Biodiversity Net Gain
Land you are not using could be earning you money.
Biodiversity Net Gain lets landowners turn scrub, field corners and underperforming land into income, by creating habitat that developers need to meet a legal 10% net gain requirement. We help you work out whether your land qualifies, and negotiate agreements that protect your long-term interests.
How Biodiversity Net Gain Works for Landowners
Biodiversity Net Gain requires most new developments in England to deliver a 10% increase in habitat value, either on site or by buying units elsewhere. That has created a genuine market for land that is not earning what it could. Field corners, scrub, woodland edges and underperforming arable or grassland can all qualify, ranging from a quarter of an acre to over a thousand.
Through our Environment Gateway, we assess whether your land qualifies, promote it to developers looking to create a BNG site, and help you set up habitat banks where BNG units are sold over time. As RICS-regulated Chartered Surveyors, we negotiate on your behalf and since most agreements run for decades, the terms matter as much as the initial offer. It is also worth checking whether that same land could qualify for grants and environmental schemes, since the two aren’t mutually exclusive.
KEY CONTACTS
Toby Trotman
MRICS
Scott Smith
MRICS MRTPI
Which Side of This Are You On?
Through our Environment Gateway, we can promote your land directly to developers looking to create a BNG site, or help you set up habitat banks where units are sold over time. Qualifying land ranges from a quarter of an acre to over a thousand, and includes field corners, scrub, woodland edges and underperforming arable or grassland, so it’s worth asking rather than assuming your land doesn’t qualify.
- Do you have unused scrubland or underperforming fields?
- Are you looking for a new income stream from land that is not earning much now?
- Would agreements running over several years suit your plans for the land?
For further details, or to discuss joining the Environment Gateway, contact Toby Trotman.
As the largest independent surveying firm in the South East, our planning and development teams provide expert guidance across the full range of property sectors. If you are searching for on-site or off-site BNG units in the South East, get in touch with Scott Smith.
Please contact a member of our Natural Capital Team to discuss how we can help you
Offices in Battle, Haywards Heath, Pulborough, Surrey Hills and Tunbridge Wells.
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Common questions about biodiversity net gain
It’s a legal requirement for most new developments in England to deliver at least a 10% increase in habitat value, either on the development site itself or by buying units from land elsewhere.
Qualifying land ranges from a quarter of an acre to over a thousand, and includes field corners, scrub, woodland edges and underperforming arable or grassland, so it’s worth asking rather than assuming your land is too small or the wrong type.
Most run for a minimum of 30 years, since habitat needs time to establish and be properly maintained. That’s a long commitment, which is why getting the right advice and agreement terms before signing matters as much as the initial offer.
In some cases, yes, this is known as stacking, though the rules on combining payments are strict and vary by scheme. Professional advice is essential before committing, so a mistake doesn’t invalidate your units or breach another agreement.
BNG agreements are legally tied to the land itself, not to you personally, so units and obligations normally transfer to the new owner when you sell. This is worth factoring into any sale discussion well before it happens, since it can affect how the land is marketed and valued.