Unlocking the Full Potential of Your Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Site

The transition to a future where development and nature can coexist has never been more important. Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) provides landowners with an opportunity to contribute to this vision while unlocking the value of their land. However, the journey from preparing a site to selling BNG units requires careful planning, expertise, and the right partners to guide you through the process.

At Habitat Vault, we specialise in simplifying the complexities of BNG registration and connecting landowners to the market. Whether you’ve been on your own BNG journey—conducting ecological surveys, drafting Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans, and preparing Design Stage Reports—or are looking for guidance to complete the next steps, we’re here to help.

The Challenges of BNG Registration

For many landowners, registering their land for BNG is a significant hurdle. The process involves navigating evolving standards, liaising with Responsible Bodies, and meeting the requirements for long-term site management and monitoring. Unfortunately, Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) often lack the resources or readiness to provide clear guidance, leaving landowners with uncertainty over timelines and costs.

That’s where we come in.

A Unique Approach to Registration

Habitat Vault has developed a streamlined solution for landowners looking to register their sites and sell BNG units. Through our partnership with RSK Biocensus, a Defra-appointed Responsible Body, we offer an efficient registration process using a Conservation Covenant. This approach eliminates many of the delays and uncertainties associated with traditional methods.

Our model is designed to future-proof your site and ensure compliance with emerging BNG standards while keeping the current process as straightforward as possible. Acting now means you can secure the benefits of today’s more flexible requirements, avoiding the likely increased obligations as BNG matures.

Reliable Expertise and Market Access

Once your site is registered, Habitat Vault doesn’t just stop there. We serve as your trusted partner in connecting you with developers seeking BNG units. Our expertise ensures that your units are marketed effectively, securing the best value for your land while meeting all regulatory requirements.

We also collaborate with experienced legal partners like BDB Pitmans, who have an established track record of working on Conservation Covenants and BNG projects. Their involvement ensures a streamlined legal process, saving you time and effort while providing peace of mind that every detail is handled professionally.

Why Act Now?

The BNG market is rapidly evolving, and opportunities exist for landowners to position themselves as early leaders in this emerging sector. With Habitat Vault, you can benefit from:

• Simplified registration through our partnership with RSK Biocensus.

• Expert guidance every step of the way, from registration to unit sales.

• Access to developers seeking high-quality BNG units.

If you’ve already made progress on your BNG journey, now is the time to take the final steps and ensure your site is registered and ready to unlock its full potential.

Ready to Partner with Habitat Vault?

Whether you’re navigating the challenges of registration or looking for a reliable partner to market and sell your BNG units, Habitat Vault is here to help.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can support you in achieving your BNG goals. Together, we can turn your vision for sustainable land management into a successful and rewarding reality.

Why National Character Areas are Important for Biodiversity Net Gain

National Character Areas (NCAs) are natural subdivisions of England based on a combination of landscape, biodiversity, geodiversity, and economic activity. They play a crucial role in the context of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), an initiative that requires every new development in England to have a measurable increase in biodiversity. In this blog, we will explore the importance of NCAs within the context of BNG, focusing on their definition, examples, and the benefits of BNG.

Definition of National Character Areas

NCAs are areas that share similar landscape characteristics and follow natural lines in the landscape rather than administrative boundaries, making them a good decision-making framework for the natural environment. There are 159 National Character Areas in England, and their profiles serve as guidance documents that help communities make informed decisions about the places they live in.

Examples of National Character Areas

Some examples of NCAs include the North Northumberland Coastal Plain, Northumberland Sandstone Hills, and the North Pennines. These areas are defined by their unique combination of landscape features, biodiversity, geodiversity, history, and cultural and economic activity.

Biodiversity Net Gain and the Spatial Multiplier

The Spatial Risk Multiplier is a calculator used to determine the cost of each BNG unit when offsite BNG units are sourced from outside the Local Planning Authority (LPA) where the development work is taking place. However, the Spatial Multiplier for BNG does not apply when the offsite BNG unit site (the habitat bank) and the development site sit within the same National Character Area. This encourages developers to source offsite BNG units within the same NCA, promoting local conservation and restoration efforts.

Benefits of Biodiversity Net Gain

BNG aims to ensure that all new developments contribute to conserving and enhancing the natural environment, whether at the original site or elsewhere. This approach can lead to several benefits, including:

Improved habitat for wildlife: BNG ensures that the habitat for wildlife is in a better state than it was before development, contributing to the recovery of nature.

Enhanced human health and wellbeing: BNG can improve human health and wellbeing by creating new green spaces, improving existing spaces, and bringing nature closer to people.

Support for local communities: BNG can benefit local communities by providing high-quality natural surroundings within the development footprint or through biodiversity offsets that increase people's access to nature

Contribution to climate change mitigation and adaptation: Restoring biodiversity can help mitigate climate change and adapt to its inevitable impacts, such as flooding and extreme weather events.

By integrating NCAs into the planning and implementation of BNG, developers and landowners can ensure that new developments contribute positively to the natural environment and local communities. This approach can help achieve a balance between economic growth and environmental conservation, ultimately leading to more sustainable and resilient landscapes.

In conclusion, National Character Areas play a vital role in the context of Biodiversity Net Gain. By considering NCAs in the planning and implementation of new developments, we can ensure that our landscapes remain diverse, healthy, and resilient, benefiting both wildlife and human communities.

BNG: Key Risks for Developers

This short blog will highlight the key risks associated with Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) for developers. BNG has become a mandatory consideration for all development projects in England, acting as a planning condition and policy requirement of planning consent. It requires developers to improve biodiversity as part of their pre-development plans, and failure to comply can have significant consequences.

The key risks to be aware of are as follows:

Availability of Offsite Units: Developers may face challenges in sourcing suitable offsite units to meet BNG requirements. The availability of these units can vary, and if a shortfall remains after exploring onsite and local offsite options, developers may need to purchase statutory biodiversity credits from the government as a last resort (see table below.)

Temporal Risk: Timely implementation of BNG is crucial. Developers must ensure they are prepared to meet the obligations within the specified timeframe. Failure to comply with BNG requirements can result in delays or potential penalties.

Spatial Multiplier: The spatial multiplier, which accounts for the spatial distribution of biodiversity gains, needs to be accurately considered when calculating the number of units required to achieve BNG. Failure to do so can lead to underestimating or overestimating the number of units needed, potentially resulting in non-compliance.

Government's Statutory BNG Credit Pricing: The government has introduced price tiers for statutory biodiversity credits, which developers can purchase to meet BNG requirements. Understanding the pricing structure is essential for developers to factor it into their financial planning.

See extract pricing table from the Government's statutory biodiversity credit prices

N.B: If you buy statutory biodiversity credits, a ‘spatial risk multiplier’ will apply, which doubles the amount of credits you need. You must buy 2 credits for every 1 biodiversity unit you need to compensate for. The statutory biodiversity metric will automatically calculate this multiplication for you.

Habitat distinctiveness	Broad habitat type	Specific habitat type	Price per credit	​Spatial risk multiplier
​Medium	Heathland and shrub	All	£42,000	£84,000
Medium	Grassland	All	£42,000	£84,000
Medium	Individual trees	All	£42,000	£84,000

Proper preparation and strategic planning can help mitigate these risks. At Habitat Vault, we specialise in BNG and can assist you in navigating the complexities of BNG implementation, ensuring compliance, and minimising potential risks.