approval.

What’s the Process for Preparing and Submitting a Biodiversity Net Gain Plan?

The process of biodiversity net gain begins with an initial consultation to understand your development plans and site conditions. Our ecologists then complete the baseline survey and biodiversity metric calculations.

We propose enhancement measures, provide a phased implementation plan, and prepare the documentation required for submission with your planning application. Throughout, we liaise with planning officers to ensure our proposals address both legislative and practical considerations.

What Strategies Are Used to Achieve a 10% Biodiversity Net Gain?

Common strategies for delivering 10% biodiversity net gain include:

• Enhancing existing habitats – Improving management of grassland, woodland, wetlands, or other natural features.
• Creating new habitats – Establishing wildflower meadows, ponds, wetlands, or native woodland planting.
• Green infrastructure – Installing green roofs, living walls, and urban planting schemes.
• Wildlife corridors – Linking fragmented habitats to support species movement and biodiversity.
• Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) – Designing water management features that also provide ecological benefits.
• Invasive species control – Removing non-native species to allow native habitats to recover.

Do Biodiversity Net Gain Specialists Provide Ongoing Monitoring and Reporting Services?

Once the biodiversity net gain measures are implemented, ongoing monitoring is essential to demonstrate that there was a net gain in biodiversity and that it is maintained over the required period, usually 30 years under the Environment Act.

We provide periodic site inspections, compliance checks, and reporting to satisfy planning conditions and keep habitat gains on track.

Contact Biodiversity Net Gain for a consultation on getting a maintenance edge on biodiversity net gain.

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Make sure you contact us today for a number of great biodiversity net gain services.

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