FAQs
Answers to all your questions about BNG.
FAQs
Do you have any more questions about securing your off-site Biodiversity Net Gain Units? We have answered some of the most commonly asked questions about all things BNG below!
The Environment Act 2021 required that all forthcoming developments in England must ensure a minimum 10% net gain in biodiversity.
The mandatory requirement for biodiversity enhancement came into effect in February 2024. It initially applied to major developments, with smaller sites following from 2024. Where significant on-site gains and all off-site BNG are delivered, developers must maintain habitats for a minimum of 30 years. The developer’s responsibilities will be set out through legal agreements.
Introduced under the Environment Act, this legislation plays a vital role in addressing the decline of biodiversity across England. By placing biodiversity at the heart of the planning process, it ensures developers actively contribute to nature recovery, helping to protect and enhance the natural environment for the long term.
A BNG unit represents a measurable area of habitat created or enhanced to deliver biodiversity improvements. These units are typically established on underutilised land, which can be transformed into diverse habitats. These habitats include species-rich grassland, woodland, wetlands, mixed scrub, or wilding sites.
The value of each BNG unit is calculated by a qualified ecologist using the Statutory Biodiversity Metric. This assessment takes into account factors such as habitat type, uniqueness, condition, and location. A guide to the metric can be found here.
On-site BNG involves meeting the new requirements by achieving a 10% biodiversity net gain within the development site’s red line boundary. The developer must also implement a management plan for at least 30 years.
While on-site delivery is often the first option considered, it may not always be practical. It can reduce developable space and comes with long-term management responsibilities.
Off-site BNG, by contrast, allows developers to purchase the required Biodiversity Net Gain Units from a registered Biodiversity Gain Site. This approach provides a flexible and efficient way to offset biodiversity loss without compromising your development. BNG Units Limited offers a simple, fully managed solution to meet all your off-site BNG requirements.
Still considering your options? Read our guide to on-site and off-site BNG here.
From an ecological perspective, purchasing off-site BNG units from a registered Biodiversity Gain Site provides significant advantages.
Developers can support greater species diversity and stronger ecosystem resilience by delivering gains off-site, particularly when linking multiple sites to create larger habitats or “stepping stones”.
In contrast, on-site efforts are often constrained and the resulting habitats and species tend to be those that tolerate human activity, rather than creating truly robust, diverse ecosystems.
Most developers will already have calculated their off-site BNG requirements using the statutory Biodiversity Metric, meaning they know exactly how many units and which types are needed. Once we have your unit requirement and the location of your development, we can move forward quickly and efficiently.
If required, we can also connect you with our network of experienced ecologists, who can conduct an on-site survey to determine your BNG requirements and work alongside us to deliver the units as smoothly as possible.
The Biodiversity Metric serves as a crucial tool for assessing the fulfilment of BNG for new developments in England. This system evaluates various habitat types based on their relative importance to wildlife. Furthermore, it quantifies biodiversity losses and gains associated with developments.
You can find a full guide to the metric here.
Developers must demonstrate that the required BNG units for their site have been identified before submitting a planning application. As we already hold a Section 106 legal agreement with the LPA, we can provide a BNG Proposal for submission alongside your application.
Developers must purchase the required Biodiversity Net Gain Units following planning approval but before any work begins on site. When you secure your units from us, we provide a Supply and Assurance Certificate to include in your Biodiversity Gain Plan (BGP).
Our process is simple and straightforward, letting you focus on your development while we handle the biodiversity compliance.
The Supply and Assurance Certificate is a legal agreement between us (BNG Units Limited) and the developer. The cost is included in the price of your units. This certificate formally confirms our commitment to create, enhance, maintain, and monitor the habitat on your behalf for the full 30-year period.
Developers can then submit this certificate with their Biodiversity Gain Plan to satisfy and discharge the relevant planning condition, providing full assurance of compliance.
All developments required to achieve BNG must submit a Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP) for approval by the Local Planning Authority, alongside a Biodiversity Gain Plan.
The HMMP details how habitats will be created, enhanced, and maintained, and clarifies responsibilities for management and monitoring over the required 30-year period.
The costs for both the Supply and Assurance Agreement and the HMMP are included in the price of your BNG units, providing a straightforward, all-in-one solution for compliance.
Completing the Biodiversity Gain Plan (BGP) confirms that the required BNG units have been purchased and that a Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP) is in place. The BGP must be submitted to, and approved by, the Local Planning Authority before any work begins on site.
Read our full guide to the Biodiversity Gain Plan here.
Habitat brokers typically sell BNG units on behalf of landowners to developers. At BNG Units Limited, we go a step further: with our own established wilding projects, we already have dedicated land and a stock of units ready for immediate deployment.
BNG enables us to continue to expand our wilding projects, restore ecosystems and create habitats where wildlife and nature can truly thrive.
Biodiversity Net Gain units can be purchased from habitat banks, marketplaces or, if you want to cut out the middleman, directly from landowners. If you’re wondering where to buy BNG units in the East of England, BNG Units Ltd offers a straightforward, fully compliant solution for developers across Cambridgeshire and the surrounding areas.
If you’re searching for where to buy BNG credits, it’s worth understanding how they sit within the Biodiversity Gain Hierarchy before committing. Statutory biodiversity credits are purchased directly from the government and are intentionally priced as a last resort- making them the most expensive option available for meeting your BNG obligations.
Before going down that route, it is strongly advisable to explore off-site BNG unit solutions, such as BNG Units Ltd, as they are more cost-effective and deliver genuine, measurable habitat improvements.