How much do BNG units cost in 2026?

A guide to Biodiversity Net Gain unit prices

Since Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) became a mandatory requirement for most developments in England, the cost of securing BNG units has become a major consideration in planning for developers and landowners.

There is no single price for a BNG unit. Instead, prices will vary significantly depending on the type of habitat, its condition, location, scarcity and the requirements of the development.

So, how much should you budget for BNG units in 2026?

How much do BNG units cost?

There is no fixed market price for BNG units.

Prices can range from relatively modest amounts for some habitat types to more costly for habitats that are more difficult to create or restore and maintain.

As a broad guide, more common, medium-distinctiveness habitats such as grassland typically range from £20,000 to £35,000 per unit in 2026. For high-distinctiveness habitats such as woodland and traditional orchards, prices can rise to £40,000 to £90,000. Scarcer units, most notably watercourse units, can command £90,000 or more.

For context, these prices generally compare well with the alternatives. Statutory biodiversity credits, the government’s last-resort option, start at around £84,000 per unit equivalent. Delivering the same gain on-site can cost considerably more once land value and the loss of developable plots are taken into account. For most developments, off-site units are the most cost-effective way to meet a BNG requirement.

It is important not to treat these figures as a standard price list. Two units that appear similar may have very different market values depending on their location and habitat type.

The best way to establish the likely cost for a particular project is therefore to determine the number and type of units required before obtaining current market prices.

What affects the price of BNG units?

Several factors can influence the price you pay.

1. Habitat type and condition

Certain priority habitats, such as woodlands, will be more difficult to create and may require significant land management and long-term monitoring.

A unit associated with a more complex or valuable habitat is therefore likely to cost more than a unit associated with a relatively straightforward habitat creation project.

1. Location and availability

Location can impact BNG unit pricing as the framework places importance on ecological connectivity. Depending on the circumstances, a development may need units from a particular area or within an appropriate distance of the development site.

This is applied through the Spatial Risk Multiplier (SRM) in the Statutory Biodiversity Metric. Units delivered within the same Local Planning Authority area or National Character Area as the development carry no penalty. However, units from further afield have their value reduced to 0.75 in a neighbouring area and 0.5 when sourced nationally, meaning a developer needs to source more units to meet the same requirement.

This means that a unit available hundreds of miles away may not be an equivalent alternative to a suitable unit available locally.

Local supply and demand can consequently have an influence on price.

3. The cost of habitat creation and management

The price of a unit can reflect the cost of establishing the habitat, managing it over the required period, monitoring its condition and maintaining biodiversity outcome.

Long-term habitat management is an important part of BNG, as units need to be secured for at least 30 years. This means the price of an off-site unit needs to account for long-term obligations as well as the initial work.

 

Why BNG unit prices can vary so much

It can be tempting to compare BNG units purely on their price per unit, however this can be misleading.

A cheaper unit may not satisfy the requirements of a particular development if it is the wrong habitat type or location according to the Biodiversity Metric.

Developers should consider the total cost of achieving the required biodiversity net gain, including the number of units required, rather than simply comparing the price of individual units.

How can developers reduce BNG costs?

There are several ways developers can reduce their BNG costs:

1. Start early – consider BNG at the earliest stages of site design, rather than leaving it as an afterthought
2. Prioritise conservation – avoid destroying valuable habitats on the development land to keep BNG costs as low as possible
3. Obtain an accurate biodiversity assessment – enlist the help of a qualified ecologist to help avoid over or underestimating a site’s biodiversity value
4. Use a trusted off-site provider – as a landowner-led provider managing our own registered habitat banks, BNG Units Ltd can supply units directly across a range of habitat types and locations, without the added margins of a broker.

What should developers budget for off-site BNG in 2026?

There is no universal BNG unit price that can be applied to every development. Rather, a sensible budgeting exercise should consider:

• The development’s existing biodiversity value, the anticipated biodiversity value after development and the resulting 10% BNG requirement
• How much biodiversity can realistically be conserved or delivered on-site
• The type, quantity and location of off-site units that may be needed
• Current availability and market demand (it is best to plan early)

BNG requirements and market prices can change so developers should obtain current pricing rather than relying on historical examples. Demand is also expected to grow as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects come within the BNG regime from November 2026. This is likely to add pressure to prices for larger-scale habitats and makes early planning all the more worthwhile.

For more information about available BNG units and how they can help your development meet its biodiversity requirements, explore the options available with BNG Units Ltd.