HabitatBank.org
Restored estate habitat landscape for Biodiversity Net Gain

BNG FAQ

BNG FAQ.

Frequently asked questions about Biodiversity Net Gain, off-site BNG units and habitat banks in England.

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BNG RESOURCE · UPDATED 26 JULY 2026

Decision-ready guidance for England's BNG market.

01

What is BNG?

BNG stands for Biodiversity Net Gain, a requirement for development to leave biodiversity measurably better than before.

02

What is the 10% requirement?

For most qualifying development in England, at least 10% net gain is the baseline requirement.

03

What are off-site BNG units?

Biodiversity units delivered away from the development site and allocated to help satisfy a development requirement.

04

What is a habitat bank?

A habitat bank is land managed to create or enhance habitat and supply biodiversity units to the market.

05

Can landowners earn from BNG?

Potentially, if land is suitable, legally secured, well managed and matched to developer demand.

06

What does a developer need to buy?

The right quantity and type of units, supported by metric, legal, HMMP, registration and allocation evidence.

07

Are BNG units carbon credits?

No. BNG units relate to biodiversity and planning; carbon credits relate to greenhouse gas reduction or removal.

08

How long is BNG managed?

Off-site habitat is generally secured, managed and monitored for at least 30 years.

COMMON QUESTIONS

FAQs.

Can HabitatBank.org help landowners?

Yes. The site is built around landowner opportunity review, habitat bank structuring and route-to-market guidance.

Can HabitatBank.org help developers?

Yes. It provides guidance for sourcing credible off-site BNG units and checking evidence.

Where should I start?

Start with the Biodiversity Net Gain guide or the landowner/developer pages depending on your role.

RELATED BNG GUIDES

Biodiversity Net Gain guide What is BNG? BNG for landowners Off-site BNG units BNG units for sale BNG unit prices Habitat bank costs Natural England register guide BNG units by county Landowner checklist Developer BNG obligations BNG glossary Biodiversity metric guide Habitat bank vs statutory credits BNG evidence requirements HTML sitemap