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Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) for Landowners

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) creates a new opportunity for landowners to generate income by creating or restoring habitats on their land and selling biodiversity units to developers who need to meet their legal BNG obligations. If your land has the potential to support good-quality habitats, it could become an off-site BNG delivery site.

How it works: Developers in England are legally required to deliver a minimum 10% improvement in biodiversity value as part of any new development. Where they cannot achieve this on-site, they must purchase biodiversity units from off-site providers – which is where landowners come in. Landowners who create or enhance habitats can register as off-site BNG providers and sell units to developers, with habitat management secured for a minimum of 30 years through a legal agreement.

How SBIS data can help: Understanding the current ecological baseline of your land is the essential first step in assessing its BNG potential. SBIS holds species records, habitat data, County Wildlife Site information, and LiDAR-derived hedge and tree canopy datasets that can help you and your ecological adviser establish what is already present on your land and identify the most suitable areas for habitat creation or enhancement. Request data from SBIS as part of your initial assessment.

Things to consider

  • BNG delivery requires a habitat management and monitoring plan, secured by a conservation covenant or planning obligation, for a minimum of 30 years – this is a long-term land use commitment.
  • Biodiversity units are calculated using the statutory biodiversity metric, which requires a baseline assessment by a suitably qualified ecologist.
  • Off-site BNG units can be sold privately or through the government's statutory biodiversity credit scheme. A number of habitat banks and brokers are also emerging in Suffolk and the wider East of England.
  • Land already in agri-environment schemes such as Countryside Stewardship or the Sustainable Farming Incentive may have existing habitat management conditions to consider.
  • BNG can complement other income streams, including agri-environment payments, carbon credits, and ecosystem service payments, but these need to be carefully managed to avoid double-counting.

Further information